When Jesus Comes to Be My King

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!