Nov 2013, Gospel of Matthew: Homiletic paper
I. INTRODUCTION
Good
morning, Church! Let's stand up and read the scriptural passage found in
Matthew 2:1-12, as a precious message for us during this Christmas season.
Matthew 2:1-12, here it goes,
1After
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from
the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has
been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to
worship him.” 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all
Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s
chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to
be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what
the prophet has written: 6“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of
Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will
come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’7 Then Herod called
the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8 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.” 9 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. 10 When they saw the
star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the
child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they
opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and
myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod,
they returned to their country by another route.
When we
think about Christmas, we think about so many wonderful things. Yes! The world
will think about gifts, food, friends, love, peace, Christmas party, Santa
Claus, ginger, turkey and Christmas trees etc. And Church, what do we think of?
We think of most of the things the world thinks, but on top of that, we think
of Christmas outreach, carols, choirs, Joseph & Mary, Magi, the shepherds,
angels, sketch and messages and the most important thing, a Savior is born to
us!
Yes! We
think of all these things. And throughout the history, when Christmas is
celebrated, when Christmas season is approaching, we could literally sense that
an atmosphere of peace and joy permeate everywhere! People are in a celebrative
mood, and it seems like Christmas has infused in us vigor and vitality and a
great hope for the coming year!
But to
the people of those days when Jesus was born in Judah, their reactions were
complicated and were in a mixture. Some were overjoyed, some were fearful, some
were disturbed, and yet some were indifferent. To them, they were told that a
King was born! The King who would rule and reign over every aspect of their
nation and even the world was born! It should be an excited event and news as
'the new born King' was presumed in the mind of many Jews the promised King who
would redeem them from their oppressors and restore their magnificent Kingdom
of David. But when the reality stroke, his birth actually turned out to be sad
news for most of the people in the land of Judah.
Today as
we celebrate Christmas, let's ask ourselves a question, 'What would be my
response if Jesus is born to be the King of my personal life?" Would I
rejoice as I used to be rejoicing over the season of Christmas, or will I be
disturbed too as I am concerned about how He is going to rule and reign over my
life? We will look into the reactions of these respective groups of people, and
reflect upon those reasons behind their reactions, and ponder about our own
reactions as Christians who are called to allow Jesus to be enthroned as the
King in our lives.
II. WHEN
JESUS IS BORN TO BE MY KING
In
Matthew chapter 2 verses 1-12 Matthew tells us another aspect of the background
story of Jesus' birth. The characters involved here were Herod the King of
Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,
and the Magi. These four groups of people had their own concerns and interests
towards Jesus, the child, and they reacted very differently towards the news of
the born of the King of the Jews. Let's hear about their inner concerns and
feelings individually.
1. I AM
DISTURBED BECAUSE HE TREATHENS ME AS A KING
3When
King Herod heard this he was disturbed,
4When
he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law,
he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time
the star had appeared. 8 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.”
V3 tells
us that King Herod was disturbed when he heard about the news of a new born
King of Jews. Herod was a half Jews and a half Idumaean and he was a ruthless
king. He was always worried and concerned about people's acceptance of him for
he was not a pure Jews, and he was obsessed with his power and authority as
being the king of Jews that he tried all his best to keep his throne intact, by
killing and removing those who were considered to be threatening to his
kingship, even his own wife, his mother-in-laws and his sons.
To
Herod, Jesus' born posed a fatal threat to him. Jesus was born with Jewish
pedigree, and he was well informed of the Messiah who was to come as the King
and Redeemer for the Jews. If Jesus was really to be the Messiah the coming
King, he would have to lose his kingship. Herod was too concerned about his own
agenda that he ignored God's plan and even tried to rebel against and disrupt
the will of God. V4 says that he collected information from the chief’s priests
and the teachers of the law and v7-8 disclose his evil intention by craftily
sending away the Magi as a channel for him to locate Jesus, the child, so that
he could worship him, when indeed his sole purpose was to kill him.
Herod's
reaction reminds us about the attitude of those believers who are half-hearted
and self-centered, who have their own agenda and who have put their personal
interests before God's. That is why they will always tend to refuse to allow
God to be their personal King and to even try to hinder God's work so that their
own pursuits could be achieved.
If we
are half-hearted and self-centered; if we call ourselves Christians yet we have
always make ourselves the King over our lives, it will be an agonized moment
when Jesus wants to enter our hearts and be the King dwelling in our innermost.
We will be like Herod, occupied with the concerns that He might take away our
rights, our privileges, our preferences, our wants and our dreams etc. Do we
find a Herod in our spirit or our soul this morning? Jesus comes and He wants
to be more than a Savior in our lives, He wants to be our King. Matthew tells
us the child was born to be a King. Christmas season should serve to remind us
that He is born to be our King.
So,
welcome Jesus joyfully as whom He is personally to us. Sing praises and give
thanks because He is given to us more than a Savior, but a King. Do not behave
like Herod, for he planned to secretly do away with this child, the King. Many
of us are worshippers of Christ, but we might not worship Him as our King. Our
worship might be just a religious and superficial cover up. We try to worship
Jesus before men, but in our hearts we tend to secretly put him aside.
Do we
surprise this morning to discover that we might be just one of the Herods, who
was his own King and persisted to be the King when indeed he was told that the
King of Jews, the real King of his people was already born and ready to be
received and honored and worshipped by him? Make Jesus your King, and Christmas
will be much more meaningful than you have perceived.
If Jesus
were not your King, His presence might cause you fears rather than peace, both
for Herod, and the second group of people we will look at this morning, the
people of Jerusalem.
2. I AM
FEARFUL BECAUSE HIS KINGSHIP PUTS ME TO DANGERS
3.......and
all Jerusalem with him.
When
Herod was disturbed, all Jerusalem was disturbed with him too. William Barclay,
one of the commentators, explains to us the reasons why all Jerusalem was
disturbed. I have mentioned in above the ruthless acts of Herod towards those
who were considered by him to be threatening. The people of Jerusalem was aware
of his cruelty, and they knew immediately that he would do all sorts of nasty
just to make sure that he got rid of the child. For those families who had new
born babies or children, they were panic and anxious over the safety of their
children. Even for those who do not have babies, they expected yet another
terrible massacre. Nobody knew how worst the situation could have become.
For the
common Jews of those days, they had been believed in a Jewish Messiah, a Savior
and a Liberator for their nation. They apparently knew that Herod was not the
candidate and they were actually still waiting for the One to come. When the
news spread out with the arrival of the Magi, that there was a 'new born King
of Jews', they should be comforted and their spirits should be uplifted by the
good news. Yet they were troubled deeply inside instead. The Savior came but
they distrusted that He would be powerful enough to be their deliverers, from
the hands of the Romans as well as from Herod. Jesus was just a baby then. A
baby was incapable to rescue them from the dangers they were exposed to. His
birth did not bring them joy, but anxiety.
Some of
us are like the people of Jerusalem. Often our faith does not go in line with
our confession. We confess that we believe in God who is Almighty, who is
all-powerful, who is sovereign and who is known to be omnipotent, omniscient
and omnipresent. Yet when the persecutions come and we have to suffer for our
faith, we become helpless and fearful to see the challenges arisen and the
difficulties or dangers loomed. We tend to focus our attention on the imminent
problematic issues rather than trusting in our God.
I share
with you about a vision I received in a prayer meeting. I saw a booth in the
entrance of a grandeur building, and there was a security guard stationing
there. The residence was glamour but without any occupant. The Lord spoke to me
that the grandeur building signified the Church and the people of God. The
security guard was His identity perceived in the eyes of His people. He has
been guarding over our safety, and He has been stationed there outside to keep
us from many dangers and harms, but He has never been invited into His own
palace, His Church. Church, do we keep God outside our hearts like a security
guard who has to stay in a small booth adjacent to our main house yet never
allow Him to be where He is supposed to be? He is not a security guard. He is
the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. He deserves a deluxe room or a
spacious place in our heart! Indeed, He shall be the owner, the only occupant
who dominates our entire beings.
In the
midst of troubles, our reactions speak of where we have placed our confidence.
In the midst of challenges, our reactions tell us if Jesus has ever been
enthroned in our hearts. In the face of persecutions or dangers, we could be
strengthened and encouraged if God does dwell in our heart. Make Him room and
worship Him as who He is, and we will be free from any entanglement of fears
for we know that He is truly our Savior, our King, who is responsible for our
safety and deliverance.
3. I AM
INDIFFERENT BECAUSE HE IS JUST THE KING PROMISED IN SCRIPTURE
4When
he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law,
he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in
Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6“‘But
you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of
Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’
The
chief priests and the teachers of the law were both the religious leaders over
the Jewish people. As they were learned men of OT Scripture, they were summoned
by Herod for an explanation and clarification about Christ's birth. And without
disappointing Herod, they referred him to the passage in Micah 5:2.
Yet the
reaction of the chief priests and the teachers of the law perplex us. They were
so confident of their sayings and learning, yet their actions spoke another
thing. In common sense, they should be the very first group of the people in
Judah who would be searching high and low for the Savior, the King. Yet they
remained unaffected and indifferent after telling Herod about the prophecy.
They paid their efforts studying God and His Word, but the sad thing was that
their hearts were not well prepared to usher their King. They were reluctant
indeed to allow the King in their Scripture to be personified and lived and
ruled among their community.
Unknowingly,
Jesus Christ and Bible and Christianity might become just another 'study' and
'knowledge' for us that we are too dumbed and too insensitive spiritually likes
the chief priests and the teachers of the law. Our devotion of study of Scripture
should make us closer to God rather than drifting further away from Him. Our
theology and Bible studies need to condone a living King who really wants to
direct our path and determine our future. Otherwise, our responses would be
like these two Jewish groups when Jesus wants to come into our lives to be the
King. We have to believe Him to be God the King who is alive. If we perceive
Him only to be a prophetic figure that is distant and inactive and is only
found available in Scripture we read, we have missed out a sweet encounter with
our King in this Christmas season.
Ask
ourselves yet another question, 'Will I recognize my King when He appears
before me? Am I truly excited for Him as my King?' We might say yes because we
know the content of the Bible. Think about the chief priests and the teachers
of the law, they knew everything in details about the Law, yet they missed out
the very One they looked for. Will we miss out the King whom we worship and
hear about this morning? Do we clean our mansions and reserve for His lodging
now onwards?
Make Him
King! Pursue Him and see Him alive in our midst! And that was what exactly the
Magi did!
4. I AM
OVERJOY BECAUSE I WELCOME HIM AS MY KING
1After
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from
the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has
been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to
worship him.”
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to
the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and
worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of
gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Magi
represent a group of people who are sincere with their beliefs. They were
specially mentioned because of their foreign nature. First of all, they were
not Jews, but probably Persians or people from the East. Secondly they were not
worshippers of Yahweh; instead they were pagan worshippers and astrologers who
studied the stars. Thirdly they purposely came all the way from afar to worship
the King of Jews. And, lastly, they brought with them gifts which spoke of
their love and honor towards the new born King.
Some
suggested that the Magi observed the heavenly phenomenon and believed that
there would be a great king born who would rule over the entire world. Just
like Persians and Greeks who used to rule over the region, and then followed by
Romans, it seems that the people in those days were expecting a greater hero
who would deliver them from the hands of the Roman Empire.
The
worship of Magi might seem to be driven by some political interest, but their
sincerity was undeniable. They were far better than any of the Jews who paid no
attention to their future King. They travelled a long journey, seeking high and
low, just to offer their gifts to a baby who would be too much earlier to
assume his kingship and power. In fact, they could not gain any political
interests at that moment other than paying their homage and demonstrating their
love and adoration towards the child.
The
Magi's attitude reminds me of a legendary incident happened in the life of
Abraham Lincoln when he held his presidency in America. Many people came to him
to seek for political advice and all of them carried with them personal agenda.
But there was an old lady who brought with her a box of home-baked biscuit and
met the president in his office. The president asked gently, "Lady, what
can I do for you?" The old lady shook her head and said in a loving voice,
"No, Mr. President. I have nothing to ask from you. You are so busy
handling the national issues and I just think of baking for you some biscuit so
as to appreciate you." Lincoln was greatly moved by the love and affection
demonstrated by this old lady and said, "Lady, there are many people who
look for me because they need my help. But you are the only one who comes with
your genuine love for me."
It is
good if we continue to search our hearts to discover the motives of our
worship. If we were to bring before God gifts or offerings, the motive must be
purely showing our love and gratitude for Him. We do not bring gifts to make an
exchange in order to receive His favor or His help. God will still be our God
and He still loves us unconditionally even if we do not bring any gifts for
Him. But He wants our authentic worship. He wants our full devotion. The Magi
brought more than their gifts, but their love and their appreciation. They
honored the King without making any of their personal requests. If Jesus is my
King, it is my obligation to serve and to honor Him, to bow down to Him and to
offer and subject myself entirely to Him.
III. CONCLUSION
We are
heading towards the eschatological day when Jesus Christ will come the second
time, and most of the Christians are waiting expectantly for the parousia. Many
have devoted extensive resources studying the end-time signs and having variety
of forums sharing and discussing of the probable date of His coming. Our zeal
is no less than those 'biblical scholars' of Jesus' day. But when he actually
came, they either ignored him, fearful of having him born in their midst or
even tried to harm him. Only the pagans came and worship and bless him. If
Christ comes and we are exposed to dangers and threats and persecution, which
group of people we might be?
The four
reactions of the people of Jesus' day could serve as a vivid reminder for all
of us. We might be thinking that we are sincere believers of Christ until we
are challenged to allow Him to be our King. When Jesus wants to be our King, He
demands to have the ultimate seat in our heart. He wants to be the King who
rules and reigns over our lives. This Christmas, let's make a decision to
welcome Him as the King of our lives. Make Him King, and the real meaning of
Christmas, the eternal peace of God shall fill us with His wonderful presence.
Stand
with me if you choose to allow Jesus Christ to be your personal King this
morning, and we shall pray a prayer of commitment for the King to rule and to
reign in our lives. Stand with me too if you were first time hearing about
Jesus and would like to welcome Him as your personal Savior, Lord and King.
Father,
we commit ourselves before You as servants who will serve Your kingly purpose.
This Christmas we declare of our citizenship in heaven and our loyalty to You
the eternal King. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen!
Merry
Christmas and may God's blessings be upon all of us!
