CHRISTMAS FROM THE GOSPELS, Part 4
Celebrate Christmas All Year
Matthew 2:1-11
INTRODUCTION:
A. Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
1. Three kings are often associated with Christ and Christmas, probably because of this passage and the Christmas carol we just sag a few minutes ago
2. But please note a few introductory things from this one verse.
a. The incident is brought about by Christ’s birth – otherwise there would be no reason for the long trip from the East.
b. Those who traveled were wise men: “Magos” is the Greek word meaning: scientists (to include astrologers), magicians, maybe even sorcerers – they were not kings – thought they were rich.
- Oh, by the way, we are never told there were only three – we assume that because there are three different types of gifts mentioned.
c. And finally, they arrived in Jerusalem (probably about two years after Jesus’ birth – derived from verse 16) in the reign of Herod the king, also known as Herod the Great.
B. So, some of you might be wondering what we are doing giving a “Christmas” message this first Sunday in January.
1. I believe this story makes it appropriate, but more than that, I believe we can find in this story the means to Celebrate Christmas All Year.
2. These wise men were anticipating, seeking, and worshipping the Christ for quite a while.
3. There are a number things mentioned that can help us Celebrate Christmas All Year if we will just remember to do them
a. Seek After God
b. Enquire Of God
c. Rejoice in God
d. Worship the God
e. And Give To God.
C. When we do these things with a godly and holy attitude we will, in effect, be celebrating Christmas.
1. It is all about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. So Lets Look and learn from our passage of Scripture today, how we can Celebrate Christmas All Year.
PRAY
We begin this morning by understanding that we are never finished learning about God ant therefore we must continue to
I. SEEK AFTER GOD, Matt 2:1 & 8
A. As we read the narrative we see two passages that speak to us about this seeking
1. Matt 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2. Matt 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child;….
B. Seeking is not an easy thing.
1. As we read verse one we need to know that the wise men had spent a considerable amount of time, money and personal sacrifice to get to Jerusalem.
2. Two of the most regarded views are that they were either, Babylonians, originating from present day Iraq or Medes or Persians from somewhere in present day Iran
3. The distance from Babylon is about 500 miles as the crow flies, but Answer.com said by caravan it would be about 1000 miles because of the twisty route it made. (at twenty miles a day it would be 25-50 day journey – more if it was from further away than Babylon)
4. I give you this to show that it was labor, time and cost intensive.
5. We must count the cost and be willing to do what it takes to seek Him
6. And for our purposes today when I say “seek Him,” I mean, getting to know the Lord better for who He is.
7. It started with the shepherds, is seen in the wise men and must continue in our present day through us
8. To Celebrate Christmas All Year we must continually seek Him.
The second thing I would like us to consider is we need to
II. ENQUIRE OF GOD, Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
A. For many reasons, which we will not go into this morning, the wise men knew that there was a special birth, one of which they figured everyone in Jerusalem would know about.
1. Sadly so few did.
2. Obviously the people did not, the wise men ended up at the palace.
3. Herod did not know – He asks the chief priests
4. The priest knew the scripture but not the reality
5. And until the wise men arrived, no one was seeking or enquiring.
B. Here we see men asking men, but that does not need to happen today, we can go directly to God through Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. Each of us can enquire of God through Christ.
2. Our prayer life is to have, as a part of it, a time of enquiry - seeking God and his direction
3. James said, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
4. Folks, we can glorify God, and in part Celebrate Christmas all Year, when we enquire of Him, because it shows our understanding that we are not sufficient, in and of ourselves.
5. The babe came to show us the way to God and give us the opportunity to enquire of Him.
To Celebrate Christmas All Year we must Seek after God, Enquire of God and thirdly
III. REJOICE IN GOD, Matthew 2:9-10 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw 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 exceeding great joy.
A. As the wise men continued their search for the King of the Jews they were encouraged and rejoiced when they saw the star appear, again.
1. You can understand this, they had come a long way to get stumped now.
2. The star gave them assure that they were on the right track and became a point of joy and rejoicing.
3. Think for a minute – here were wise men, they had to have realized that something was not right with Herod: first his unawareness of the situation and then his sudden desire to know.
4. As they stepped out of the city and headed on their way, the star’s re-appearance gave them hope and was the source of their joy!
5. Especially as they found the house of this young king!
B. If you are a true Christian, you rejoice in the birth of our Savior – the bright and morning star.
1. And we should, because we know Him to be the king of heaven and earth
2. And one day He is coming to set up His kingdom on this earth and He will rule in righteousness and truth.
3. The wise men were able to rejoice because they had taken the time and made the effort to seek and enquire
4. We will never see the Lord as He really is unless we seek after Him and enquire of Him
5. In doing so, however, we will rejoice with joy unspeakable!
C. To have a new year full of Joy, will you commit yourself, to seek and enquire of the Lord?
1. Will you rejoice in the love and goodness of our Savior, as He reveals Himself to you?
2. It could have taken these wise men as much as two years, from the first sighting of the star to their final arrival at the Kings home, yet they kept seeking, enquiring and finally rejoicing as their search was rewarded.
3. Two years after Christ’s birth they were celebrating Christmas!
At this point we might think things could not get any better but they do: for when we seek after God, enquire of God and rejoice in God we will be brought to the place where we
IV. WORSHIP THE GOD, Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:…
A. In their day it was not unusual for people to worship a king, in fact, in may cultures the king was believed to be god or one of his descendents
1. Now I doubt the wise men knew the One they worshipped was the One who made the world they lived in and formed them in their mother’s womb.
2. Whether out of ignorance or wisdom they worshipped Him – they did not need to know all or understand all, they acted on what was revealed to them.
3. They worshipped the one and only God.
B. Folks, we should worship the Lord God almighty everyday, because we have a Savior, and we don’t have to worship out of ignorance – we have God’s word!
1. He is no longer a babe in a manger or a child in town but our risen Lord!
2. Having fulfilled God’s gracious plan of salvation for us, dying upon the cross and rising from the dead, He is now at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us
3. And one day, He is coming again to take us to be with Him and descend upon this world to become its lawful, one and only king!
- On a personal note, I don’t mind dying to go see Him, but I really want to be alive on earth at the rapture – what a rush that is going to be!
4. But for now we can worship Him, not just on Sunday, not just at Christmas, but all year!
This brings us to the last thing I want us to realize if we want to Celebrate Christmas all Year
V. GIVE TO GOD, Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they…fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
A. The wise men gave themselves fist and foremost to seek, enquire, rejoice and worship the king, then they gave Him gifts
1. What a true pattern.
2. You may say, Well they had too – exactly - the giving of things like time, talents, and money is to come out of first giving of ourselves – our heart - entirely to Him!
3. It is only then that we can find joy in the act of giving!
B. Giving to God, through our tithes & offerings, and giving him of our time and talents is a wonderful act of worship and provides ample opportunity to Celebrate Christmas All Year.
- Think about it Christmas is the season of giving! Praise God!
CONCLUSION:
A. This morning we have examined a means by which we can Celebrate Christmas All Year
B. Let’s make a commitment to follow this pattern set forth by the wise men: Seek After God, Enquire Of God, Rejoice In God, Worship The God and Give To God, that we might become wise men ourselves
C. As we see all things associated with Christmas come alive in our daily lives we will indeed be able to Celebrate Christmas All Year!
