Sunday Service (2)

Sunday Service: Missing the Christmas

(12-25-2022) Ptr. Lynard Molo

=Missing the Christmas=

*Matthew 2:1-12
"1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem,

Greek: "Magi" use both negatively and positively.

Negatively: who works with magic, spiritism, divination.
Positive: supernatural knowledge or ability.

East: Iran/Iraq/Saudi Arabia

*Daniel 2:4-8
"48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.

"Why did they come?"

2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

1. They knew and believed the Word of God.

*Daniel 9:25-26
"25 "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

+Coming of the Messiah

26 After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

*Numbers 24:17
"17 "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. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.

2. They sought Jesus.

+Their road sign was the "Star".

"Their journey to Jerusalem probably took four months or more."

"Their travel was hard, long, dangerous, hiring and expensive."

+Full of Excitement

"Everything was going on as usual, they found just an ordinary day."

"What is Christmas?"

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

+This was a big threat to his position.
+This will result in more cruelty from Herod.

4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6 " '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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

Herod created a shrewd plan:
Plan A: Determine the age of the child.
Plan B: Determine the location of the child.

3. They knew that Jesus deserved true worship.

8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

Why does Jesus deserve our "worship"?
*Luke 2:10-11
"10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

"Redeemer of sin and Saver of souls."

Christ: is His title, signifying Jesus is sent by God to be a King and Deliverer.
Lord: Deity; God has arrived in human form.

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

They had their double confirmation:
> The sure Word of God.
> The sure sign of God.

"The first appearance gave them general directions to Jerusalem and now its second appearance led them to the exact place where Jesus was."

11 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 and of incense and of myrrh.

4. Humbled themselves to worship Jesus.

True worship is to 'fall down' before Him.

+It is to recognize His superior position by taking an inferior position, to prostrate ourselves in humility before Him."

Gold: offered to Kings.
Frankincense: used in serving.
Myrrh: for embalming.

5. They recognized the worth of Christ.

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

6. They obeyed God rather than man.

They were truly wise men!

They didn't "Miss the Christmas"!

+++

"You read the Word of God but... do you obey it?"