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−	**Matthew 2:1-12: The Extended Family Portrait**	+	
−	**Theological Proposition/Focus:** The guests who visited Jesus remind us that the Lion of Judah is the King of Creation. We honor the King by recognizing His lordship and offering our best gifts, as the Magi did.	+	=Matthew 2:1-12 The Extended Family Portrait=
−	**Christ Focus:** This passage connects to the overarching narrative of Scripture, showing how God reveals Himself to all nations, pointing to Christ as the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning His universal kingship.	+	Nathan Wakefield / General
−	**Homiletical Proposition/Application:** This sermon encourages Christians to consider how they recognize Jesus in their lives and what gifts they can offer Him in worship. It also challenges them to reveal their faith in a world that often overlooks Christ's sovereignty.	+	Portraits of the King / Matthew 2:1-12
−	**Introduction**	+	The guests who came to visit Jesus remind us that The Lion of Judah is King of Creation.
−	**Image: Family Christmas Pictures**	+	''
−	How does your family handle Christmas photos? Who is involved?	+	'''Theological Proposition/Focus:The guests who came to visit Jesus remind us that The Lion of Judah is King of Creation. We honor the King who came to us by recognizing His lordship and presenting our best to Him, just as the Magi did.'''
−	**Need:** We must recognize that the King of the Universe is also our personal King.	+	'''Christ Focus:This passage connects to the overarching narrative of Scripture, showing how God reveals Himself to all nations, pointing to Christ as the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning His universal kingship.'''
−	**Preview:** We should seek the Sovereign King of the universe, acknowledging that it will impact us personally, challenging our self-exaltation and calling us to submit in sincerity.	+	'''Homiletical Proposition/Application:This sermon can encourage Christians to consider how they recognize Jesus in their lives and what gifts they can offer Him in worship. It can also challenge them to reveal their faith in a world that often overlooks Christ's sovereignty.'''
−	**Setting the Stage:**	+	=Introduction=
−	One intriguing aspect of major church holidays is the way different characters are portrayed. One such group is the Magi. While details are uncertain, their journey from the East to honor the King of the Jews is a classic story. These men were Gentiles, reminding us that Jesus' message is for everyone.	+	==Image: Family Christmas Pictures==
−	**Text: Matthew 2:1-12**	+	How does your family do Christmas pictures? Who all is involved?
−	**Body**	+	==Need: We must recognize that the King of the Universe is also our personal king.==
−	**Seek the Sovereign**	+	==Preview: We should seek the Sovereign King of the universe while acknowledging that it will impact us on a personal level challenging our tendency to self-exaltation and calling us submit in sincerity.==
−	The birth of the Savior is an event of global significance (1-2). The Magi traveled far to pay homage to a King they had never met. This shows God revealing Jesus to all nations. We should ask ourselves how we acknowledge Jesus' lordship in our lives and seek Him diligently.	+	==Setting the Stage:==
−	**God's Plan for Salvation is Universal**	+	One of the things I always enjoy when we get to major church holidays is looking at the way different characters are portrayed. One particularly interesting group is the Magi.
−	Verse 1 begins with a genitive absolute used temporally, indicating that the events of chapter 1 are the primary event, followed by those of chapter 2. Jesus is the main event, but we should not stop there because there is much more to consider.At this stage, we are ready to introduce a pivotal fact: the arrival of Magi, a priestly class of magicians and astrologers. They had come to Jerusalem. This arrival signifies that the worship of Jesus was not only intended for Jews but extended to the entire world. It also suggests that these men may have been unfamiliar with Micah 5:2, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times," as they arrived in Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem. This incident reminds us that God's plan for Jesus was to make him accessible to everyone.	+	Not all scholars agree the details but the story of wise men from the east is a classic.
−	===Jesus is the Rightful King of the Jews (2a).===	+	We don't know the exact identity of these men nor do we know exactly where they came from. We don't know exactly how they knew to expect the King of the Jews to be born. We don't even know how many there were.
−	Matthew provides context by informing us that these events occurred during the reign of King Herod. Herod the Great, born in 73 BC, was appointed King of Judah in 37 BC. Herod's excessive jealousy and paranoia were notorious, as evidenced by the Roman historian Suetonius's quote, "It is safer to be Herod's pig than his son." This pun, based on the Greek words "hys" (pig) and "huios" (son), highlights Herod's ruthless nature, even towards his family. Despite being a practicing Jew, Herod refrained from eating pork, considering pigs safe, but he did not hesitate to execute his sons whom he perceived as threats to his throne.	+	What we do know is that a group of significant men came from the East and it is that story that we study today. These magi were not Jews but rather gentiles and remind us that Jesus is for everyone.
−	In verse 2, the Magi ask a significant question: "Where is the one who was born King of the Jews?" This question, which was likely offensive, warrants further discussion of Herod's rise to power.	+	==Text: [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Mt2.1-12 Matthew 2:1-12] read all at the beginning.==
−	* In 47 BCE, Herod was appointed governor of Galilee with Roman approval.	+	=Body=
−	* After Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE, Herod aligned with Mark Antony.
−	* In 40 BCE, with support from Mark Antony and the Roman Senate, Herod was declared King of Judea.
−	* Herod consolidated his power through marriages, building projects, and strong ties with Rome, particularly after aligning with Octavian (Augustus) following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BCE.
−	In contrast, Jesus was the rightful King of the Jews.	+	==''Seek'' the ''Sovereign'' — The birth of the Savior is an event of global significance (1-2).==
−	===Jesus is Worthy of Universal Worship (2b).===	+	The recognition of Jesus as a King is significant. The Magi travelled from afar to pay homage to a King they had never met. In this, we see God revealing Jesus as the King to all nations. We are encouraged to ask ourselves how we acknowledge Jesus' lordship in our lives and follow their example by seeking Him earnestly.
−	The ultimate affront to Herod occurred when these notable men informed him that they had not come to honor him but to worship this new King of the Jews. Through their observations in the night sky, the astrologers perceived a sign of Jesus' birth.**Assumed Importance of the Star**	+	===God's plan involves offering salvation to every person (1).===
−	Various interpretations exist regarding the celestial event witnessed by the Magi, including a supernova, a divine manifestation, or an unidentified phenomenon. However, their central understanding was that it signified God's intervention in Israel's affairs. Recognition of God's actions should elicit a response of worship.	+	Verse 1 begins with a genitive absolute used temporally. That is, the events of chapter 1 are the primary event and what is described in chapter 2 is made to follow-up those events. Jesus is the main event but we should not just stop with the birth of Jesus there is so much more and it matters.
−	****	+	With the stage set we are ready to introduce the pivotal fact. A priestly class of magicians and astrologers known as Magi had arrived. These men had come to Jerusalem. What we learn is that worship of Jesus was something not just for Jews but for the whole world. What we also learn is that these men must not have been familiar with [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Mic5.2 Micah 5:2] ""But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."" since the arrived in Jerusalem not Bethlehem.
−	**Global Significance of Jesus' Birth**	+	Through this I am reminded that God's plan was for Jesus to be accessible to everyone.
−	Rarely do we encounter events of truly global significance. While major elections and sporting events hold importance, none compare to the birth of Jesus Christ.	+	===Jesus is the rightful King of the Jews (2a).===
−	****	+	Matthew also helps us to understand the time period and situation by telling us that all of this happened in the time of King Herod. Herod the Great was born in 73 BC and was named King of Judah in 37 BC. Herod was known for his jealousy snd paranoia.
−	****	+	The phrase "It is safer to be Herod's pig than his son" is attributed to the Roman historian Suetonius and is an important example of how ruthless Herod was. This saying plays on a word pun in Greek: hys (pig) and huios (son), highlighting Herod's reputation for ruthlessness, even towards his own family. Herod, a practicing Jew, would not eat pork (making pigs safe), but he did not hesitate to execute several of his sons whom he perceived as threats to his throne.
−	**Acknowledge Jesus' Supremacy**	+	In verse 2 the magi make a significant statement. Where is the one who was born King of the Jews. This statement was nothing short of offensive but is also warrants a little more discussion of how Herod had gained the throne.
−	Acknowledge Jesus' Lordship and emulate the Magi's earnest pursuit of Him.	+	* Around 47 BCE, Herod was appointed governor of Galilee by his father, with Roman approval. He quickly demonstrated his administrative and military capabilities by suppressing banditry.
−	****	+	* After Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE, Herod aligned himself with the Roman general Mark Antony.
−	****	+	* In 40 BCE, with the support of Mark Antony and the Roman Senate, Herod was declared King of Judea. This appointment was partly a Roman strategy to counter Parthian influence in the region.
−	**The Local Significance of the Savior's Birth**	+	* Herod solidified his power through strategic marriages (including marrying a Hasmonean princess, Mariamne), extensive building projects, and maintaining strong ties with Rome, particularly after aligning with Octavian (Augustus) following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BCE.
−	Herod's anxiety at Jesus' birth highlights the local impact of Christ's kingship beyond its global implications. This challenges us to confront how Jesus' arrival disrupts our lives and to uphold our faith amidst opposition.	+	In other words Herod was not the people's ruler but a shrewd politician. In contrast Jesus was the rightful King of the Jews.
−	****	+	===Jesus is worthy of universal worship (2b).===
−	**Messianic Prophecy and Jewish Significance**	+	The ultimate slap in the face to Herod comes when these men of significance tell Herod that they are here not to pay honor to Herod but to worship this new King of the Jews.
−	The Messiah was prophesied to descend from David's lineage, making Jesus' birth particularly significant for the Jewish people (Isaiah 9:6-7).	+	Through some means these astrologers saw something the sky and assumed it was of significance for the Jewish throne. Various people have made various proposals for what the Magi saw, a super nova, a work of God, or something else but what really matters of significance is that they saw something that led them to believe that God was acting in Israel.
−	****	+	The proper response to the work of God is nothing short of worship.
−	**Herod's Contrast with the True King**	+	===Image: Events of global significance===
−	Herod's title as "King" is significant, as it is later omitted (verse 7), highlighting the contrast between him and the "King of the Jews." This contrast is further emphasized by the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7, which describes the rightful ruler as a descendant of David, reigning with justice and righteousness eternally.	+	It is not often that we are exposed to an event that is truly of global significance. Sure we have major election in super powers. The Olympics are significant but really nothing compares to the birth of Jesus.
−	****	+	===MTR: Acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus in your life and follow the example of the Magi by seeking Jesus earnestly.===
−	**Herod's Unlawful Rule**	+	==''Shock'' at the ''Significance'' — The birth of the Savior is an event of local significance (3-6).==
−	Herod was not a legitimate Jewish king, being a descendant of Esau, Jacob's brother, rather than Jacob himself. This made him unpopular among the Jewish population, despite his contributions to the region. The birth of a rival king posed a local threat to Herod's stronghold.On a grand scale, Jesus was the Savior. However, locally, accepting Jesus might have drastically altered the authority tightly held by Herod and other Jewish leaders. Thus, the news disturbed all of Jerusalem.	+	Herod's fear at the news of Jesus' birth reminds us that Jesus has local influence in addition to global influence. The local ruling powers were troubled when confronted with Christ's kingship. We are challenged to consider how the arrival of King Jesus might disrupt our lives and to stand firm in their faith despite opposition.
−	The Messiah was destined to rule (4-6).	+	===The Messiah was promised to come from the line of David and was incredibly significant to the Jews (3, [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Is9.6-7 Isaiah 9:6-7]).===
−	We have previously examined the text of Isaiah 9 and were reminded of the Messiah's destined rule. However, I want to take a moment to reflect on the significance of the Messiah's rule.	+	Some more details on Herod are helpful as we consider this next passage of Scripture. The text tells us that "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed." The title "King is significant" later in the text Herod will be simply called by his name Herod (as in verse 7) but right now Matthew wants to draw our attention to the contrast between the one "born king of the Jews" and "King Herod."
−	People enjoy origin stories. In fact, one could argue that origin stories are what make comics popular. Consider this: would you enjoy a Marvel movie as much if the origin story were removed? We embrace the concept of origin stories partly because we relate to the relatability of our superheroes. We prefer them to be ordinary people destined for greatness.	+	In order to better understand this contrast let's look at [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Is9.6-7 Isaiah 9:6-7] "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."
−	Well, Jesus' origin story is incredibly significant.	+	The rightful ruler of the Jews was to be a king descended from the line of David. Now a little more on Herod.
−	"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" (Micah 5:2).	+	Herod was not a a rightful king of the Jews. Specifically, he was not descendent of Jacob let alone David. Herod was an Edomite, that is a descendent of Esau, Jacob's brother. For this reason most of the Jews showed a great deal of hatred for Herod despite the things he had done for the region like updating the temple.
−	Jesus was born in obscurity, in an insignificant town, to an impoverished family. However, he was destined to save the world. Jesus understands us because he was not born into affluence. Jesus is accessible to all.	+	If somebody had been born King of the Jews this was locally significant as there was a candidate to usurp the power to which Herod so tightly clung.
−	However, the local significance of Jesus implies that he challenges. What do I mean? Jesus is not a ruler cloistered in an ivory tower, making inconsequential decisions. Instead, Jesus overturns that model. As we embrace this ruler of universal importance, Jesus calls upon us to undergo a significant paradigm shift. He challenges each of us, as individuals, to change as well!	+	On the grand scale Jesus was the Savior but locally, accepting Jesus might have radically changed the power that Herod and other Jewish leader held so tightly and so all Jerusalem was disturbed at this news.
−	Submit to Jesus, even if it disrupts your plans and aspirations.	+	===The Messiah was destined to rule (4-6).===
−	"Subterfuge" in "Self-exaltation" — The Savior's birth inevitably instills fear in some (7-8, 12).	+	We already looked at the text of [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Is9 Isaiah 9] and were reminded that the Messiah was destined to rule but I want to just take a moment and reflect on the significance of Messiah's rule.
−	Let's explore Herod's deceitful intentions in greater depth, contrasting them with the Magi's genuine pursuit. While some may pretend to honor Jesus, true worship demands sincerity and sacrifice. Jesus exposes false worship. Let's examine Herod's response in verses 7-8 and 12.	+	===Image: People like origin stories.===
−	Those who oppose God are often fully aware of their actions (7-8).	+	In fact, I might argue that origin stories are what make comics popular. Think about it, would you enjoy a Marvel movie even half as much if they removed the origin story from the movie? We love the idea of origin stories in part because we like the relate ability of our super heroes. We like them to be local people who are destined for more.
−	Before we delve directly into verses 7 and 8, I want you to notice something. Pay attention to what the Magi call Jesus in verse 2 and what Herod, by implication, calls Jesus in verse 4. The Magi seek a king, while Herod grasps that the request is far more profound: they are seeking the Messiah. In fact, in verse 8, Herod falsely feigns a desire to worship Jesus. Herod's dilemma is shared by many. Herod simply did not desire the Messiah. The more I interact with individuals who "do not believe in God," the more convinced I become that they actually do believe in**Edited Text:**	+	Well, the origin story of Jesus is in credibly significant. [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Mic5.2 Micah 5:2] ""But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.""
−	God, some people just don't like him. Most of you here today don't belong to that category, but I believe there are times when we dislike certain aspects of God. We may not agree with a decision he's made or a direction he's led us. We may not like something he withheld or something he gave us.	+	Jesus was born in insignificance in a minor outlying town to a poor family but he was destined to save the world. Jesus gets us because he was not born in wealth. Jesus is locally accessible.
−	God didn't create us as robots, so having our own will isn't wrong. However, we should strive to align our will with God's instead of rejecting him outright. I often advise people to express their feelings to God while simultaneously asking him to help them align with his will.	+	But here is the thing. The local significance of Jesus means he disrupts. What do I mean by that? Jesus is not a ruler sitting in an ivory tower making decisions of no import or significance. No, Jesus disrupts that model. Jesus calls on us to have a complete paradigm shift as we accept this rule of global significance who asks each of us individually to change too!
−	I'll admit that there have been times when I haven't liked the direction God has taken me. In those moments, I find it most helpful to tell God my concerns and then cry out, "Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:24).	+	===MTR: Submit to Jesus even if He disrupts your plans and ambitions.===
−	With that in mind, let's skip ahead to verse 12 of this passage to confirm our suspicions about Herod.	+	==''Subterfuge'' in ''Self-exaltation'' — The birth of the Savior inevitably brings fear for some (7-8, 12).==
−	**There are those who would even try to thwart God's plans (12).**	+	Let's dig deeper by exploring the deceptive intentions of Herod, contrasting them with the sincere search of the Magi. While some may feign to honor Jesus, true worship requires sincerity and sacrifice. Jesus exposes false worship.
−	People can respond to God with rejection or direct opposition. Herod chose the latter, as verse 12 makes clear. He had sinister intentions, which are further confirmed in Matthew chapter 2. The wise men were warned and returned by another route, so Herod's direct attack on God was ultimately thwarted.	+	Let's dig into Herod's response in verses 7-8 and verse 12.
−	**Image: The Extended Family**	+	===Often, those who oppose God know exactly what they are doing (7-8).===
−	I named this sermon "The Extended Family Portrait" because of the Magi's visit. But let's consider that extended family visits often bring new stressors and can reveal our true selves under pressure. This is precisely what happened with Herod. People already knew he was unstable, but the extent of his madness is exposed here. Herod was willing to defy even God to preserve his power.	+	I want you to notice something before we get directly into verses 7 and 8. Notice what the magi call Jesus in verse 2 and notice what Herod by implication calls Jesus in verse 4. The magi ask for a king but Herod recognizes the request is actually more profound, they are looking for the Messiah.
−	So, what should we do? I believe we should examine our hearts and intentions in our worship of Christ. When extended family visits, it's helpful to have a plan:	+	In fact, in verse 8 Herod falsely faints a desire to worship Jesus.  The problem that Herod had is a problem that many have. Herod simply didn't want the Messiah. The more I interact with people who "do not believe in God" the more I am convinced that they in fact do believe in God they just don't like him.
−	* What will we do in certain situations?	+	Most of you in the room here today don't fall into this category of people who don't like God but I do think there are times when we don't like some aspect of God. We don't like a decision he has made or a direction he has led us. We don't like something he did not give us or something he did give us. God did not make you into a robot and so having your own will is not a bad thing but we should seek to align our will with God's will instead of blatantly turning our backs on God.
−	* Where can we find some solitude?
−	* How will we recharge?
−	With careful planning, a visit from extended family can provide an opportunity for growth and quality time. But it requires self-examination to ensure that our hearts, motives, and needs are in check.	+	The advice I have given a lot of people is that they should tell God how they are feeling but as they do so call on God to help them be aligned with God's will.
−	As we approach Christmas, let's examine our hearts and motives in our worship of Christ. Where can we grow? What steps can we take to become more submissive?	+	I will admit there are times when I do not like the direction God has taken me but in these times what I find most helpful is to tell God and then cry out [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Mk9.24 Mark 9:24] "Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!""
−	**MTR: Commit to genuine worship through self-examination.****Intentions in Worship of Christ**	+	With that being said I want us to jump ahead to verse 12 just to confirm our suspicion of Herod.
−	Despite Herod's negative response to Jesus, the story does not end there, and neither should our response.	+	===There are those who would even seek to thwart God's plans (12).===
−	**Submission and Joy**	+	One response to God is the response of rejection and another response is the response of direct opposition. Herod chose to directly oppose God and verse 12 makes it clear. Herod has nothing good in mind and the rest of [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Mt2 Matthew 2] confirms this truth. The wise men are warned and return by another way. Herod's direct attack on God is thwarted.
−	The Savior's birth brings joy to many (Matthew 2:9-11). The gifts presented to Jesus—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—symbolize aspects of his identity. Like the Magi, we are called to offer our best to him, recognizing his kingship and priesthood. These gifts represent our call to worship and consecrate our lives, emulating their reverence.	+	===Image: The Extended Family===
−	**God's Guidance**	+	I called this sermon the extended family portrait because of the visit of the Magi. But I want us to consider something, when extended family come to visit they often put new stresses on people and our true self can emerge under that stress. This is exactly what happened with Herod. The people new Herod was a lunatic but here the real extent of the lunacy emerges. Herod is willing to knowingly oppose even God himself to keep his power.
−	God guided the wise men to the Savior (Matthew 2:9-10). Though Jerusalem to Bethlehem was a short distance, God provided guidance. The star led them to the house where Jesus was. God remained in control, and the Magi responded by submitting to his guidance, experiencing "great joy."	+	So what should we do? Well I think we should examine our heart and intentions in worship of Christ. When extended family comes to visit it is often helpful to develop a plan. What are we going to do if such and such happens. Where can we get some alone time? How will we recharge? A visit from extended family when planned out can be a wonderful opportunity for growth and quality time but only if care is taken to examine your heart, motives, and needs. As we come into Christmas we should examine our heart and motives in worship of Christ. Where do we need to grow? What do we need to do to be more submissive?
−	**Worship as Response**	+	===MTR: Commit to true worship while examining your heart and intentions in worship of Christ.===
−	When the Magi found Mary and Jesus, they knelt and worshipped (Matthew 2:11). Worship is the appropriate response to a Savior. Their worship was enhanced by the specific gifts they brought.	+	It is easy to be pretty down after considering Herod's response to Jesus but the story doesn't end with Herod and neither should are response to Jesus end with Herod.
−	* **Gold:** Represents Christ's deity and royalty	+	==''Sincerity'' in ''Submission '' — The birth of the Savior brings joy for many (9-11).==
−	* **Frankincense:** A fragrant spice used in perfumes, fitting for God
−	* **Myrrh:** A resin used in embalming, symbolizing Christ's ultimate sacrifice
−	These gifts had practical value, providing financial resources for Mary and Joseph's flight to Egypt. The Magi's worship enabled the one they worshipped to continue his mission.**Survive!**	+	The gifts presented to Jesus—gold, frankincense, and myrrh each represents an aspect of Jesus' identity. Like the Magi, we are encouraged to present our best to Him, recognizing His kingship and priesthood. The gifts symbolize our call to worship and consecrate our lives to Him, emulating their reverence.
−	**Image: You never know how your gifts will be used. A tract in Kenya.**	+	===God guided the wise men to the Savior (9-10).===
−	About 15 years ago, I was sitting at my computer when an email arrived. The text looked suspicious, but I felt compelled to read it. A man from Kenya had found a tract with the Gospel message and our church's email address on the back. He had read the tract, accepted Jesus as Savior, and led his family and orphanage to Christ. He needed more materials for training, as he had essentially become the pastor of his family and the orphans.	+	It is not a long journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, only about 6 miles or a two hour walk. And Bethlehem was not a large city but a small town. But that did not change God's provision of guidance. The start they had seen appears and guides them to the very house where Jesus is not staying. God is still in complete control.
−	My first thought was, "This is amazing." My second thought was, "Yeah, right." But as I investigated further, I learned about a family from our church who had lost a suitcase while traveling. Inside it were clothes and some tracts. The story suddenly became plausible.	+	The magi respond to God's provision by submitting in following the star and being filled with what Matthew describes as "great joy".
−	I reached out to Baptist Mid Missions, a missions agency with missionaries in Kenya. They put me in touch with a missionary in the area. Working together across thousands of miles, we arranged for the missionary to meet with the gentleman and provide training for several years.	+	A lot of people debate exactly what this star was and how it came to be. I will tell you that I truly don't know and every explanation I have seen has significant problems that I cannot solve. Here is what I know. God guided the wise men. they submitted to God's guidance, He provided the guidance, and they rejoiced.
−	Who would have known that a lost bag could result in the Gospel being spread? When we give things up to God, we never know the impact it might have.	+	In my own life when I submit to God's guidance I am always surprised at how he guided and the joy it brought. There is a great contrast here between the magi who submit to God and are able to rejoice and Herod who rebels against God and is found to be a raving lunatic!
−	**MTR: Present your best to Jesus.**	+	So, what now?
		+
		+	===Worship is the proper response to the joy of a Savior (11).===
		+
		+	The text tells us that when the magi came to the house and found Mary and Jesus they fell on their knees and worshipped. Worship is the proper response to a Savior.
		+
		+	Their worship is enhanced with specific gifts that have been brought to the Savior. I don't know if the magi understood the significance of the gifts but there are no accidents with God.
		+
		+	* Gold — Representative of Christ's deity and royalty.
		+
		+	* Frankincense - a fragrant spice used in the best perfumes fitting for someone who was God himself.
		+
		+	* Myrrh - a resinous gum from trees native to Arabia often used in embalming.
		+
		+	But more than the metaphorical meanings associated with these gifts, these gifts represent the blessings of the world to the King because the nations are blessed by the King.
		+
		+	Finally, these gifts certainly provided Mary and Joseph the financial resources to be able to survive flight to Egypt. I suspect the Magi never realized that their gifts in worship were the means through which the one they worshipped was able to survive!
		+
		+	===Image: You never know how your gifts will be used. A tract in Kenya===
		+
		+	About 15 years ago I was sitting at my computer when an email came in. The text of the email looked suspicious but at the same time I couldn't ignore it.
		+
		+	A man from Kenya was writing because he had found a tract that contained the Gospel message and had the church's email address on the back. This man had read the tract, accepted Jesus as Savior, led his family to Christ, his orphanage, and now was seeking more materials to train because he had essentially become a pastor of the church that consisted of his family and the orphans.
		+
		+	My first thought was, this is amazing, my second thought was yeah right. But then as I tried to figure things out I learned of a family in the church that had been traveling and lost their suitcase. In their suitcase they had clothes but they always traveled with some tracts. Suddenly the story became plausible.
		+
		+	My next step was to reach out to Baptist Mid Missions a missions agency with missionaries in Kenya. I told them the story and they put me in touch with a missionary in Kenya. Working together across thousands of miles we were able to have the missionary meet up with this gentleman and provide training for several years.
		+
		+	Who would have known that a lost bag would result int he Gospel being spread. When we give things up to God we never know the impact it might have.
		+
		+	===MTR: Present your best to Jesus.===<br/>
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		+	Exported from [https://www.logos.com/ Logos Bible Study], 2:02 PM December 9, 2024.

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Revision as of 20:49, 9 December 2024



Matthew 2:1-12 The Extended Family Portrait

Nathan Wakefield / General

Portraits of the King / Matthew 2:1-12

The guests who came to visit Jesus remind us that The Lion of Judah is King of Creation.

Theological Proposition/Focus:The guests who came to visit Jesus remind us that The Lion of Judah is King of Creation. We honor the King who came to us by recognizing His lordship and presenting our best to Him, just as the Magi did.

Christ Focus:This passage connects to the overarching narrative of Scripture, showing how God reveals Himself to all nations, pointing to Christ as the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning His universal kingship.

Homiletical Proposition/Application:This sermon can encourage Christians to consider how they recognize Jesus in their lives and what gifts they can offer Him in worship. It can also challenge them to reveal their faith in a world that often overlooks Christ's sovereignty.

Introduction

Image: Family Christmas Pictures

How does your family do Christmas pictures? Who all is involved?

Need: We must recognize that the King of the Universe is also our personal king.

Preview: We should seek the Sovereign King of the universe while acknowledging that it will impact us on a personal level challenging our tendency to self-exaltation and calling us submit in sincerity.

Setting the Stage:

One of the things I always enjoy when we get to major church holidays is looking at the way different characters are portrayed. One particularly interesting group is the Magi.

Not all scholars agree the details but the story of wise men from the east is a classic.

We don't know the exact identity of these men nor do we know exactly where they came from. We don't know exactly how they knew to expect the King of the Jews to be born. We don't even know how many there were.

What we do know is that a group of significant men came from the East and it is that story that we study today. These magi were not Jews but rather gentiles and remind us that Jesus is for everyone.

Text: Matthew 2:1-12 read all at the beginning.

Body

Seek the Sovereign — The birth of the Savior is an event of global significance (1-2).

The recognition of Jesus as a King is significant. The Magi travelled from afar to pay homage to a King they had never met. In this, we see God revealing Jesus as the King to all nations. We are encouraged to ask ourselves how we acknowledge Jesus' lordship in our lives and follow their example by seeking Him earnestly.

God's plan involves offering salvation to every person (1).

Verse 1 begins with a genitive absolute used temporally. That is, the events of chapter 1 are the primary event and what is described in chapter 2 is made to follow-up those events. Jesus is the main event but we should not just stop with the birth of Jesus there is so much more and it matters.

With the stage set we are ready to introduce the pivotal fact. A priestly class of magicians and astrologers known as Magi had arrived. These men had come to Jerusalem. What we learn is that worship of Jesus was something not just for Jews but for the whole world. What we also learn is that these men must not have been familiar with Micah 5:2 ""But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."" since the arrived in Jerusalem not Bethlehem.

Through this I am reminded that God's plan was for Jesus to be accessible to everyone.

Jesus is the rightful King of the Jews (2a).

Matthew also helps us to understand the time period and situation by telling us that all of this happened in the time of King Herod. Herod the Great was born in 73 BC and was named King of Judah in 37 BC. Herod was known for his jealousy snd paranoia.

The phrase "It is safer to be Herod's pig than his son" is attributed to the Roman historian Suetonius and is an important example of how ruthless Herod was. This saying plays on a word pun in Greek: hys (pig) and huios (son), highlighting Herod's reputation for ruthlessness, even towards his own family. Herod, a practicing Jew, would not eat pork (making pigs safe), but he did not hesitate to execute several of his sons whom he perceived as threats to his throne.

In verse 2 the magi make a significant statement. Where is the one who was born King of the Jews. This statement was nothing short of offensive but is also warrants a little more discussion of how Herod had gained the throne.

• Around 47 BCE, Herod was appointed governor of Galilee by his father, with Roman approval. He quickly demonstrated his administrative and military capabilities by suppressing banditry.

• After Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE, Herod aligned himself with the Roman general Mark Antony.

• In 40 BCE, with the support of Mark Antony and the Roman Senate, Herod was declared King of Judea. This appointment was partly a Roman strategy to counter Parthian influence in the region.

• Herod solidified his power through strategic marriages (including marrying a Hasmonean princess, Mariamne), extensive building projects, and maintaining strong ties with Rome, particularly after aligning with Octavian (Augustus) following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BCE.

In other words Herod was not the people's ruler but a shrewd politician. In contrast Jesus was the rightful King of the Jews.

Jesus is worthy of universal worship (2b).

The ultimate slap in the face to Herod comes when these men of significance tell Herod that they are here not to pay honor to Herod but to worship this new King of the Jews.

Through some means these astrologers saw something the sky and assumed it was of significance for the Jewish throne. Various people have made various proposals for what the Magi saw, a super nova, a work of God, or something else but what really matters of significance is that they saw something that led them to believe that God was acting in Israel.

The proper response to the work of God is nothing short of worship.

Image: Events of global significance

It is not often that we are exposed to an event that is truly of global significance. Sure we have major election in super powers. The Olympics are significant but really nothing compares to the birth of Jesus.

MTR: Acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus in your life and follow the example of the Magi by seeking Jesus earnestly.

Shock at the Significance — The birth of the Savior is an event of local significance (3-6).

Herod's fear at the news of Jesus' birth reminds us that Jesus has local influence in addition to global influence. The local ruling powers were troubled when confronted with Christ's kingship. We are challenged to consider how the arrival of King Jesus might disrupt our lives and to stand firm in their faith despite opposition.

The Messiah was promised to come from the line of David and was incredibly significant to the Jews (3, Isaiah 9:6-7).

Some more details on Herod are helpful as we consider this next passage of Scripture. The text tells us that "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed." The title "King is significant" later in the text Herod will be simply called by his name Herod (as in verse 7) but right now Matthew wants to draw our attention to the contrast between the one "born king of the Jews" and "King Herod."

In order to better understand this contrast let's look at Isaiah 9:6-7 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

The rightful ruler of the Jews was to be a king descended from the line of David. Now a little more on Herod.

Herod was not a a rightful king of the Jews. Specifically, he was not descendent of Jacob let alone David. Herod was an Edomite, that is a descendent of Esau, Jacob's brother. For this reason most of the Jews showed a great deal of hatred for Herod despite the things he had done for the region like updating the temple.

If somebody had been born King of the Jews this was locally significant as there was a candidate to usurp the power to which Herod so tightly clung.

On the grand scale Jesus was the Savior but locally, accepting Jesus might have radically changed the power that Herod and other Jewish leader held so tightly and so all Jerusalem was disturbed at this news.

The Messiah was destined to rule (4-6).

We already looked at the text of Isaiah 9 and were reminded that the Messiah was destined to rule but I want to just take a moment and reflect on the significance of Messiah's rule.

Image: People like origin stories.

In fact, I might argue that origin stories are what make comics popular. Think about it, would you enjoy a Marvel movie even half as much if they removed the origin story from the movie? We love the idea of origin stories in part because we like the relate ability of our super heroes. We like them to be local people who are destined for more.

Well, the origin story of Jesus is in credibly significant. Micah 5:2 ""But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.""

Jesus was born in insignificance in a minor outlying town to a poor family but he was destined to save the world. Jesus gets us because he was not born in wealth. Jesus is locally accessible.

But here is the thing. The local significance of Jesus means he disrupts. What do I mean by that? Jesus is not a ruler sitting in an ivory tower making decisions of no import or significance. No, Jesus disrupts that model. Jesus calls on us to have a complete paradigm shift as we accept this rule of global significance who asks each of us individually to change too!

MTR: Submit to Jesus even if He disrupts your plans and ambitions.

Subterfuge in Self-exaltation — The birth of the Savior inevitably brings fear for some (7-8, 12).

Let's dig deeper by exploring the deceptive intentions of Herod, contrasting them with the sincere search of the Magi. While some may feign to honor Jesus, true worship requires sincerity and sacrifice. Jesus exposes false worship.

Let's dig into Herod's response in verses 7-8 and verse 12.

Often, those who oppose God know exactly what they are doing (7-8).

I want you to notice something before we get directly into verses 7 and 8. Notice what the magi call Jesus in verse 2 and notice what Herod by implication calls Jesus in verse 4. The magi ask for a king but Herod recognizes the request is actually more profound, they are looking for the Messiah.

In fact, in verse 8 Herod falsely faints a desire to worship Jesus. The problem that Herod had is a problem that many have. Herod simply didn't want the Messiah. The more I interact with people who "do not believe in God" the more I am convinced that they in fact do believe in God they just don't like him.

Most of you in the room here today don't fall into this category of people who don't like God but I do think there are times when we don't like some aspect of God. We don't like a decision he has made or a direction he has led us. We don't like something he did not give us or something he did give us. God did not make you into a robot and so having your own will is not a bad thing but we should seek to align our will with God's will instead of blatantly turning our backs on God.

The advice I have given a lot of people is that they should tell God how they are feeling but as they do so call on God to help them be aligned with God's will.

I will admit there are times when I do not like the direction God has taken me but in these times what I find most helpful is to tell God and then cry out Mark 9:24 "Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!""

With that being said I want us to jump ahead to verse 12 just to confirm our suspicion of Herod.

There are those who would even seek to thwart God's plans (12).

One response to God is the response of rejection and another response is the response of direct opposition. Herod chose to directly oppose God and verse 12 makes it clear. Herod has nothing good in mind and the rest of Matthew 2 confirms this truth. The wise men are warned and return by another way. Herod's direct attack on God is thwarted.

Image: The Extended Family

I called this sermon the extended family portrait because of the visit of the Magi. But I want us to consider something, when extended family come to visit they often put new stresses on people and our true self can emerge under that stress. This is exactly what happened with Herod. The people new Herod was a lunatic but here the real extent of the lunacy emerges. Herod is willing to knowingly oppose even God himself to keep his power.

So what should we do? Well I think we should examine our heart and intentions in worship of Christ. When extended family comes to visit it is often helpful to develop a plan. What are we going to do if such and such happens. Where can we get some alone time? How will we recharge? A visit from extended family when planned out can be a wonderful opportunity for growth and quality time but only if care is taken to examine your heart, motives, and needs. As we come into Christmas we should examine our heart and motives in worship of Christ. Where do we need to grow? What do we need to do to be more submissive?

MTR: Commit to true worship while examining your heart and intentions in worship of Christ.

It is easy to be pretty down after considering Herod's response to Jesus but the story doesn't end with Herod and neither should are response to Jesus end with Herod.

Sincerity in Submission — The birth of the Savior brings joy for many (9-11).

The gifts presented to Jesus—gold, frankincense, and myrrh each represents an aspect of Jesus' identity. Like the Magi, we are encouraged to present our best to Him, recognizing His kingship and priesthood. The gifts symbolize our call to worship and consecrate our lives to Him, emulating their reverence.

God guided the wise men to the Savior (9-10).

It is not a long journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, only about 6 miles or a two hour walk. And Bethlehem was not a large city but a small town. But that did not change God's provision of guidance. The start they had seen appears and guides them to the very house where Jesus is not staying. God is still in complete control.

The magi respond to God's provision by submitting in following the star and being filled with what Matthew describes as "great joy".

A lot of people debate exactly what this star was and how it came to be. I will tell you that I truly don't know and every explanation I have seen has significant problems that I cannot solve. Here is what I know. God guided the wise men. they submitted to God's guidance, He provided the guidance, and they rejoiced.

In my own life when I submit to God's guidance I am always surprised at how he guided and the joy it brought. There is a great contrast here between the magi who submit to God and are able to rejoice and Herod who rebels against God and is found to be a raving lunatic!

So, what now?

Worship is the proper response to the joy of a Savior (11).

The text tells us that when the magi came to the house and found Mary and Jesus they fell on their knees and worshipped. Worship is the proper response to a Savior.

Their worship is enhanced with specific gifts that have been brought to the Savior. I don't know if the magi understood the significance of the gifts but there are no accidents with God.

• Gold — Representative of Christ's deity and royalty.

• Frankincense - a fragrant spice used in the best perfumes fitting for someone who was God himself.

• Myrrh - a resinous gum from trees native to Arabia often used in embalming.

But more than the metaphorical meanings associated with these gifts, these gifts represent the blessings of the world to the King because the nations are blessed by the King.

Finally, these gifts certainly provided Mary and Joseph the financial resources to be able to survive flight to Egypt. I suspect the Magi never realized that their gifts in worship were the means through which the one they worshipped was able to survive!

Image: You never know how your gifts will be used. A tract in Kenya

About 15 years ago I was sitting at my computer when an email came in. The text of the email looked suspicious but at the same time I couldn't ignore it.

A man from Kenya was writing because he had found a tract that contained the Gospel message and had the church's email address on the back. This man had read the tract, accepted Jesus as Savior, led his family to Christ, his orphanage, and now was seeking more materials to train because he had essentially become a pastor of the church that consisted of his family and the orphans.

My first thought was, this is amazing, my second thought was yeah right. But then as I tried to figure things out I learned of a family in the church that had been traveling and lost their suitcase. In their suitcase they had clothes but they always traveled with some tracts. Suddenly the story became plausible.

My next step was to reach out to Baptist Mid Missions a missions agency with missionaries in Kenya. I told them the story and they put me in touch with a missionary in Kenya. Working together across thousands of miles we were able to have the missionary meet up with this gentleman and provide training for several years.

Who would have known that a lost bag would result int he Gospel being spread. When we give things up to God we never know the impact it might have.

===MTR: Present your best to Jesus.===

Exported from Logos Bible Study, 2:02 PM December 9, 2024.