Over this season we've been using Matthew to help us think about and reflect on the coming of Christ.
So Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 2.
Last week we looked at the birth.
And in Chapter 2 we're going to be thinking about responses.
So as I read the text, maybe that's something you can be doing is thinking about what are the different responses I see or hear in the text.
Well let's read Matthew Chapter 2, verses 1 to 12.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the time of King Herod,
Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,
Where is the one who's been born King of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.
When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him.
When he had called together all the people's chief priests and the teachers of the law,
he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied,
For this is what the prophet has written.
But you, Bethlehem in the land of Judea,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah.
For out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.
Then Herod called the Magi secretly
and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
Go and search carefully for the child.
As soon as you find him, report to me so that I too may go and worship him.
After they had heard the king,
they went on their way and the star they had seen when it rose,
went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw the star,
they were overjoyed.
On coming to the house,
they saw the child with his mother Mary.
They bowed down and worshipped him.
Then they opened their treasures
and presented him with gifts of gold,
frankincense,
and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream
not to go back to Herod,
they returned to their country
by another route.
Well, let's pray
and ask for God's help.
Father, thank you for this
account, for this record
around the birth of Christ.
we believe that this is your word to us today,
speaking into our lives.
And we pray that as we reflect on this together,
that your word would travel deeply into our hearts
and it would cause us
to respond
in a way that honours you
and is good for us.
So help us now, we pray.
Amen.
Brussels sprouts.
What do you think
of these festive green veggies
that appear in our shops
at this time of year?
Well, one thing is for sure,
they're not neutral, are they?
You either love them
or you loathe them.
You either pile them high on your plate
or you feed them to the dog under the table.
The humble Brussels
can be quite divisive, can't it?
Well, there's another festive ingredient
that produces an even stronger opinion.
The birth of Christ.
And one thing for sure is
this account is not neutral.
In fact, it seems that everybody has a view,
not just then,
but today.
If you were to ask people
or to mention Jesus,
what you think,
does he fit into Christmas?
You will be sure to get a response.
And in our text,
and maybe you can discuss this with me afterwards
over tea and coffee,
I think we see at least three different people
who give three different responses
to the birth of Christ.
In fact, their responses are a reflection
of the way in which we might respond
to Jesus Christ.
So at the very outset,
I have this question for us all.
What is my response?
What is your response today
to the person of Jesus Christ?
What's your response?
How does it affect your life?
Well, here's the first response
that I think we see.
Disturbed.
Look at verse 3.
When King Herod heard this,
when he heard about the birth of Jesus,
he was disturbed
and all Jerusalem with him.
Why is Herod disturbed?
Why is he so upset?
Well, look back at verse 1.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea
during the time of King Herod.
Herod had been made king
by the occupying Romans.
And of course, if you are king,
well, you do happen to have
a kind of God-like status.
But now all of a sudden,
he's been confronted
with some very disturbing news.
Herod had some guests
who've come knocking at his door.
Look at the rest of verse 1.
Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.
Now the Magi,
from what you may have heard,
are not just stargazers.
They're not just there
looking out of their telescope,
wondering what's happening
up in the skies.
They're well-respected astrologers.
They were people of great influence,
wealthy.
They had a certain amount of authority
and would give advice
to leaders and to rulers.
And they've come
and found their way to Herod.
They knock on his door
and they have a question.
Where is the one
who's been born king of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose
and we've come to worship him.
Well, you could hear
Herod's unspoken response.
What?
What do you mean
where's the king
who's been born king of the Jews?
I'm the king of the Jews.
What the Magi did
would be like us
going off to Moscow
and having a private audience
with Putin
and saying,
excuse me, Mr. Putin,
could you tell me
where I might find
the president of Russia?
My goodness me,
it's not the sort of thing
you go asking, is it?
And for Herod
to be asking him
that kind of question,
well, it was equal
to treason.
Look at verse 3 again.
When King Herod
heard this,
that they were looking
for a king,
he was disturbed.
literally means
he was seething.
He is raging.
Prominent officials
coming from another country
and they've come
to worship a king
and it's not him.
The problem for Herod is
this is all too personal.
Herod is confronted
with the reality
that though he's been
appointed as a king,
though he's ruling
as a king,
he's not
the king
and he doesn't
like it.
You see,
Jesus
confronts
our
autonomy.
He confronts
us
head on.
Now, we mightn't
have grand titles
as King Herod did,
but we surely
do act as
king,
don't we?
We appoint
ourselves
as king.
We rule
as if
I am king.
Well, this is
my life
and I'm going
to live it
the way
I want to.
I want to
express
myself.
I want to be
the real,
authentic
me
and, well,
that's just
doing things
the way I want
to do it.
We've all claimed
a God-like
status.
You see,
the coming
of Jesus
confronts
not just
Herod
back in
Matthew's
day,
but he is
confronting
us again
through these
words.
He's claiming
an authority
over us.
He's saying,
I made you,
I own you,
you belong
to me.
He demands
an allegiance
from us.
In fact,
with any king,
there's only
one throne,
isn't there?
And there's
room for only
one person
to sit on it.
Either I'm
going to sit
on the throne,
or God
is going
to sit
on the throne.
Well,
Herod was
so resistant,
he took
extreme action,
didn't he?
Just jump
ahead to
chapter 2,
verse 16.
Chapter 2,
verse 16.
When Herod
realised that
he had been
outwitted
by the Magi,
he was
furious
and he gave
orders to
kill all the
boys in
Bethlehem
and in
its vicinity
who were
two years
and under.
I'm
getting rid
of this
king.
Now,
we're rightfully
horrified with
Herod's actions,
yet at the
same time,
let's face
reality.
There's a little
Herod sitting
on the throne
of our own
hearts,
isn't there?
any challenge
to self-rule
and we
tend to
push
Jesus out.
What's your
response
to Jesus
today?
This is my
life
and I'm
going to
live as I
please?
Are you
disturbed
with Jesus'
claim
over you?
So,
disturbed
is one
response.
Here's the
second
response.
Unmoved.
Who's
unmoved?
Well,
we'll find
out.
Have a look
at verse
four.
When he
had called
together all
the people's
chief priests
and the
teachers of
the law,
Herod asked
them,
where's this
Messiah to
be born?
Now,
we know
he's got
ulterior motives.
He's wanting
to find out
where he
is so
that he
can kill
him.
So,
he brings
in all
the most
respected
religious
scholars of
the day.
After all,
he was in
Jewish territory
and,
well,
the experts,
they knew
their scriptures,
they knew
their Bible
and they
were going
to be the
best
interpreters
and they
were going
to tell
him where
Jesus was
going to
be born.
And,
sure enough,
they don't
disappoint.
Verse five,
Bethlehem
in Judea.
Well,
how do
they know
that?
Well,
because,
verse five,
this is what
the prophet
has written
and they
quote the
prophet
Micah.
Verse six,
but you,
Bethlehem,
in the land
of Judea,
are by no
means least
among the
rulers of
Judah.
Bethlehem
being an
insignificant,
tiny little
outcrop of
a few houses
and a few
buildings.
Kind of
Ballyhonas
territory.
For out of
you will
come a
ruler who
will shepherd
my people
Israel.
Now,
this is a
prophecy,
isn't it,
about the
coming of
Jesus,
God's
promised
king.
And,
these
magi have
heard about
this promised
king and
they're seeking
out this
very king
and the
religious
authorities
have just
quoted,
understood,
this is
where he's
coming from.
So,
we would
expect,
wouldn't we,
the religious
leaders to
go and
join in
the search
because surely
they too
want to
worship
the promised
king.
But,
no,
these
religious
folk are
completely
unmoved.
There's
nothing in
the text
whatsoever
indicating that
they were in
the slightest
bit interested.
Imagine,
after all the
years and all
the waiting and
all the history
and all the
promises,
all building up,
the Messiah is
coming,
the Messiah is
coming,
the expectation
of a
rescuer.
Quick,
come on,
he's here,
let's go find
the king.
But,
they're
completely
disinterested,
indifferent.
They are
totally
unmoved.
Of all the
people you
would expect
to be
interested and
excited,
it must be
the religious
leaders.
Well,
it seems
being religious
and knowing
your Bible
and going
to church
and doing
all the
right kind
of stuff
doesn't
actually mean
that you
love Jesus.
Well,
how could
this be?
Well,
Jesus
reveals
our pride.
It seems
the religious
leaders saw
no need
of Jesus
personally.
After all,
they were
the leaders,
they were
top of
their field.
Others
might need
Jesus,
but not
us.
Look again
at the
quote,
the end
of verse
six.
It says,
out of
Bethlehem
will come
a ruler
who will
shepherd
my people
Israel.
Jesus,
we're told,
is coming
as a shepherd.
But hang
on a minute,
isn't that
what the
religious
rulers were?
Weren't
they meant
to be
the shepherds
and the
carers
of God's
people?
Who's
this
shepherd
that's
coming?
Well,
we get
an insight
into what
this shepherd
would be
like if we
just jump
on a couple
of pages
to Matthew
chapter 9.
Have a look
over there
with me.
Chapter 9
verse 36.
Just one
verse helping
us to see
what this
shepherd Jesus
would be
like.
Verse 36,
when he,
when Jesus
saw the
crowds,
he had
compassion
on them
because they
were harassed
and helpless
like sheep
without a
shepherd.
When Jesus
looks out
and as he
went walking
about the
towns,
he saw
wandering
sheep.
That's what
people were
like to him.
Sheep get
lost by
themselves,
don't they?
And they get
into trouble
and they can't
help themselves.
And Jesus
is looking out
and he's
saying,
well,
that's what
people are
like.
In fact,
he describes
them as
being harassed
and helpless.
To be
harassed is
to be
overcome
with anxiety
and fears.
It's a
consequence
of living
without God,
constantly
overwhelmed
and frantically
trying to
control our
future.
Never at
peace.
Always
searching,
never finding.
harassed
with the
pressures
of life.
But as
he also
looked at
the crowds,
he says,
well,
we're not
just harassed,
but we're
helpless.
We're
helpless to
see how
serious our
situation is,
helpless to
do anything
about it.
And the
problem is,
we can't
even see
it.
We're in
danger,
living a
life on
our own
without
God.
A
helpless
situation.
That's
what Jesus
saw as
he wandered
the streets.
Not just
people,
but the
religious
leaders
too.
So how
would you
feel about
God's
assessment
of you
and me
that,
well,
he sees
people who
are harassed
and helpless.
It knocks
our pride
a little
bit,
doesn't
it?
Especially
religious
folk.
You see,
we can be
all doing
the right
religious
things,
but never
actually
seeing our
desperate
need of
Jesus.
Well,
my life is
in good
shape.
I have
it together.
I know
the Bible
story.
I get
church.
I understand
what that's
all about.
But when
it comes
to seeing
our need
of him
and living
for him
and experiencing
him in our
life,
well,
maybe sometimes
we can be
just completely
unmoved.
Oh,
I know
the story.
I know
the Christmas
story.
I've heard
it.
Our hearts
remain
disinterested
and indifferent.
Is that
your response
today?
It's not
me who
needs
Jesus.
Other people
might,
but not
me.
So,
maybe it's
a case
of being
disturbed.
Maybe it's
a case
of being
unmoved.
Or there's
a third
response.
Overjoyed.
look at
how the
magi
responded.
Look at
verse 10
with me.
Chapter 2,
verse 10.
Go back
to where we
were.
Chapter 2,
verse 10.
When they
saw the
star,
they were
overjoyed.
Rather than
disturbed like
Herod,
instead of
being unmoved
like the
religious leaders,
these magi
are overjoyed.
They're
overwhelmed.
Why are they
so joyful?
Well,
consider two
things with me.
First,
the star.
The star is
all over the
text,
isn't it,
that we've
read?
It's no
ordinary
star.
Have a
look at
verse 2.
Where is
the one
who's been
born king
of the
Jews?
We saw
his star
when it
rose,
and have
come to
worship him.
Now,
it's
fascinating,
it's
extraordinary.
It was
moving,
this star
in the sky
was moving
in such a
way that
they could
follow it.
Theologians
and historians
reckon that
these magi
had travelled
up to a
thousand miles
following
this star.
This
strange event
in the
skies.
And
they're
concerned to
find out
what's this
star all
about?
What does
it mean?
Well,
the star
led them
secondly to
a person.
Again,
look at
verse 2.
Did you
read it
carefully?
Look at
the end
of verse 2.
We saw
his star.
Well,
whose star?
Jesus'
star.
This was
a star
pointing to
King Jesus.
But think
about it.
How did
they know
it was
his star?
Who told
them it
was Jesus'
star?
Well,
being educated
people,
they would
have had
access to
writings of
other nations
and books
and prophecies
of other
people.
Writings,
I'm going
to suggest
to you
like the
book of
Isaiah.
Have a
look with
me in
Isaiah
chapter 60.
Isaiah
chapter 60.
So they've
seen this
star in
the sky.
They've
even given
it a name
and saying
it's his
star,
as in
it's the
king of
the Jews.
It's his
star,
we're
following
this star.
But how
did they
know?
Like,
what gave
them that
impression?
Well,
let's
have a
read of
Isaiah
60.
Here God
is talking
about the
coming of
Jesus,
but look
how he
describes
his
coming.
Verse 1,
Arise,
shine,
for your
light has
come,
and the
glory of
the Lord
rises upon
you.
See,
darkness
covers the
earth,
and thick
darkness is
over the
peoples.
But the
Lord rises
upon you,
and his
glory
appears
over you.
Nations
will come
to your
light,
and the
kings
to the
brightness
of your
dawn.
Lift up
your eyes,
look about
you,
all
assemble,
come to
you.
Your
sons
come from
afar,
and your
daughters
who are
carried on
the hip.
Then
you will
look and
be radiant,
your heart
will throb
and swell
with joy,
the wealth
and the
seeds will
be brought
to you,
to the
riches of
the nations
will come.
Herds of
camels will
cover your
land,
young camels
of Midian
and Ephah,
and all
from Sheba
will come,
bearing gold
and incense,
and proclaiming
the praise
of the
Lord.
A
fascinating
text,
isn't it?
this
star,
this
light
that
rises,
that goes
before you
is directing
them to
someone who
is going to
be the
hope of
the world,
a light
that's going
to remove
the darkness,
a light
that was
going to
attract
nations,
one who
was worthy
of people's
praise,
whether they
were young
or old.
Let's go
back to
Matthew
chapter 2.
Now I'm
not saying
the Magi
knew everything
about who
Jesus was
and what
he was
coming to
do,
but I
think we
can be
very clear
that they
did know
that this
Jesus
was sent
by creator
God
and was
going to
be the
hope of
the world.
Yes,
the star
was of
interest,
but it
was where
the star
came to,
verse 11,
verse 10,
that,
sorry,
where is it,
end of
verse 9,
it stopped
over the
place where
the child
was.
It was
bringing them
and pointing
them to
the person
of Christ.
They were
overjoyed
because the
promises that
they had
read and
heard about
had now
been
fulfilled.
In fact,
their joy
had led
to worship.
You see,
Jesus
deserves
our worship.
Look at
verse 11.
On coming
to the
house,
they saw
the child
with his
mother Mary
and they
bowed down
and worshipped
him.
Now,
worship isn't
just confined
to a
religious
building.
Worship
is something
all of us
do all
of the
time.
It simply
means to
serve or
to bow
down to.
It comes
from the
words worth
or worthy.
It's giving
something or
someone value
and honour.
it's something
that we
consider to
be of our
highest value
and whatever
we consider
to be of
greatest value
to us in
our life,
that's what
we serve.
That's what
we bow down
to.
That's what
we worship.
it.
So,
what is the
highest honour
in your life?
What do you
give greatest
value to?
Is it your
own physical
body and
how you
look?
Is it
getting grades
and certain
careers and
being successful
in your job?
Is it your
children?
or sport
or some
team?
What is it
that is of
greatest value
to you?
Well,
look at the
magi.
They had
come to see
that Jesus
was of
greatest value
to them.
Look at how
they responded,
verse 11.
On coming
to the house,
they saw
the child
with his
mother Mary.
They bowed
down and
worshipped him.
Then they
opened their
treasures and
presented him
with the
gifts of
gold,
frankincense
and myrrh.
They bowed
down to
this child.
Fancy doing
that?
It's a
position of
submission.
It's saying,
I am high
and you
are,
or I am
low and
you are
high.
I'm at
your service.
And they
also presented
him with
gifts,
gifts that
were of
great value,
treasures.
They are
saying,
you,
this child,
are of
infinite worth.
My life
is yours.
So let's
come back to
the question
again.
Who is it
that we
worship in
our life?
Whatever we
consider to
be of
highest value,
whatever we
consider to
be of
greatest
honour,
that's
who we
worship.
That's
what we
give our
life to.
The
coming of
Jesus Christ
almost 2,000
years ago
was certainly
not a silent
night,
nor was it
all calm
and bright.
The coming
of God's
promised
king caused
a stir
amongst the
people.
Everyone
had an
opinion.
So what
is our
response to
Jesus?
Does his
claim disturb
you?
That he's
king of your
life and
you're
answerable to
him?
Or perhaps
the whole
account leaves
you just
completely and
utterly
unmoved.
I'm all
right,
Jack.
I don't
need Jesus.
I'm not
helpless.
I can do
life alone.
Well,
some people
were overjoyed.
Why?
Well,
because like
the Magi,
they've come
to see that
Jesus was
the one who
was bringing
light in
the darkness.
He was a
shepherd full
of compassion
who helped
those who
were helpless,
who gave
life to
those who
were harassed,
a shepherd
who would
actually lay
down his
life for
the sheep
so that
they could
have ultimate
joy and
life.
What's our
response going
to be to
this Jesus?
He deserves
our worship.
We can be
overjoyed
because in
him is
life in
all its
fullness.
Let's
pray together.
Amen.
Father,
as we
just reflect
and think
of the
coming of
Jesus Christ,
the God-man
into this
world,
we either
push him
away
or we
welcome him
in.
We're
either
disturbed,
unmoved,
or
overjoyed.
Father,
help us
to be
clear about
that.
And would
you give
us a
heart that
is moved
like the
Magi,
and that
we learn
to bow
down before
you,
to live
our life
in service
to you,
to the
one who
has given
us life
today,
and life
for all
eternity,
in your
good and
perfect
kingdom.
Thank you
that you
are king,
and that
you are
Lord.
Help us
to follow
you as we
should.
In Jesus'
name.
Amen.
Well,
the Magi
were
overjoyed.
They
bowed in
worship.
Did they
sing?
I don't
know.
Maybe
they did.