"THE SEARCH AND WORSHIP OF THE KING OF KINGS"

MATTHEW 2:1-23

INTRODUCTION

          God has a way of doing great things in simple ways that baffle human minds. Throughout the Old Testament, especially the Book of Isaiah prophecies are recorded of the birth and rule of the Messiah. Yet, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, only a few people knew it and took notice. The birth of Jesus did not come with pomp and pageantry, and yet it is the event that has changed the course of human history. The birth of Jesus changed the Roman calendar from B.C. to A. D. You would expect the King of Kings to be born in a palace, but He was born in a manger. You expect the Messiah to be born to Caesar Augustus, the Emperor, but He was born to Joseph, the Carpenter. You expect the queen to give birth to the Christ, but a teenage Virgin Mary was chosen to be the mother of this holy Child. You expect Jesus to be born in Rome or Jerusalem, but He was born in Bethlehem. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, then a little town has transformed it from obscurity to prominence. You expect the birth of Jesus to be told to the famous, nobles, and royal families, and yet humble shepherds on a hillside tending their flock by night, and Gentiles from the east are the recipients of this great news.

          The birth of Jesus has changed the destiny of the human race. Before His birth, darkness ruled the world, but Jesus is the Light of the world. Before the birth of the King of Kings, death terrorized the world, but Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. I would like to share with you: “The Search and Worship of the King of Kings.”

          His birth was the well-kept secret of God, whispered among the stars. Only a handful of people even cupped their ears to listen, and they were from Persia, not Palestine. They were Gentiles, uncircumcised and without the promises of God. God has a way of humbling the proud. Odd that these foreigners were the recipients of the revelation of the birth of a Jewish Messiah, astrologers of all people. Odd that priests or rabbis and members of the Sanhedrin were not told the birth of the Messiah. Odd too that the messenger was not a prophet, but of all things, a star. Not a comet or meteor shower but a mere star, hung quietly in the night among a million others.

          It could not have been as spectacular as some have suggested, for if it were, throngs of people would have been watching it, wondering about it, asking what it meant. No, it could not have been spectacular. And yet something about this star captures the attention of these Eastern Magi. Somehow, they knew this pale sapphire dangling among the constellation was the star of the King of Kings. May be it was because of the unexpected way it rose in the western sky, sending them searching their star charts. Or maybe while poring over the scrolls, they uncovered the oracle of Balaam, one of their own compatriots that explained their mysterious herald: A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel (Numbers 24:17).

          Whatever it was, the Spirit of God spoke to them through this hushed revelation and beckoned them to follow. They traveled by night when the star was most visible, their long shadows lagging behind the caravan. They traveled in search of a King, following what little light was given them, not knowing where it would lead, what would happen to them en route, or how their lives would be changed afterwards.

          Mary, meanwhile, with the young King enthroned in her arms, is reliving the events of the day. The five-mile trip to Jerusalem, the consecration of her firstborn at the temple, and the glowing words of Simeon as he took Jesus in his arms. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel. But Simeon spoke other words that day; dark, foreboding words that gathered on the horizon of Jesus’ life like the clouds of some distant storm. This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.

          Mary ponders those words as she cradles her baby in her arms, peering into His dark brown eyes. So calm a child to cause such a stir, she whispers to Him, smiling. He stops nursing and smiles back. The warmth of Mary’s milk spreads over Him like a blanket, and His eyes grow weary. Even as He sleeps, His mouth keeps working to draw life from her, clinging to her, yet so gently, so tenderly, and so sweetly. Mary says to herself who could ever speak against such a child. She thinks as she watches the baby Jesus. Who could ever stumble over such innocence?

          Mary studies the baby Jesus’ face, her mind still feeling its way through the wonder of it all. The promises of God fleshed out in a child. The hope of the world entrusted to an infant. It was all swaddled in so much mystery. Mary wonders: What secret is God keeping with this child?

          By the time the Magi reach the outskirts of Jerusalem, the star has melted into the morning sky. Surely, the holy city would be bustling with activity after the arrival of its King. Shops would be closed; people would be celebrating; and thank offerings would be overflowing the temple. But as the caravan threads through the outer gates, it is just another day in Jerusalem. Shopkeepers are minding their stores. Women are picking over produce. Priests are tending to the daily rigors of religion. The only thing that creates a pause in the morning routine is the presence of these foreigners. Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?

          Heads turn at the sound of their language coming to them in thick Persian accent. The crowd looks at them with puzzling countenance. A stern-looking man steps forward. “Be careful of talk like that around here.” One of the Magi turns to a rabbi and said, We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him. But the rabbi scolds him; God speaks through the Scriptures, not through the stars. Your talk is blasphemy, the babble of sorcerers and astrologers.

          Before noon, word reaches the imperial palace. Every step of the ascent to the throne has been stained with the blood of his rivals. The political climate at the time of Jesus’ birth resembled that of Russia in the 1930s under Joseph Stalin. Citizens could not gather in public meetings. Spies were everywhere. Herod was like Saddam Hussein. He killed two brothers-in-law, his own wife Mariamne, and two of his own sons. Five days before his death he ordered the arrest of many citizens and decreed that, they be executed on the day of his death in order to guarantee a proper atmosphere of mourning in the country. For such a despot, a minor extermination procedure in Bethlehem posed no problem. When Herod the Great hears rumors of still another rival, he does everything he can to mask his paranoia, but behind the mask he is troubled. And all Jerusalem is troubled with him. Over the years, the Jews’ relationship with the king has been strained at best, but over the years, they have cultivated it. As a result, Herod gave them a temple and in return, they gave him their allegiance. It was a convenient relationship between synagogue and state. It was a relationship they needed; and a relationship they did not want upset. That is why the words of the Magi troubled them.

          Herod gathers the chief priests and scribes together. “When your Messiah comes, where will it be? I mean what city?” Bethlehem, the religious leaders are quick to cite chapter and verse. However, their search for the Savior ends there. Bethlehem, Herod thinks to himself, the city of David. King David, I must be quick with my boot to stomp on this rumor, lest a spark of resistance flare up into rebellion. Herod questions the Magi, careful enough not to arouse suspicion, but cunning enough to play them into his hand. He encourages them on their quest and sends them on their way.

          By nightfall, the star rises, and so do their hopes. Once again, the mysterious messenger goes before them, this time leading them southward. The star stops at the quiet village of Bethlehem and rests over a small house. The voices of the Magi hush as they enter the humble surroundings that form a cathedral for their worship. They greet the holy family with quiet respect. When they see the baby, they bow before Him, giving their praise as they tremble with joy. With the humblest of gestures and fewest of words, they offer their gifts. The Magi spend the night in Bethlehem, talking among themselves, trying to understand it all. “Herod in his palace and the heir to the throne hosted in the corner of some tumbledown house?” The newborn King birthed in Bethlehem of all places. Why here? The Magi might have asked, "why are we the only ones who came?" “What secret is God keeping with this child?”

          That night an angel visits Joseph. He bolts upright in bed, heart pounding, and eyes wide as Roman coins. Joseph shakes Mary awake and tells her the dream. Mary throws up her covers and bundles up Jesus while Joseph gathers what little food and personal belongings they have. Thoughts race through his mind as he packs. Egypt. We have no money to go to Egypt. And what will we do when we get there? How will a foreigner like me find work in Egypt? Joseph gathers up the gifts of the Magi, the pouch of gold, the costly frankincense, and the precious bottle of myrrh. And suddenly he realizes, God has not only pointed the way but has also provided the way. With the saddlebag of treasure draped over his arm, Joseph eases open the door, and they tiptoe into the night, telling no one where they are going or why. Mary rides on the donkey while Joseph leads the way on foot, carrying Jesus in his arms. But as they leave the stable, the baby cries.

          Joseph wheels around, his eyes intense, Mary motions for him to give her the baby. By dawn, the holy family is long gone. For now, they are safe; Jesus has escaped the sword. But Mary will never escape the memories of that night. Deep in her heart, she will always fear that one day that Roman sword will find her son and finish the work it started in Bethlehem.

          As the morning washes over His cheeks, the sleeping Savior wakes and yawns. The first thing He sees is His mother’s eyes, eyes that are suddenly flooded with tears. Unable to understand anything but the language of His mother’s face, and already Jesus is an enemy of the state. Unable to talk, and already He is targeted for assassination. Unable to crawl, and already a fugitive fleeing for His life. What secret was God keeping with this child? A secret so terrifying it could scarcely be uttered without causing the heavens to tremble and the stars to fall from the sky. The secret? On that starlit night in Bethlehem, God came to earth to do the one thing He could not do in heaven. He came to die.

          Lessons worth pondering

1. The Sovereignty of God and the Evil schemes of Man vv. 7-8

          In the birth of Jesus, we see that the evil schemes of men and women cannot override the sovereign will of God. Herod and his advisors could not destroy the King of Kings. Herod the Great finally died and all his terror died with him. On whose side are you? Are you on the side of Jesus, or you are one of those who want to destroy His work? When you join a church do you join to see the church move forward, or you are a troublemaker, who want to destroy what the Lord is doing? Are you on the Lord’s side, or are you against Him? Any time you fight with the Lord you are always the loser, but today you can be on the Lord’s side once and for all.

2. The Visit and Worship of the Magi vv. 9-12

          God meets people where they are. Since the Magi were astrologers who understood the significance of the stars, God used the familiar to direct them to the place of the birth of the King of Kings. God knows your language and when He speaks to you, He does it in ways that you understand Him. When the Magi went and worshiped the King of Kings and gave Him their gifts, their lives were transformed. They did not return the same way they had gone. They took a different route under the direction of an angel. When the Lord Jesus Christ saves you, you do not go back to your old way of life. You leave His presence a transformed person, with a new ambition, vision, and perspective. These Magi would never be the same.

3. Divine Guidance and Refuge in Egypt vv. 13-15

          Just as God brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt to inaugurate His original covenant with them, so again God is bringing the Messiah, who fulfills the hopes of Israel, out of Egypt as He is about to inaugurate His new covenant. Are you a Christian, are you a child of God; are you in the center of God’s will? If you are, there is divine plan for your life and there is an unseen hand that protects you. God’s purpose for your life will prevail as opposed to what the enemy has planned for you. Am I speaking to somebody today?
                                    Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.