WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.120 and now we're going to hear from God's Word. In just a moment, Ailey's going to come up and read, 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:14.980 first of all, from Isaiah 49, and then Matthew 2. And as we hear from Isaiah 49, which is one of the 00:00:14.980 --> 00:00:22.460 servant songs in Isaiah, notice the theme of mission to the nations, Jesus' light to the 00:00:22.460 --> 00:00:25.960 nations that we find there. So, Ailey, if you want to come up and read, that'd be wonderful. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.000 Amen. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:06.459 And he said to me, You are my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:12.260 I have labored in vain. I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain, yet surely my just reward 00:01:12.260 --> 00:01:19.140 is with the Lord and my work with my God. And now the Lord says, Who formed me from the womb to be 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:24.900 his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, so that Israel is gathered to him, for I shall be glorious 00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:30.940 in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. Indeed, he says, it is too small a thing 00:01:30.940 --> 00:01:36.240 that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel. 00:01:36.880 --> 00:01:42.400 I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be my salvation to the ends of the earth. 00:01:43.719 --> 00:01:49.640 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to him whom man despises, 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:57.340 to him whom the nation abhors, to the servant of rulers. Kings shall see and arise. Princes shall 00:01:57.340 --> 00:02:03.680 also worship because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, and he has chosen you. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:12.539 And from Matthew, Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:19.439 behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? 00:02:19.639 --> 00:02:25.319 For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, 00:02:25.379 --> 00:02:30.759 he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:36.779 scribes of the people together, he inquired of them whether Christ was to be born. So they said to him, 00:02:37.179 --> 00:02:43.299 In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet, But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:48.939 are not the least among the rulers of Judah. For out of you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my 00:02:48.939 --> 00:02:54.859 people Israel. Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what 00:02:54.859 --> 00:03:00.900 time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:06.280 the young child. And when you have found him, bring back word to me that I may come and worship him 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:12.740 also. When they heard the king, they departed. And behold, the star which they had seen in the east 00:03:12.740 --> 00:03:18.980 went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, 00:03:19.100 --> 00:03:24.420 they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young 00:03:24.420 --> 00:03:29.540 child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him. And when they had opened their 00:03:29.540 --> 00:03:37.439 treasures, they presented gifts to him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:42.199 that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:54.740 So, we're going to be in Matthew chapter 2 together as we continue to think about the theme of Advent. 00:03:54.939 --> 00:04:01.539 And here today we're considering the reality that God's king comes and that when he comes, 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:09.699 people are divided. Of course, we recognize that sense that the coming of Jesus is a dividing line. 00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:17.060 We see it as a line of division in history. Our calendars are marked by B.C., before Christ, 00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:23.779 and A.D., Anno Domini, the year of our Lord. Our Bibles are divided between the Old Testament, 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:29.439 which anticipates the coming of Jesus, and the New Testament, which speaks to us of his coming and the 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:37.120 significance of that. But in Matthew's gospel, we see another line of division. We recognize that from 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:45.439 the time Jesus was born, there are signs of division and opposition. And that would come to mark the life 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:51.180 of Jesus. You read the gospels, and what we see is that Jesus' words ring true when he said, 00:04:51.180 --> 00:04:58.720 whoever is not for me is against me. And here, in a sense, we have this previewed for us. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:04.560 Just to remind ourselves, so far in Matthew's gospel, we've been presented as Jesus, 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:15.300 God who saves, and Jesus, God who is with us. And now we come to discover Jesus is God's promised king, 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:23.180 but that king prompts different responses. We see three different groups. We see the Magi, 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:30.980 we see Herod, we see the religious leaders, and they all have different reactions. And so, 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:37.060 our time together, I hope, will prompt us towards our own personal reflection to think about what's our 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:44.879 response to Jesus, that we'd be careful to be on the right side of history when it comes to Jesus, 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:53.019 because we'd be worshipers. So, three ideas about Jesus as king that we can see in our text. First of 00:05:53.019 --> 00:06:02.659 all, that Jesus is a global king. So, let's go back to verses 1 and 2, just to read that again. 00:06:02.659 --> 00:06:08.939 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to 00:06:08.939 --> 00:06:14.120 Jerusalem and asked, where is the one who's been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:21.439 and have come to worship him. Now, we maybe have some what questions that we would like to ask of 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:28.540 this passage. What is the job of these men, these Magi, these wise men? And there's lots of discussion 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:34.399 about that. We might be interested in what star did they follow? And you'll discover there's lots of 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:40.959 things written about that as well. But that's not what Matthew is interested in. Rather, Matthew wants 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:47.899 to answer the question, who is in view here? And what's interesting to him is that these Magi, these 00:06:47.899 --> 00:06:56.120 men from the east, these men from outside of Israel, they come to worship. And Matthew is interested, 00:06:56.599 --> 00:07:02.939 not in what star, but why is the star there? And what becomes clear is that God has placed this sign 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:12.100 in creation in order that these men would recognize and worship God's king as he's come. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:18.660 It's a reminder that in the goodness of God, Jesus has come to be the savior, to be the king, 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:26.259 not just for some, but for the world. In a sense, verse 2 is remarkable because you've got these 00:07:26.259 --> 00:07:31.620 wise men traveling a great distance in order to worship the king of the Jews. 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:37.699 But think about where we are in history at that stage. Israel doesn't have a true king. In fact, 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:45.519 they've got a puppet king, Herod, set up by Rome. Israel is incredibly weak nationally and politically 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:54.879 ruled by Rome. And yet we have Magi come to worship. And this is something much more than 00:07:54.879 --> 00:08:02.360 some kind of political gesture. You'll maybe think what happens, you know, in the UK when a prince or 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:12.040 a princess is born. Greetings of goodwill will be sent from world leaders all over to the royal family. 00:08:12.860 --> 00:08:18.339 This is so much more than that. This is worship. 00:08:18.339 --> 00:08:27.399 While many saw the star that was in the sky, God in his kindness has chosen these Magi to see, 00:08:27.539 --> 00:08:37.039 to understand, to believe, to enter into God's plan to save people from many nations, just as he had 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:45.439 always promised. So we can go back, for example, to Genesis 12, a great promise made to Abraham, 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:50.540 all peoples on earth will be blessed through you, through one of your seed. One of your family line, 00:08:50.640 --> 00:08:55.300 Abraham, will be the source of blessing to the nations. And the Bible is clear that blessing 00:08:55.300 --> 00:09:03.680 will come through Jesus, who is in Abraham's family line. In 1 Kings 8, Solomon has just finished the 00:09:03.680 --> 00:09:10.260 temple, and he brings a prayer to God to dedicate the temple. And in verse 43, he says, 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:17.019 he prays to God, do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all peoples of the earth may know 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:24.759 your name and fear you. So King Solomon understands that God isn't just God for Israel, God is God for 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:31.700 the whole world. And his desire was that the nations would honor God. And then Aley read from us, Isaiah 49, 00:09:31.939 --> 00:09:37.399 verse 6, of the servant of the Lord, that his coming would be, it'd be too small for him just to be 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:44.779 savior for Israel. Rather, God says, I will also make you, the servant, that is Jesus, a light for 00:09:44.779 --> 00:09:50.319 the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. So here is Jesus being presented 00:09:50.319 --> 00:09:55.959 as the fulfillment of all these wonderful Old Testament promises. He is God's light, he is God's 00:09:55.959 --> 00:10:02.039 salvation, he is God's source of blessing for all who will come to believe, for all who will come to 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:09.939 worship, regardless of where they, where we are from. Some implications that follow from that. 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:18.079 First of all, we recognize in this that Christianity truly is a global religion. Christianity has always 00:10:18.079 --> 00:10:24.980 and will always cross cultural barriers because it's not tied to one particular place. It's not tied to a 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:31.879 particular building or set of buildings. It's not rooted in one language or culture because God's desire 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:39.600 desire was always that his glory would spread to the ends of the earth. And we see that God's promise 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:44.200 through Jesus is coming true, that Jesus has come to build his church and the gates of hell will not 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:50.200 prevail against it. And we've been so encouraged as a church to hear time and again that God is building 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:56.259 his church in hard places and in surprising places and among hard people and surprising people. 00:10:56.259 --> 00:11:04.379 And that's God's way, so he gets glory. There's hope for us in God being global and Jesus being a global king. 00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:15.519 But another implication is that therefore mission is vital. That as Christians and as a local church, 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:25.240 we have a responsibility when it comes to God's global kingdom to support the work of mission in different 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:39.139 ways. To pray, certainly. To give, perhaps to go. That we are to steward our resources for the glory of God, 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:46.159 and that will involve us then supporting the spread of the gospel around the world. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:52.879 So here in Book Blue, for the last few months, we've been listening to missionaries talking to us over 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:59.659 Zoom, and we hope in 21 to continue that mission focus and to be really careful and deliberate to 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:09.159 think, how can we steward our resources so that God will be glorified in more nations and among more people? 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:19.139 But then to bring it even closer to home, as Jesus is presented as global king, that means today, 00:12:19.719 --> 00:12:30.439 whoever we are, whatever our story, Jesus is our king. By which I mean he has authority, lordship over us. 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:35.740 Whether we bow the knee to him or not does not change the fact that he is king, 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:41.779 and he is lord. And we have this responsibility, indeed, we have this command 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:53.240 to bow the knee to submit, to obey, to follow. Because Jesus is global king, not just for some, but over all. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:13:02.680 The next thing that we see from our text in verses 3 to 8 is that while Jesus has come as global king, 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:09.799 Jesus is also rejected king, it's clear from verse 3 itself that all is not well. 00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:13.199 So we're told God has sent his king. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:22.599 We're also told when King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 00:13:23.659 --> 00:13:26.939 That seems an unexpected reaction. Your king has come. 00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:33.040 But rather than joy and celebration, there's disturbance. It's a sign that Jesus is a dividing line. 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:40.000 And again, it's a reminder to us that here are some insiders, but that counts for nothing. 00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:45.680 Being on the inside counts for nothing. It's what's on the inside, it's what's in our heart that matters. 00:13:46.420 --> 00:13:50.480 And the clear difference between the Magi and Herod and the religious leaders shows us that 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:55.139 being a churchy person doesn't count for anything. It's what's in our heart. 00:13:55.180 --> 00:13:58.399 Are we responding to Jesus as Lord? That's what matters. 00:13:59.180 --> 00:14:04.879 So God's king has come, but we see in verses 3 to 8 two different negative reactions. 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:08.159 First and most obviously, we see hostile Herod. 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:11.279 So we see him gathering intel. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:15.060 So verse 4, he calls together the people's chief priests and teacher of the law, 00:14:15.060 --> 00:14:17.159 and he asks them where the Messiah is to be born. 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:18.959 Now that could be a positive thing. 00:14:19.719 --> 00:14:23.139 And then he goes to the Magi, and he wants to find out, where did you see the star? 00:14:23.219 --> 00:14:25.279 When did you see the star? So I can go and worship. 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:28.360 That sounds positive, but we discover his real intentions. 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:30.679 It's not to worship Jesus, but to wipe him out. 00:14:31.439 --> 00:14:35.139 So we read, we didn't read in verse 13, but when we read verse 13, 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:38.579 we discover an angel again coming to Joseph in a dream. 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:43.039 Get up, the angel said. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:48.959 Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:54.759 Herod knows he's not the true king, the promised king from Bethlehem. 00:14:55.079 --> 00:14:58.179 And he feels that this new child, this Jesus, is a threat. 00:14:59.439 --> 00:15:00.519 He has pride. 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:06.839 He feels that the threat is power, and he will not bow to God's king. 00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:09.779 Perhaps we recognize the story. 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:15.319 But there's another negative reaction that we may also see and identify with, 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:20.240 and it's that of the apathetic and the unmoved leaders. 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:24.459 So those chief priests and teachers of the law, 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:30.879 they can tell the king exactly where the Messiah, the king of the Jews, is going to be born. 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:32.079 They know the prophecy. 00:15:32.319 --> 00:15:32.959 Verse 5, 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:52.820 So here's Micah 5. 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:57.680 Micah, the prophet, bringing hope to a people who have walked away from God, 00:15:58.700 --> 00:16:01.560 that God would send his shepherd king. 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:06.240 And these religious leaders don't continue the quotation, 00:16:06.400 --> 00:16:07.840 but Micah goes on to say, 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:12.520 this shepherd king, his origins are from of old, from ancient times. 00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:15.720 So he's not just a man, he's also the eternal God. 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:21.139 In other words, Micah is getting the people ready that a greater king than David is going to come. 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:27.820 The shepherd king promised, for example, in Ezekiel 34 is going to come. 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:32.560 Ezekiel 34 is a really interesting passage, because at one and the same time, 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:37.920 Ezekiel brings this message from God that the leaders, the kings and the religious leaders, 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.639 they're doing a really bad job. 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:42.899 They're bad shepherds, because they're not looking after the people. 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:46.019 They're not leading the people towards worshipping the one true God. 00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:49.860 And then God says, I myself will shepherd my people. 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.439 I will gather them in. 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.120 I will feed them. 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:52.919 I will tend to them. 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:57.259 And I will send a shepherd in the line of David. 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:01.399 So this anticipated one is both man and God. 00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.980 And that's what we see in Matthew, isn't it? 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:05.619 Jesus is not just a man, but the God man. 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.119 He is God who saves. 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:09.019 He is God with us. 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:15.900 And we've got this remarkable reality that these religious leaders, they know this mind-blowing 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:20.539 promise, but they simply carry on with their day. 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.400 And J.C. 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:27.079 Ryle put it really well when he said, there may be knowledge of Scripture in the head, 00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:29.779 while there is no grace in the heart. 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:32.079 They knew their Bibles. 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:33.639 They knew their hope. 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:37.400 But when the king came, they passed him by. 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:44.880 Now, it's really easy when we come to a passage like this to sort of shake our head and point 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.520 our fingers and say, well, you should have known better. 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:52.660 But maybe instead of that, we should reflect ourselves, ask ourselves some hard questions, 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:56.920 whether we're Christians, whether we're not Christians, to ask ourselves some hard questions. 00:17:56.920 --> 00:18:02.940 For example, where and how in my life do I resist Jesus as king? 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.840 Herod had pride. 00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:06.759 Where am I proud? 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:09.880 Now, who sits on the throne of my life really? 00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:13.840 How are we responding to the call of Jesus? 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.560 Jesus says, repent and believe. 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.980 Do we do that or do we resist? 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:22.039 Jesus says, take up your cross and follow me. 00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:23.620 Is that something that we listen to? 00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:27.399 Or is it something that we ignore when it becomes uncomfortable? 00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:32.519 Jesus would be king, but do we want to limit his rule? 00:18:33.199 --> 00:18:38.539 Have we put Jesus in a box so that our religion is safe and comfortable? 00:18:38.719 --> 00:18:42.619 Saying to Jesus, Jesus, you could be Lord of some, but certainly not Lord of all. 00:18:43.659 --> 00:18:47.119 There's some parts of my life that I don't want to give over to you. 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:51.959 But our obedience is partial rather than complete. 00:18:51.960 --> 00:19:01.539 Think about our patterns, our words, our actions, our thought life, the things that we watch, the way we interact. 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:08.100 Are there pockets of resistance in our own life, even as Christians? 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.160 What about apathy? 00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:18.960 Ask yourself, is my life really about enjoying the glory of Jesus? 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:25.220 Am I investing myself in knowing and enjoying him more day by day? 00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:31.140 Is public or private worship a highlight in my day? 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:37.620 A chance to come aside and to enjoy fellowship and friendship with the God who made me and saved me? 00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:42.980 Am I investing spiritually in others? 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:47.579 Recognizing how important it is that we bow the knee to Jesus as Lord. 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:49.519 Is that something I give my time to? 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:57.960 Does Jesus get first and best in my life or does he get whatever scraps are left at the end of the day? 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:08.019 It's important for us to recognize and reflect on our own responses, our daily responses to Jesus as King, 00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:10.919 that we not find ourselves rejecting him. 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:14.180 We want to remember the gospel. 00:20:14.300 --> 00:20:16.660 Remember in the gospel, Jesus has come as good shepherd. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.860 Jesus has come as God's King. 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:22.320 And his rule, it's not about being served, but it's about serving. 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:27.740 It's about laying down his life as a ransom so that we might be brought into the family of God. 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:29.720 Think about his care. 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:33.580 He's come as that good shepherd to lay down his life for his flock. 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:35.700 He's the one who calls us by name. 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:40.039 He's the one who goes to seek out the lost sheep to bring us in. 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:44.220 How do we respond to this shepherd king? 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.740 We don't want to be hostile. 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:48.140 We don't want to be apathetic. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:50.440 Rather, that we would be worshiping. 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:55.240 So we need to think about what side of the dividing line do I fall on? 00:20:55.240 --> 00:21:00.720 What needs to change that I am making a right response to King Jesus? 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:06.000 But those aren't the only reactions we see to Jesus. 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:11.279 We see in verses 9 to 12 that Jesus is also a worshipped king. 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:13.720 Let's read again at verse 9. 00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.819 This is back to the Magi. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:19.519 After the Magi had heard the king, they went on their way, 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:22.660 and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:25.140 until it stopped over the place where the child was. 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:29.299 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:31.139 So God's star appears again. 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:35.740 And that's teaching us God wants them to be worshippers. 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:40.940 God wants these men to see the glory of Jesus. 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:45.139 God wants us to see the glory of Jesus, 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:47.440 that we too would be worshippers. 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:50.259 And notice their response when they see the star 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.599 that's leading them to the king. 00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:52.720 It's joy. 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:58.279 They appreciate God's kindness, God's grace to them. 00:21:58.279 --> 00:22:00.720 By nature, they're outsiders. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.440 They don't have the Bible. 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:05.940 They don't have all these prophets and prophecies. 00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:11.680 God's love, God's kindness is drawing them in to meet Jesus. 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.720 And they've got the gift. 00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:16.299 They've got these eyes of faith. 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:19.539 Verse 11 is remarkable in its own way. 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:22.779 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:26.440 and they bowed down and worshipped him. 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:31.039 Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.839 What's happening here? 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:35.500 They've come to this backwater town. 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:39.099 They're meeting with this poor family. 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:42.639 They're seeing this little baby, perhaps a toddler, 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:45.000 and they're worshipping. 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:47.800 They see with the eyes of faith 00:22:47.800 --> 00:22:52.900 that this little vulnerable baby is the divine saviour of the world. 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.700 And they worship. 00:22:56.080 --> 00:22:58.700 Because God has given them the gift of salvation. 00:22:59.300 --> 00:23:00.480 He's opened their eyes. 00:23:00.600 --> 00:23:01.400 They've got faith. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:05.840 That's what God would want for us, 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:07.940 that we would see with the eyes of faith. 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.620 We won't see Jesus physically, 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:11.380 but we'd see with the eyes of faith, 00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:16.500 Jesus as Lord and saviour and God's gift to us. 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.560 But what's wonderful about this story 00:23:19.560 --> 00:23:22.240 is that here are some men, some outsiders, 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.920 and they know God's revelation. 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:26.759 And it's only because of God's work 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.940 that they become worshippers. 00:23:28.060 --> 00:23:30.420 Left to themselves, they would have no hope. 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.700 But God has entered in. 00:23:31.800 --> 00:23:32.660 God sent the star. 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:34.200 And God has sent his son. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:36.860 And they become worshippers because of God's kindness. 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:39.460 I think, too, there's a star shining. 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.700 That's quite a noticeable thing. 00:23:40.800 --> 00:23:41.820 Others saw the star. 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:43.200 Others heard the news. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.500 And we know that they did nothing. 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:48.960 But for these men, salvation is a gift from God. 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:52.300 Salvation is always a gift from God. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.400 And whenever we receive a gift, 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:57.160 we should thank God, shouldn't we? 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:00.300 We should thank the one who gives us this wonderful gift. 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:03.759 Our lives should be a thanksgiving to God 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.599 for his indescribable gift. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:09.200 If we're not Christians, we should ask God 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:11.079 for this wonderful gift. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.460 And we should pray and ask on behalf of others. 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:17.159 That's part of the work of mission, 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:19.440 to pray that men and women and boys and girls 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:21.279 would be moved from darkness to light, 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.799 that they would have their eyes open 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:26.180 to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus. 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:29.460 So they know God's revelation, 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:31.480 and they respond with worship. 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:35.640 They can come to Jesus and see, 00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:36.680 here's the promised king. 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:37.960 Here's the Savior. 00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:38.920 Here's the good shepherd. 00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:40.940 Here's the Son of God. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:43.060 And so they give these gifts to reflect 00:24:43.060 --> 00:24:44.340 what's in their hearts. 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:46.060 God has been so kind to them. 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:47.560 He's given them salvation. 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:49.440 And so they respond with gratitude 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:52.480 as they give their treasures. 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:56.220 In the story of the Magi, 00:24:56.860 --> 00:25:00.539 we have a story of what God would want 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.559 for each one of us. 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:03.360 This is God's desire, 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:06.080 God's call on our lives, 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.960 today and every day, 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:10.460 that we would see his glory, 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:12.400 and that we would worship. 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:14.940 We were made to see, 00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:15.400 to know, 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:17.500 to enjoy the glory of God 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:19.800 and to be worshipers. 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:23.440 So Matthew 2 really encourages us 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:25.620 to consider what side of the line 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.920 we find ourselves on, 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.540 that we would be on the right side 00:25:28.540 --> 00:25:30.880 of the dividing lines. 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:34.660 Over the last few weekends, 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:36.580 we've been doing something different 00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.720 in our family worship. 00:25:37.820 --> 00:25:39.140 We've been reading a book on mission 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:40.180 called A Taste of Asia. 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:42.160 It's an excellent little book 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.140 giving an introduction 00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:45.100 to some of the different religions 00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:47.660 and some of the different countries of Asia. 00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:49.360 And last week, 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.360 we were learning about 00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:52.360 perhaps the place in the world 00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:55.440 where the starkest of all dividing lines, 00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:58.980 that border established in 1953 00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:01.920 between South Korea and North Korea. 00:26:02.540 --> 00:26:05.660 And that dividing line is really stark. 00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.840 We know in the South, 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.019 there is great wealth. 00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:08.700 In the North, 00:26:08.800 --> 00:26:10.519 there is great poverty. 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:12.799 One is a country that's open to the world. 00:26:12.879 --> 00:26:15.619 The other is very much closed to the world. 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:17.240 And when it comes to Christianity, 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:19.180 there's freedom in the South 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.799 and the church has blossomed 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.759 and exploded in the last few generations, 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:25.900 whereas it's fiercely persecuted 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.980 in the North. 00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:29.559 And it's a reminder to us, 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:31.599 we need to pray for the persecuted church. 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:35.339 You think of life in the Korea 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:38.579 as being born on the right side of the divide 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:40.639 makes all the difference in the world 00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.439 in one sense. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.399 But the Bible would say 00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:48.079 there's an even greater dividing line 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:51.639 whether we are for or against Jesus. 00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:53.759 Because that matters 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:56.579 for our day-to-day life now. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.879 Because knowing Jesus means 00:26:58.879 --> 00:26:59.639 we have a joy 00:26:59.639 --> 00:27:01.220 that's deeper than circumstances. 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:03.460 It gives us hope for today, 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:03.940 tomorrow, 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.059 and for all eternity. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.960 It gives us a peace with God 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:09.660 and peace in our conscience 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:11.360 because our sin has been dealt with. 00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.720 It gives us a purpose. 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:14.440 We're called to be people on mission. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.360 But it also 00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:18.559 matters for eternity. 00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:20.860 Because when it comes to Jesus, 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.740 we're thinking about 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:24.299 realities that have to do with life 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.200 and death 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:26.339 and heaven 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:27.279 and hell. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:29.599 And God's desire 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:31.000 for each one of us 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.639 is that our response 00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:34.059 would be like that of the Magi. 00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:36.279 To borrow from 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.539 one of our 00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:39.379 many famous Christmas carols 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:39.899 that we would 00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:40.799 come, 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.920 oh come let us 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:44.019 adore Him, 00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:45.440 Christ 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.899 the Lord.