Title: Christmas is About Christ

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men[a] from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,[b] and we have come to worship him.”

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
    are not least among the ruling cities[c] of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
    who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’[d]

Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Message

He was born in the humblest of settings, yet heaven above was filled with the songs of angels.

His birthplace was a cattle shed, yet a star brought the rich and noble from thousands of miles away to worship Him.

His birth was contrary to the laws of life and His death was contrary to the laws of death, yet no miracle is greater than His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, and His teachings.

He had no cornfields or fisheries, yet He spread a table for 5000 and had bread and fish to spare.

He never stood on expensive carpeting yet He walked on the waters and they supported Him.

His crucifixion was the crime of crimes, yet from God’s perspective no less a price could have made possible our redemption.

He died, few mourned His passing, yet God hung a black cape over the sun.

Those who crucified Him did not tremble, at what they’d done, yet the earth shook under them.

Sin never touched Him.

Corruption could not get hold of His body.

The soil that was reddened with His blood could not claim His dust.

For over three years He preached the Gospel.

He wrote no book, He had no headquarters, and He built no organization.

Yet two thousand years later He’s the central figure of human history, the perpetual theme of all preaching, the pivot around which the ages revolve, and the only Redeemer of the human race.

At this season of celebration and gift-giving, let us join the wise men who “fell down and worshipped Him.”

Let’s remember, Christmas is about – Christ!

2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men[a] from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,

Reflection: (Matthew 2:1)

Bethlehem is a small town five miles south of Jerusalem.

It sits on a high ridge more than 2,000 feet above sea level.

It is mentioned in more detail in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke also explains why Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem when Jesus was born, rather than in Nazareth, their hometown.

Reflection: (Matthew 2:1)

 The land of Israel was divided into four political districts and several lesser territories.

Judea was to the south, Samaria in the middle, Galilee to the north, and Idumea to the southwest.

Bethlehem of Judea (also called Judah Matthew 2:6) had been prophesied as the Messiah’s birthplace (Micah 5:2).

Jerusalem was also in Judea and was the seat of government for Herod the Great, king over all four political districts.

After Herod’s death, the districts were divided among three separate rulers (see notes on Matthew 2:19-22).

Although he was a ruthless, evil man who murdered many of his own family, Herod the Great supervised the renovation of the Temple, making it much larger and more beautiful.

This made him popular with many Jews.

Jesus would visit Jerusalem many times because the great Jewish festivals were held there.

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,[b] and we have come to worship him.”

Reflection: (Matthew 2:1-2)

Not much is known about these “wise men.”

We do not know where they came from or how many there were.

Tradition says they were men of high position from Parthia, near the site of ancient Babylon.

How did they know that the star represented the Messiah?

  1. They could have been Jews who remained in Babylon after the Exile and knew the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah’s coming.

  2. They may have been eastern astrologers who student ancient manuscripts from around the world.

    Because of the Jewish exile centuries earlier, they would have had copies of the Old Testament in their land.

  3. They may have had a special message from God directing them to the Messiah.

Some scholars say these wise men were each from a different land, representing the entire world bowing before Jesus.

These men from far-away lands recognized Jesus as the Messiah when most of God’s chosen people in Israel did not.

Matthew pictures Jesus as the King over the whole world, not just Judea.

Reflection: (Matthew 2:1-2)

The wise men traveled thousands of miles to see the King of the Jews.

When they finally found Him, they responded with joy, worship, and gifts.

This is so different from the approach of people often taken today.

We expect God to come looking for us, to explain Himself, prove who He is, and give us gifts.

But those who are wise still seek and worship Jesus today, not for what they can get, but for who He is.

Reflection: (Matthew 2:2)

The wise men said they saw Jesus’ star Balaam referred to a coming “star… from Jacob” (Numbers 24:17).

Some say this star may have been a conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars in 6 B.C., and others offer other explanations.

But couldn’t God, who created the heavens, have created a special star to signal the arrival of His Son?

Whatever the nature of the star, these wise men traveled thousands of miles searching for a king, and they found Him.

 

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.

Reflection: (Matthew 2:3)

Herod the Great was quite disturbed when the wise men asked about a newborn king of the Jews because:

  1. Herod was not the rightful heir to the throne of David; therefore, many Jews hated him as a usurper.

    If Jesus was an heir, trouble would arise.

  2. Herod was ruthless, and because of his many enemies, he was suspicious that someone would try to overthrow him.
  3. Herod did not want the Jews, a religious people, to unite around a religious figure.
  4. If these wise men were from Jewish descent and from the Parthia (the most powerful region next to Rome), they would have welcomed a Jewish king who could swing the balance of power away from Rome.

The land of Israel, far from Rome, would have been easy prey for a nation trying to gain more control.

The text tells us that not only was Herod disturbed, but so was everyone in Jerusalem.

When Jesus was born into the world, people immediately began to react.

His presence did not soothe and comfort most people; instead, it startled and disturbed them.

In some he awakened spiritual longings; in others, fear and insecurity.

Things have not changed that much; Jesus still disturbs people.

If it is true that God entered our world when Jesus was born, we dare not sit idly by ignoring and rationalizing our inaction.

We must acknowledge Jesus as the rightful King of our lives.

He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
    are not least among the ruling cities[c] of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
    who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’[d]

Reflection: (Matthew 2:4-6)

The leading priests and teachers of religious law were aware of Micah 5:2 and other prophesies about the Messiah.

Matthew repeatedly highlighted their knowledge and unbelief.

The wise men’s news troubled Herod because he knew that the Jewish people expected the Messiah to come soon (Luke 3:15).

Most Jews expected the Messiah to be a great military and political deliverer, like Alexander the Great.

Herod’s counselors would have told Herod this.

No wonder this ruthless man took no chances and ordered all the baby boys in Bethlehem killed (Matthew 2:16)! 

Reflection: (Matthew 2:6)

Most religious leaders believed in a literal fulfillment of all Old Testament prophesy; therefore, they believed the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem as foreseen by the prophet Micah seven centuries earlier (Micah 5:2).

Ironically, when Jesus was born, these same religious leaders became His greatest enemies.

When the Messiah for whom they had been waiting finally came, they didn’t recognize Him.

Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

Reflection: (Matthew 2:8)

Herod did not want to worship Christ – he was lying.

This was a trick to get the wise men to return to him and reveal the whereabouts of the newborn King.

Herod’s plan was to kill Jesus.

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Reflection: (Matthew 2:11)

Jesus was probably one or two years old when the wise men found Him.

By this time, Mary and Joseph were married, living in a house, and intending to stay in Bethlehem for a while.

For more on Joseph and Mary’s stay there, see the note on Luke 2:39.

Reflection: (Matthew 2:11)

The wise men gave these expensive gifts as worthy acknowledgement for a future king.

Bible students have seen in the gift’s symbols of Christ’s identity and what He would accomplish.

God was a gift for royalty; frankincense was a gift for deity; and myrrh was a spice used to anoint a body for burial.

These gifts may have provided the financial resources for the trip to Egypt and back.

Reflection: (Matthew 2:11)

The wise men brough gifts and worshiped Jesus for who He was.

This is the essence of true worship – honoring Christ for who He is and being willing to give Him what is valuable to you.

Worship God because He is the perfect, just, and almighty Creator of the universe, worthy of the best you have to give.

12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. 

Reflection: (Matthew 2:12)

After finding Jesus and worshiping Him, the wise men were warned by God not to return through Jerusalem as they had intended.

Finding Jesus may mean that your life must take a different direction, one that is responsive and obedient to God’s Word.

In what ways has Jesus affected the direction of your life?