WISE MEN STILL SEEK THE KING
INTRO: (From Sermon Central dot com).
Retailers of all sorts are frantically slashing prices on their merchandise to entice consumers to buy more stuff, to get more goodies. Here are some 2008 sample ads collected in one week:
• Wal-Mart wants us to buy more so we will “live better.” (Unless, of course, we get trampled to death buying more).
• A TV commercial Mom says she wants to see her kids doing the “present dance” - hyper children ripping and tearing and prancing around piles and piles of ripped open packages.
• Sears proclaims our purchases will fulfill all the “dreams” of others.
• Television commercial promises: “Change your TV, Change your life.”
OPENING: After being away on business, a man thought it would be nice to bring his wife a little gift. “How about some perfume?” he asked the cosmetics clerk. She showed him a bottle costing $100.00. “That’s a bit much,” he said, so she returned with a smaller bottle for $50.00. “That’s still quite a bit,” he complained. Growing annoyed, the clerk brought out a tiny $25.00 bottle. “You know,” he said, “What I mean is that I’d like to see something really cheap.” The clerk handed him a mirror.
THE BIG IDEA: The wise men from the east teach us two valuable lessons. If we want to experience the joy of Christmas, then we must seek the King, and worship Him today.
The Bible says, "If you walk with the wise, you will become wise." We are going to ’walk’ with the wise men today and learn from them.
THE BIBLE STORY:
“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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 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. 5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ’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.’ " 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 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."
• The characters in the story: King Herod, and the wise men.
• Herod was one of the first to hear the good news, and he could have been changed.
• Herod had been an able ruler, governing Palestine on behalf of Caesar Augustus.
• He had had 10 wives, and had killed most of them, and killed several of his children as well. Caesar Augustus said, “I’d rather be Herod’s pig than his son.”
• Old and ill from arteriosclerosis, Herod worried that no one would mourn his death. So he issued orders from his deathbed that leaders from all parts of Judea were to be massacred, so there would be mourning associated with his death.
• However, King Herod wouldn’t seek the King or worship Him. He wanted to cling to his own power and authority. He wasn’t a ‘wise’ man.
9 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. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 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.” (Matt. 2:1-11).
1. THE WISE MEN WERE SEEKING THE KING.
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13).
• Why did they find the King, when Herod did not?
• They were seeking the King with all of their hearts.
• They did whatever it took to find Jesus.
WHO WERE THEY SEEKING?
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins… Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us.” (Matt. 1:21,23).
• Jesus is a treasure well worth our time to seek!
2. THE WISE MEN WORSHIPPED THE KING.
“They worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matt. 2:11).
• Isn’t it odd that we celebrate Jesus’ birthday by giving presents to ourselves?
• If it’s Jesus’ birthday, why isn’t he getting the presents? Maybe we change that rule at Christmas because we don’t want to think about what kind of presents Jesus would like.
WHAT KIND OF GIFTS DID THE WISE MEN GIVE TO JESUS?
• Gold – a gift worthy of a King. The gift they were giving was their very best. King David said once, "I will not offer to my Lord something that costs me nothing."
• Frankincense – was a symbolic gift representing our worship and praise to the Lord.
• Myrrh – was a burial spice, and reminds us that we need to die to ourselves.
• “I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?” (Romans 12:1).
WHAT WAS THE END RESULT?
• “They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” (Matt. 2:10).
• There is a joy that comes from seeking and worshipping Jesus!
• Herod never experienced that joy, or peace or satisfaction in life, because he wasn’t willing to step down off the throne and acknowledge the true King.
CLOSING: What is your Christmas present to Jesus? Seek Him and Worship Him!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
