Different Direction (Hix)

Matthew 2:1-12- 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,

saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Hearing about birth of Jesus does not produce the same emotion in all that witness the events that surround the birth of baby Jesus.

When Herod The King Heard This, He Was Troubled, And All Jerusalem With Him.

Wise Men-When They Saw The Star, They Rejoiced With Exceedingly Great Joy.

Verse 8-And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

Some are interested in Jesus, and inquire about Him but have different motives- some want to worship and adore Him, some want to mock, oppose, and rebel against Him.

The wise men met two kings.

One was a wicked king, who would do anything to keep his kingdom, anything to promote his kingdom, anything thing to advance his kingdom…He would shed innocent blood for his kingdom (Verse 16-Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.)

The other was a righteous King, who would do anything for the individuals of His kingdom, He would do anything to promote His kingdom, anything to advance His kingdom and He would shed His own innocent blood for His kingdom!!

In what kind of kingdom does the King die for the peasants or citizens of that kingdom?

In what kind of kingdom does the peasants or citizens of that kingdom have access to the King at anytime or on any day?

In what kind of kingdom does the peasants or citizens of that kingdom have access to all of the wealth of the kingdom?

In what kind of kingdom does the peasants or citizens of that kingdom get to set down at the table of the king?

Only in the Kingdom of God!! Only in the Kingdom of God does a worm such as I, get to partake of all the blessings of the Kingdom!!

Verse 12-Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Did you catch that?

They left a different way, than the way they had come!

See, you have a choice after meeting Jesus, you can decide to go in different direction than you been going or you can continue right back down the road you were on before you met Him!

You can go your way or go His Way!!

The problem is a lot of people have met Jesus and continued down the road they were going…That’s bad and sad!

But there are other people who have met Jesus and where changed and started down a different path in life…That’s good!

But then there are those people who have met Jesus and have stayed right where they met Him…(Spiritually speaking, they haven‘t grown as Christian, they haven‘t moved on in their faith!)….That’s bad and sad!!