Today we considered one of the most wonderful and well-known Bible stories surrounding the birth of Jesus. Simply stated, it is a story about true worship. True worship involves 2 parties, the worshippers and the one being worshipped. God created all of us to be creatures of worship. St. Augustine said, “There is an empty place in every human heart that only God can fill.” At Christmas and to start the New Year, we want our souls to be renewed and strengthened through worshiping King Jesus. So today let’s consider the theme of true worship, both in being a worshipper and the one we worship.

First, “We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (1-10).

Verses 1 and 2 read, “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 in the east and have come to worship him.’” The Magi came after Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We are uncertain of their specific origins, but many scholars suggest the Magi come from a group that can be traced back to the Babylonian scholars and intellectuals of Daniel’s time who served as magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. For many years Babylon housed the best and brightest minds throughout the world. After the fall of the Babylonian empire their storehouse of knowledge and wisdom carried on. Now hundreds of years later, they were still studying and charting the movements of stars in the clear midnight skies of the Middle East.

They were the truth-seekers of their time, trying to understand the universe and the purpose of life. One night as they were conducting their routine star charting, an unknown star appeared and kept appearing night after night. Perhaps many of the Magi and their friends were shocked and wondered what it could be. They could not explain it. Ancient records were scrutinized and considered, and they likely came across an old Bible and the writings of Daniel, who had served as chief of the magicians for many years.

Again, we do not know exactly how the Magi came to their convictions, but they were so moved that a small entourage was sent on a long journey to the homeland of the Jewish people. Somehow they knew that the star was a divine sign regarding the birth of the king of the Jews. This newborn king was much more than a political or worldly ruler of a small and almost forgotten nation. They travelled hundreds of miles to search for this child and eventually arrived in Jerusalem asking about the whereabouts of the royal infant. They called him the king of Jews and were determined to find and worship him. They wanted to honor him, glorify him, and be an active participant in this most important moment in all of human history.

Verses 3 and 4 read, “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 Christ was to be born.” When King Herod heard about the questions and the search of the Magi he was disturbed. As far as he was concerned, he was the king of the Jews and did not need any competition. The people of Jerusalem were also disturbed. It was very strange to have these Gentile intellectuals snooping around Jerusalem looking for their promised Messiah.

Herod called together a special committee of Jewish religious leaders to question them about the Christ to be born. He was very resourceful and knew this was a potentially divisive issue that he needed to handle quickly. He was a ruthless and manipulative man who did not even hesitate to use Bible study for his own selfish reasons.

Verses 5 and 6 read, “‘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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.”’” This shows that the Jewish people were also anticipating the birth of the Messiah. They were familiar with the prophecies related to the coming Christ. The religious leaders knew that the prophet Micah spoke about the origin and role of the coming king. Out of Bethlehem would come a ruler who would be the shepherd of God’s flock (Mi 5:2). Despite knowing it all and being in the direct vicinity of his birth, they were still so far away from worshipping the true king Jesus.

Herod on the other hard organized a secret meeting with the Magi to find out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He would be ready to take these matters in his own hands if necessary. But at first, he would try to get the unsuspecting Magi to do his dirty work. He sent them to Bethlehem to make a careful search for the child. As soon as they found him, they were to report back. He blatantly lied to them suggesting that his intent was to go and worship him when in reality he wanted to have this newborn king, if he did exist, killed right away. King Herod’s dastardly plan ultimately failed. The Magi received warning in a dream not to go back to Herod. They returned to their country by another route. Still God used the corrupt motives of Herod to guide and direct the Magi in the right direction and to plant the seeds of hope and awakening among the Jewish people.

Verses 9 and 10 read, “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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” The Magi went on their way from Jerusalem heading toward Bethlehem based on Herod’s advice. The star was like their personal GPS navigating them directly to the newborn kind. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. They were so encouraged to be on the right track again and knew their destination was so close at hand.

The Magi’s pilgrimage teaches us some important lessons in regard to being a true worshipper. It is always God who initially starts his work. God initiated his invitation through the star that miraculously appeared in the midnight sky. Not many people spent time watching the stars like that, and the Magi were perhaps the only people who noticed. By the help and work of God they understood its meaning as a call to worship. But they had to do their part to respond. They travelled long distances and bore many inconveniences and expenses in order to come and worship. In this sense, worship is not just God coming to us, we also come to God. Any great spiritual moment or breakthrough in our life incorporates both God’s revelation and initiation and our genuine desire and faithful response.

In our pilgrimage of life, like the Magi we are also bound to get lost at some point. We wander and lose our way. We get burdened or discouraged and want to quit. But the Magi were not lone travelers. They had each other. We also journey together with others to meet Christ and to know Christ more and more. It is so wonderful to have each other. We all need to take time to appreciate our fellow pilgrims and make deliberate efforts and plans to spend time together. God wants to weave our lives much tighter together in his love and amazing promises as worshipper of our King Jesus.

Personally, I have always been a man of extremes. I am still learning how to really balance allowing God to work and do his part and prayerfully doing my part. I either want to do all the work and unnecessarily push and shove in the things only God can do, or I get discouraged and burned out and have little motivation to do anything. Also even though it may not seem like it, I can be kind of a loner. My selfish ambition sets me apart from people in my heart and mind. I do not intend this, but it just happens. I distance myself, even from those closest to me, and keep all my stress and burdens to myself. I fail to really connect and appreciate the many people God has gracious surrounded me by and who are my partners in my pilgrim journey to ultimate worship Christ in the kingdom of God. Please pray for me to grow as man with clear balance and deeper friendships in the coming year.

Second, “They bowed down and worshipped him” (11-12).

Verse 11 reads, “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.” By now Joseph, Mary and Jesus were in a house in Bethlehem. The Magi saw the newborn king with his mother. They bowed down and worshipped. They humbled themselves even before a baby. They honored and exalted him as the king of the Jews. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with rich gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. They offered generously from their own personal treasures. It was something that was considered and prepared in advance.

Their worship of a baby shows that they both new and saw his divine nature. They saw the glorious reality of God in the humble baby Jesus. Their worship was rooted in the acceptance of Biblical prophecy, like what we read in 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 increase 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 Magi saw the visible representation of God in the baby and experienced the glory of God who came to dwell with mankind.

We are blessed with an even more complete, specific, and extensive revelation of God about the nature of this newborn king was that made him so worthy of worship. Last week, we learned that the baby was to be called Jesus because he would save his people from their sins. He is the Savior and high priest who saves us and pronounces us as clean, pure, and holy children of God. The baby would also be called Immanuel, God with us. More than just understand us, be close to us, or draw us near, the baby would actually be God with us. He is the king of the Jews, the promised king in the line of David whose rule extends into eternity. His power, dominion, and sovereignty extend through earth into heaven. The baby is would also be the shepherd of his people. He would oversee and watch over them with utmost love, compassion, and practical care.

This baby only came once, and we will have that same kind of experience as the Magi did. But Jesus himself made some awesome promises to us. He promises that wherever 2 or more gather in his name, he is there (Mt 18:20). He joins such gatherings through the work and presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also promises his disciples in Matthew 28:19, 20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In view of Jesus’ promises, when we really accept and believe them, we too have the chance to experience Christ presence, God with us. Even in the most humble of circumstances, like a Bible study in a coffee house, a prayer time with your wife in the morning, a time of praise singing in the car with your friends, and especially our worship services on Sunday, God can become more and more real to us.

Life in fact fills with meaning and joy when we seize such ample opportunities given to us to see Christ great glory revealed in humility. During our Christmas service last week, I was moved to tears by Lena and Ruth’s world mission dance for China. God was pleased and his presence was so evident to me. God is pleased to reveal himself and make his presence known among us all when our worship primarily seeks to recognize, honor and glorify God himself. I really look forward to how we will come to worship King Jesus in the New Year and to see how God reveals himself through our weekly Sunday services. Like the Magi, these wise men of old, we may search the Scriptures and prepare each week to worship our King. May the coming year be a wonderful, joyful journey together as we worship our King Jesus and praise God who is among us.

December 18, 2011; Greg Lewis; Toledo UBF

Weekly Message | December 18th, 2011