The Star of “Christ”mas!
Matthew 2: 1-2 (NIV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.”
Prayer and Thanks to Pastor Smith, Pray for safe travels, peace and joyful holidays.
The Star of “Christ”mas!
My desire on this 3rd Sunday of December 2014 is to make sure that we do not forget to leave Christ in Christmas. As a reminder, the reason for the celebration is because of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is the day that we as Christians celebrate His birthday. Not unlike the Lord’s Supper, this is a time to remember Him; Jesus Christ, the arrived Messiah as Immanuel.
Lest we forget, the words written by John’s Gospel in chapter 3:17 - “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
And we all are very familiar with the preceding verses John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
So we are not only to celebrate Christ for His birth, but also for the purpose of His birth: Salvation to all. Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men”
People I’m hear to proclaim that: “Jesus is the arrived Messiah – no longer to be prophesied, no longer anticipated, no longer hoped for, He’s here! He’s with us”. Jesus is the arrived Messiah.”
Rightfully, He should be the Star of His Day. . . Right? As a matter of fact, you cannot have the word Christmas without leading it with Christ.
Isn’t a bit ironic that Christmas has come to symbolize the gathering of families, the sharing of laughter (with loved ones) and the breaking of bread ( in a warm setting). But think about it for a minute, in order for us to come together as a family, Jesus had to be separated from His family (his heavenly Father, His Family and His friends). It’s no wonder the angels were astonished and amazed to see their companion, God the Son, not in His glorious state, shedding elements of His deity to bring together humanity.
Luke 2:13-14: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
The star of Christmas is not the gifts we’ll receive as we celebrate the season. The Star of Christmas is not the hugs and kisses we’ll receive from those we most love. The Star of Christmas is not the elaborate feast with all the trimmings that we will thoroughly enjoy. The Star of Christmas is Christ.
So there are three things I’d like for you to do this holiday season to keep Christ “The Star of Christmas”. They each are called out in this text of scripture as recorded by Matthew 2:1-12
I. Seek Christ
Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.”
QUESTION: WHY DO YOU SEEK JESUS?
The wise men sought to worship Him. Crowds who were fed and healed sought to crown Him. His own sought to discredit Him. Religious leaders sought to trap Him. Roman soldiers sought to arrest Him. King Herod sought to kill Him.
Peter sought to honor Him (and defend Him). John and James (Son’s of Thunder”) sought to flank Him on His left and right. Some sought to touch Him. Nicodemus sought Him at night. Judas sought to betray Him. Satan sought to persuade Him.
QUESTION: WHY DO YOU SEEK JESUS?
Matthew shows us that salvation comes through the Jews, but it's not exclusively for the Jews.
The book of Daniel predicts that 483 years would pass from the time of the decree to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem until "Messiah the Prince" would come (Daniel 9:25).
Jesus received worship from magi who had light from the star, a distant, but very visible star. It’s illumination pales in comparison to the bright light we have today concerning the Lord Jesus, yet, they followed that distant light it until they reached the promised Messiah. So, how is it that we keeping missing Jesus. His light is ever so close, He daily directs our path, but we never reach him.
Many modern scholars do not consider the story to be describing a historical event but a pious fiction created by the author of the Gospel of Matthew.
Astronomers have made several attempts to link the star to unusual astronomical events, such as a conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn (and Mars), a comet or a supernova.
Some theologians claimed that the star fulfilled a prophecy, known as the Star Prophecy
We as Christians know the star as a miraculous sign to mark the birth of the Christ (or messiah).
Mormons believe that the Star was an actual astronomical event visible the world over, yet they fail to honor Jesus as God.
Among Jehovah's Witnesses the Star is seen as a product of Satan, since the star led the astrologers to Jerusalem where they met King Herod's plan to kill Jesus.
Seventh-day Adventist states, "That star was a distant company of shining angels, but of this the wise men were ignorant."
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. John 3:19
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
QUESTION: WHY DO YOU SEEK JESUS?
II. See Christ
Matthew 2:3-8 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 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. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘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.” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 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.”
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. Numbers 24:17 (NIV)
Jesus knows how to shake things up. . . .
"A stir begins as soon as Christ is born. He has not spoken a word; he has not performed one miracle; he has not proclaimed a single doctrine; but 'when Jesus was born,' at the very first, while as yet you hear nothing but infant cries, and can see nothing but infant weakness, still his influence upon the world is manifest. 'When Jesus was born, there came wise men from the east,' . . . . There is infinite power even in an infant Savior." (Spurgeon)
Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him: The fact that all Jerusalem was troubled with Herod is significant.
" It is a sad thing when a preacher is like a sign-post pointing the way but never following it, . . . . . Such were those chief priests at Jerusalem: they could tell where Christ was born, but they never went to worship him; they were indifferent altogether to him and to his birth." (Spurgeon)
To put it another way, we read the Word of God but do not comprehend it, we study but do not apply it, we attend Sunday service but do not live it.
Sadly, these experts had the right information but were personally uninterested in seeing the Messiah for themselves. There were so many signs pointing them to Christ, that they fail to see:
• The Prophet Micah whose prophesy they knew and whose name means - Who is like God? Gift from God.
• Jesus, whose name Joshua, which has the same meeting as the Messiah – A Savior/A Deliver
• Immanuel – God with Us
• Bethlehem – House of Bread / House of War
• Judea – to Praise
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘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.”
QUESTION: WHAT’S KEEPING YOU FROM SEEING CHRIST?
• Doubt Guilt Don’t feel Worthy Fear Pride Habit Shame
In Jeremiah 29 God says, “when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you search with all your heart, I will let you find me”.
Is your Heart Really in it? Or is it just a head thing?
The Bible says, humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you, he will lift up our eyes so we can see Jesus. James 4:10
There is one other reason we may not be able to see Jesus, and that is because our eyes and our minds and hearts and lives are simply too full of others things.
Will the holiday cheer keep you from seeing Jesus? Or Will it keep Christ as The Star of Christmas?
I wonder if we keep our eyes and hearts and minds so full that we have no room to see Jesus. I worry sometimes that we fill every moment of every day with so much that we crowd Jesus out. We can so easily become consumed with work, sports, entertainment, family and worry that we just don’t make room for Jesus.
Forgetting God: "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own." - Abraham Lincoln 1863
You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god— which you made for yourselves. Amos 5:26 (NIV)
QUESTION: WHAT’S KEEPING YOU FROM SEEING CHRIST?
III. Serve Christ
Matthew 2:9-12 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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
For the Magi, Herod the King did not become the highlight of their journey. Their desire was to see the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The Bright and Morning star was the focus of their attention. Some scholars say that the magi’s journey started over 2 years earlier and covered thousands of miles, while others say was less the 800 miles and only took several weeks. Nonetheless these wise men stayed true to their purpose and calling. They wanted to see and worship the Messiah.
Behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them: The star appeared again to guide them. Isn’t it amazing how distractions can throw you off track. But when your mind is stayed on Jesus. . . He’ll show up. . .
SONG: I WOKE UP THIS MORNING:
Well, woke up this morning with mind, staying on Jesus Woke up this morning with my mind staying on Jesus on the Lord. Well I woke up this morning with my mind staying on Jesus. Halleluh, halleleluh, halleleluh.
Are we singing an praying with mind staying on, Jesus.? Are we walking and talking with our minds stayed on Jesus?
I believe that the magi were so focused on Jesus that nothing could get in the way of their journey. Is Jesus the center of your focus? Do you really understand the significance of His birth? Do we really understand the depth of His love? Can we really comprehend that He gave up His all that we way enter into the presence of His glory.
We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19 (NIV)
QUESTION: WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO STAY TRUE TO YOUR JOURNEY.
Fell down and worshipped Him: More important than their gifts is the fact that they gave themselves first to God in their worshipped.
In my minds eye, I can only imagine that bowing and worshipping was the only thing that the magi could once they beheld the one and only living God. Now I can begin to understand the words penned by the Great Prophet Isaiah:
“And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5
In 21st century vernacular, I can imagine the magi’s heart filled with the words of Marvin Sapp’s song “For You Alone are God; or the words from Paul Morton’s “Bow Down and Worship Him” or the song of Debra Henderson also titled “Bow Down and Worship Him. . .
Though they visited the palace of Herod, they did not worship him. . . Nor did they give their gifts to him. The Star remained the Star. . . How often do we serve others in lieu of Jesus?
QUESTION: Will You Worship Christ on His Birthday.
They presented gifts to Him: How often do we give to others what truly belongs to God. What treasures have your promised to God, but have delivered it yet. What’s the hold up? Or have you given it away? Have you given your life to Christ? Wait no longer, what day is better than today, in celebration of His Day. . . The reason of His coming . . . To restore humanity back to God.
We see here three different responses to Jesus; one may say that all people respond in one of
these three ways.
· Hatred and Hostility: Displayed by Herod
· Indifference: Displayed by the Religious Leaders
· Humility and Worship: Displayed by the wise men
We should learn from the wisdom of these wise men.
· Seeing and not following was not an option.
· Perseverance and determination allowed them to stay the course.
· Others doubt and lack of understanding was not a deterrence.
· Openly expressed their joy to God.
· Respectfully entered into his presence with worship.
· Gave what belonged to God to God.
We see a wonderful pattern: "Those who seek Jesus will see him: those who truly
see him will serve him: those who serve him will consecrate their substance to
him." (Spurgeon)
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for
the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelations 22:5
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root
and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” Revelations 22:16
WILL YOU BE THE ONE THAT KEEP CHRIST THE STAR OF CHRISTMAS?
