The gifts that the Magi brought to honor Jesus are often cited in any attempt to explain the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas. Too often, however, our focus at Christmas is more of the gifts we receive, rather than the Gift God gave.
A family celebrated Christmas each year by singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, baking a cake for Him, and set¬ting an extra chair at the table to re¬mind them of His presence. As Christmas Day was winding down, a friend asked the five-year-old daughter if she had gotten everything she wanted for Christmas. She paused a moment and responded, “No, but it wasn’t my birthday.” Her understanding of Christmas may be more biblical than most of us.
God gave the gift of His "one and only Son" (John 3:16). That is what Christmas is all about! And as John 3:16 tells us, the eternal destiny of each individual is determined by his or her response to the Gift God gave at Christmas.
Today, I want us to think about responding to Christmas, that is, to what Christmas is all about - the fact that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life" - John 3:16 (NIV).
In the responses of Herod and the Magi, we see the two ways in which people can respond to the message of Christmas today.
1. Some, Like Herod, Reject The Gift Of God’s Son
As we think of how Herod refused to accept the fact that the Messiah had arrived, we note . . .
A. His Problem - v. 3
Herod’s problem was that he had bought into "the lie." That is, the lie that is at the root of all unbelief and rebellion against God in this world, the notion that we know better what is best for us than God does, the idea that we can and should be our own “god.”
Satan first introduced this lie in the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve.
“For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” - Genesis 3:5 (NIV)
Jesus declared that it is by this same lie that Satan works to deceive mankind.
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of IT.” - John 8:44 (NKJV)
To what is Jesus referring when He speaks of “IT?” Some believe he is referring to the practice of lying, which, no doubt is true. But I would suggest that Jesus is specifically referring to the lie that is at the root of all unbelief and rebellion against God, the lie that Satan told Adam and Eve in the Garden and the lie by which He will one day, through the work of the Anti-Christ, lead all of unbelieving mankind in rebellion against God.
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe THE LIE and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NIV)
We live in a day in which this notion that I can be my own God has reached new overt status in the “New Age” movement.
I heard a testimony of one Christian worker who engaged himself in conversation with a New Ager and asked him a question made popular by the Evangelism Explosion training program. He asked, “When you die, what will you say to God when He asks you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” The New Ager responded, “I am God, and I would never ask myself that question.”
Herod didn’t want to deal with that question either! Why? For the same reason people today do not want to deal with that question! Herod didn’t want to give up his throne! He had bought into the lie that he could be his own "God," and he had no intention of giving up the throne of his life to anyone else!
B. His Pretense - vs. 7-8
Herod made the pretense that he wanted to worship Christ. But that was not the case at all. Instead, Herod was trying to work this situation to his advantage.
Many today are trying to do the same thing with Christmas. They don’t want the Christ of Christmas, they just want to observe the holiday.
Herod made a pretense that he wanted to worship Christ, but he really had something else in mind.
C. His Plan - v. 12
Herod wanted to secretly arrange for the murder of Jesus. That’s why he had secretly asked the Magi when they had observed the star. He wanted to determine how old the child was that he wanted to murder. When the Magi didn’t return and he didn’t know which child it was, this information was helpful to him. He simply had every child under the age that Jesus would have been by this time murdered (verse 16).
Herod mistakenly thought that he could thwart God’s purpose in the birth of the Messiah. How foolish!
Perhaps you’ve heard stories about stupid criminals? One such story is told about a fellow had too much to drink and decided to rob a convenience store to support his habit. He stumbled into the store and pulled a gun on the startled clerk. The drunk yelled, “Give me all your money or I’ll call the police!”
The clerk chuckled and said, “Ok - call the police - here’s the phone.” The drunk mumbled back, “You’re crazy if you don’t think I’ll do it!” Well, he called the police. He really did. And they really arrested him.
That man’s foolish attempt to rob that convenience store was just as futile as was Herod’s attempt to thwart the purposes of God.
But one other point needs to be made about the response of Herod. Herod’s response of rejection was one of antagonism, but he wasn’t the only one guilty of rejecting the Messiah. The religious leaders also rejected the gift of God’s Son. Their rejection was not antagonistic, but apathetic. It has been pointed out that the entourage of the Magi must have been so impressive that the whole city took note (v. 3). Yet, despite the impressive sight of the Magi arriving and asking about the location of the Messiah, no one was moved to go and look for Him, even though, like the religious leaders, they knew exactly where to go! This teaches us a lesson about rejecting Christ - to not receive Christ is to reject Christ! You cannot "ride the fence!"
2. Some, Like the Magi, Rejoice In The Gift Of God’s Son
Note three things about how the Magi as they rejoiced in the gift of God’s Son:
A. Their Passion For Him - vs. 1-2
According to Myron Augsburger in the Communicator’s Commentary, “It is believed the magi came from Persia and were a tribe of priests. Herodotus says they were originally a tribe of Medes who became a priestly tribe much like the Levites in Israel. They became teachers of Persian kings and were skilled in philosophy and science.
As was common, such men of science and wisdom studied the stars. They believed a man’s destiny was influenced by the star under which he was born. If something spectacular appeared in the heavens, they felt that God was breaking into the natural order and announcing some special event. The magi, seeing this star, were convinced of an act of God in which the entry of a great king was being heralded to the world.
There was a general expectation at that time of an imminent messianic announcement. This is found in the writings of Josephus, the writings of wise men in the Middle East and in Greece and in the writings of Roman historians. At the time Jesus was born there was a general expectation that God would bring a person into the world who would deliver man from his bondage and limitations.”
Apparently the wise men took some length of time after the birth of Christ to arrive at Bethlehem. It may have been all of two years until they actually arrived and found the young child, Jesus. Which explains why Herod’s sought to kill all of the male children two years and under.
In verse 11 we read that "when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother." Finding them in a house, and the reference to a young child rather than to a babe are further indications of the elapsed time from the birth of Christ until the occasion when the magi arrived. All this speaks to their passion.
B. Their Praise Of Him - v. 11a
“Worship is the ‘Thank You’ that refuses to be silenced.” - Max Lucado
“All we could ever imagine, could ever hope for, He is. He is the Prince of Peace whose first coming has already transformed society but whose second coming will forever establish justice and righteousness. All this, and infinitely more, alive in an impoverished baby in a barn. That is what Christmas means - to find in a place where you would least ex¬pect to find anything you want, everything you could ever want.”
- Michael Card
That’s what the Magi found when that found Christ, and that’s what we find when we find Christ, today!
C. Their Perspective On Him - v. 11b
Through the gifts they gave, we see how the Holy Spirit led them to honor Christ’s . . .
1) Sovereignty - When the Magi presented gold, they honored Jesus with the very best that they possessed, and they recognized that Jesus was King. Gold was often paid in tribute to a king. That is what the wise men did. They paid tribute to Christ as King.
2) Sacrifice - Frankincense is a very costly and fragrant gum that is distilled from a tree that is found in Persia, India and Arabia, as well as the East Indies. The word actually means "whiteness," referring to the white colored juice which flows out of the wound in the tree. It was given three months to harden then sold in clumps of resin. It was highly fragrant when burned, and was, therefore, used in worship. It was also used as medicine and as perfume.
Frankincense is a picture of what Christ did for us on the cross. He gave Himself as a satisfactory offering for our sin.
“Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” - Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)
Once for all, O sinner, receive it!
Once for all, O brother, believe it!
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall.
Christ has redeemed us once for all.
3) Suffering - Myrrh is an aromatic gum produced from a bush that grew in Arabia and Ethiopia, and was obtained in the same way as frankincense. When it oozes from the wounded shrub, myrrh is yellow at first, but as it hardens, it changes to dark red. While frankincense represents sweetness, myrrh represents bitterness, at least to the taste.
It’s interesting to note that the Greek word for myrrh, "smurna", is the same as the name of the city and church that John was instructed to write to in the early chapters of the book of Revelation. This church was distinguished by its suffering (Revelation 2:8-11).
Myrrh was used chiefly in embalming the dead. It was also used as a perfume. Myrrh also had medicinal qualities, sometimes mingled with wine to form a stupefying potion. Such a drink was given to our Savior, when He was about to be crucified (Matthew 27:34).
Myrrh then is brought as a gift to acknowledge the suffering that Jesus partook of when He came into our world. Why did He refuse the drink? Because He had already drunk it. He had prayed at first that He could be spared the cup, but then He submitted to His Father’s will and drank it - the bitter cup of His suffering.
Such was the wise men’s perspective concerning the One they had come to honor. They acknowledged that He was the King of Kings, come to earth to suffer and offer Himself as a sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world. No wonder they bowed before Him!
Likewise, as we consider the fact that Christ was born to die; that He came to the cradle so He might come to the cross, you and I should likewise bow our knees and hearts to Him!
"Lord, bend that proud and stiff-necked I, Help me to bow the head and die; Beholding Him on Calvary, Who bowed His head and died for me." - Roy Hession - The Calvary Road
Conclusion:
During World War II an American plane was flying a mission in Africa. Under the cloak of night they flew toward their desti¬nation of Benghazi in North Africa. A strong tail wind pushed the plane much faster than expected. When the instruments revealed they had reached their destination, the crew members apparently kept flying in disbelief of the gauges. They felt the instruments must be wrong so they pressed on, looking for a beacon light that was already miles behind. Eventually, the plane ran out of fuel and the entire crew died when they crashed in the desert.
Don’t let the strong winds of Christmas activity cause you to miss the beacon of the star that shown over Bethlehem to announce that which God was doing that would forever change the world! To look to that star and understand it’s message could forever change your life!
