O Come, Worship Christ the King! A Special Christmas Message Matthew 2:1-12
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO “CHRIST” IN CHRISTMAS? Christmas is secularized. Christmas symbols (e.g., Santa Clause, Rudolf), “happy holidays,” parties, drinking, hangovers, etc. Christmas is commercialized. Gifts, bargain-hunting, shopping, charging, wanting/receiving, and more shopping. Christmas is sentimentalized. Christmas music on radio, Christmas trees/decorations, warm fuzzy things about Christmastime (e.g., “White Christmas”). In all this, Christ is decentralized/trivialized in CHRISTmas. We must acknowledge Christ as the CENTER of CHRISTmas.
We Three Kings by John H. Hopkins, Jr. [1857] We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star O Star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy Perfect Light
THREE LESSONS FROM THE VISIT OF THE MAGI 1)NO TROUBLE is too great to seek Jesus. “ 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?” (vs. 1-2) For the Magi traveled over 500 miles to seek the newborn King, they had to go through so many troubles and difficulties. But they were determined to seek after the King. We too must learn this determination to seek Jesus in spite of apparent troubles—distractions and hindrances of circumstances and people.
“Seek, and you will find…” Matthew 7:7b If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 [NIV]
THREE LESSONS FROM THE VISIT OF THE MAGI 2)NO PEOPLE is too alien to find Jesus. “ 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” (vs.9-10) The Magi were not Jews—they were aliens/Gentiles yet they found Jesus as their King; Jesus is the King of Kings and the Savior of the world. The differences of ethnicity, culture, status, education, socio-economic level did not matter in finding Christ (from shepherds to the Magi). We must see the universality of the Christmas message: that God so loved the world that he gave his Son to all peoples of the world (John 3:16).
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11: And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28K18-20
THREE LESSONS FROM THE VISIT OF THE MAGI 3)NO OFFERING is too precious to give Jesus. “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (v.11) The Magi did two things: (1) they fell down and worship Jesus; and (2) they offered Jesus their precious gifts as their homage of their hearts. In light of what God has given the world, their worship and offering was a proper response to the newborn King. We need to restore the joy of Christmas in this: to worship and offer ourselves to Jesus Christ the King as the homage of our hearts.
12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. Psalm 116:12-13 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God —this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1
When the First Spark of a Desire after God Arises When, therefore, the first spark of a desire after God arises in your soul, cherish it with all your care, give all your heart into it, it is nothing less than a touch of the divine loadstone that is to draw you out of the vanity of time into the riches of eternity. Get up, therefore, and follow it as gladly as the wise Men of the East followed the star from Heaven that appeared to them. It will do for you as the star did for them: it will lead you to the birth of Jesus, not in a stable at Bethlehem in Judea, but to the birth of Jesus in the dark centre of your own fallen soul. - William Law (1897)
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Seek Christ the King AS THE CENTER OF YOUR CHRISTMAS. Seek Christ in your CHRISTmas this year! Be determined to seek after him at all cost. Turn from materialism, business, and self-absorption. 2.Go tell the world ABOUT CHRIST THE KING YOU HAVE FOUND. Come to Jesus yourself first to find rest and salvation in him. Go and share the Good News of Jesus to people around you. Leave no people in your outreach. 3.Give yourself TO CHRIST THE KING AND WORSHIP HIM. Create a intentional time and space to worship Christ. Offer yourself to Christ your King and the Lord. Restore and spread your joy of Christ!