Jan 18, 2026 "Meeting the King" (Matthew 2:1-12)

• Resurrecting
• Because He Lives
• This Is My Father's World

Dec 15, 2024 "The Heart of Waiting for Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-6)

 

The Heart of Waiting for Christmas  

Matthew 2:1-6 

 

Many people knew about Jesus but they responded differently. 

 

Matthew 2:1-2 ESV 

[1] Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  

 

King Herod wanted to keep his authority and did not like the news that there was another king of Jews. Sometimes we are like King Herod. We do not want Jesus to be our King and we do not want to submit to his authority 

 

The chief priests and the teachers of the law were aware of Jesus birth and identified where Jesus would be born. However, instead of going out to seek Jesus, they remained where they were with their knowledge. They were more interested in remaining in their place and their comfortable positions. Although they knew of the messiah and his coming, they were indifferent to this great news. 

 

Jesus came to the earth because He loved you. 

 

The Magi were also aware of Jesus' and followed a star to find Him. When they did find him, they worshipped him and gave gifts. 

 

The Magi demonstrated their understanding Jesus' kingship, humanity and divinity. They acknowledged his divinity and sacrificial love.  

 

We can choose to be like King Herod and cling onto our power and refuse to follow Jesus. We could also choose to be like the chief priests and scribes who know the scriptures but do nothing through indifference. Or we can be like the Magi and humble ourselves and seek out Jesus 

• O Come All Ye Faithful(Adeste Fideles)

• Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria)
• The First Noel

"Responding to Jesus"( Matthew 2:1-12)

 Matthew 2:1-12

 In This passage, there are three types of people defined by how they responded to the birth of Jesus.

The Magi went to king Herod because they thought he would know who the king of the Jews. King Herod was not happy about sharing his throne. He wants his way and does not want anyone telling him what to do.

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Matthew 2:3-4 ESV

So, king Herod wanted to know where this threat to his authority was.  In secret, he calls for the wise men. Most people do not do things in secret when it is virtuous or noble. But rather sinister and shameful.

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Matthew 2:7-8 ESV

Who is the king in your life? Is it Jesus who controls your life? How is your response to this?

Many times, we want to be king over our lives. We do not want Jesus in control of all aspects of our lives. We want Jesus to be our servant or slave. We do not want to be ruled completely or obey the word of God completely.

What is the word God? It is simply to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor.

The religious leaders knew where Jesus would be born. They knew the messiah would be born. They even taught b about the messiah. However, they did not respond. This is the other type of person.

and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:4-6 ESV

Having knowledge makes you responsible.  The high priests had the knowledge of God and the Messiah, but they did not respond.  We are the same. Christians have knowledge of Jesus, and we need to be active Christians.  We need to tell others about Jesus and his mercy.

 

saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:2 ESV

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11 ESV

The wise men do not hold back with their worship or gift giving. They respond as one should to God. They gave valuable gifts with meaning that showed their hearts' beliefs about Jesus. 

Gold represents Jesus’ authority as king.

Frankincense represents Jesus’ divinity.

Myrrh represents Jesus’ humanity.

Jesus is the perfect mediator. He is fully human and fully divine and had the authority of king. Therefore, Jesus can be our savior. However, it brings us back to how do we respond to Jesus. Do we put ourselves first like King Herod? Do we hold onto this knowledge and then do nothing? Or do we give our best to Jesus and let him be our king, our lord and true savior?

My Best Present to the Lord

Matthew 2:1-11

During the Christmas season, we give gifts to each other, but we often do not intentionally give gifts to Jesus, whose birthday is on Christmas. There is the story of the Wiseman and their gifts to Jesus to honor his birth and kingship.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11 ESV

When the wise man came and saw Jesus, they humbled themselves to worship Him. Part of their worship were valuable gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We also know that the Wiseman traveled a great distance to find the Lord. Sometimes, we find it hard to come to worship God. We come to church, yet our focus is elsewhere. We want to worship God, but our gifts have little value. The Wiseman had the hindrance of travel, but they still came and made worthy sacrifices. 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

Matthew 2:1 ESV

The Wiseman also had faith that they could travel away from their countries and their comfortable lives to look for the savior. There was no guarantee that they would find the savior or that the savior was out there to be found. This was not an easy task. We, too, like the Wiseman need to put God first. Is God included in your workplace, family, and love life? We will need to make sacrifices and be different from the people who are not followers of Christ. The Wiseman overcame the hindrance of doubt by their faith.

The Wiseman had also to overcome the hindrance of enemies of Christ. Some people worship God but not in truth and in spirit. King Herod's true intentions are revealed later.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Matthew 2:8 ESV

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Matthew 2:13 ESV

The Wiseman found Jesus because of a bright star. As Christians, we need to illuminate Christ like the Bethlehem Star, so those who are seeking can find Jesus.

saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:2 ESV

God will bless us, but we need to put God first. We need to put God first in all things.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

As Christians, we are soldiers for God, and we must fight for Jesus cause and endure suffering.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

2 Timothy 2:3‭-‬4 ESV

if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

2 Timothy 2:12 ESV

The Wiseman gave good gifts to Jesus. At the times, these were the best gifts to give to Jesus because these gifts were to prepare Him for His ministry and His resurrection. Today, the best present you can give the Lord is yourself. The best time to give yourself is now. In fact, God appeals us to give our lives fully. God needs us alive to serve him and a dead sacrifice will not work. A dead body is useless to God.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1 ESV

Often, we take advantage of God and His gentle mercy. We give ourselves more time before we get ourselves aligned with God's plans. Although we would never openly say we will not follow God, we do this with our decisions and actions.

We need to understand that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus. We also need to tell others that Jesus and his free gift is for them also.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 ESV

Let us be more intentional and thoughtful in our service and worship to God. God has blessed us and protected us during 2020, how can we give back to God.