January 3, 1999 - LESSON: Matthew 2:13-23, NRSV

INTRODUCTION:

I. They came from the East.

    A. They may have been from Babylon, Persia, or the Arabian Desert.

    B. We do not know how many there were.

        1. Matthew does not tell us.

        2. They brought three gifts so we assume there were three.

    C. They were not "Kings," but "magi," a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by impl. a 
        magician:—sorcerer, wise man.

II. We don't know what they were following.

    A. It is reported that they saw his strand followed it.

    B. A great number of people have speculated as to the meaning of the star.

III. They went to Jerusalem.

    A. Why Jerusalem?

    B. I suppose that is where they expected to find the child.

MAIN BODY:

I. They had a burning question:

    A. "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?"

    B. No one immediately knew.

        1. They had to look up ancient prophecies.

        2. The answer was found in Micah 5:2.

        3. He was in Bethlehem.

    C. Herod held a secret conference with the wise men and not only told them where Jesus was, but 
        asked them to come and report to him.

II. He was, wasn't he, the King of the Jews.

    A. There is Herod's response to the inquiry of the Magi, (Matthew 2:16, NRSV).

        1. When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated,

        2. He sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, 
            according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.

        3. He would tolerate no rivals.

 B. Later would be a conversation with Pilate, (John 18:33-37, NRSV).

        1. Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the 
            King of the Jews?"

        2. [34] Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"

        3. [35] Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed 
            you over to me. What have you done?"

        4. [36] Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, 
            my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is,
            my kingdom is not from here."

        5. [37] Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?"

        6. Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the 
            world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

III. The question of the wise men exposes a misunderstanding.

    A. Even the wise men did not know everything.

    B. Jesus is in the parlance of the day, a king.

        1. He would have been king of the Jews.

        2. They would not have him.

IV. If we were to have the opportunity to go to Bethlehem with the Magi and acknowledge Jesus as 
     king, what would we be thinking and longing for?

    A. Perhaps we bristle at the word "king"?

        1. We would not have a king.

        2. We are a democracy.

        3. If not king, what would you call him?

        4. Head of state.

V. What kind of a head of state would you desire?

    A. For a few minutes think about the images of God that are so often attached to Jesus.

        1. God is a tyrant.

            a. Always in control.

            b. Everything happens because God wants it to happen.

            c. You have no choice and no options.

        2. An absentee landlord.

            a. God is out there somewhere

            b. He left us to fend for ourselves.

            c. We sink or swim.

        3. Kindly grandfather.

            a. Accepts all.

            b. Overlooks all.

        4. Christ was a revolutionary.

            a. A whole school of social and political action called Liberation Theology has been based on 
                this understanding of Jesus.

            b. Use of political processes.

            c. Use of force to achieve social ends.

CONCLUSION:

I. Jesus was not allowed to be the king of the Jews.

    A. Our objections to the use of the word, "king" may be resolved if we understand that we are 
        members of the family.

        1. We enter the family through baptism.

        2. We confirm our entrance by a personal decision.

        3. We substantiate our place in the family through Communion.

    B. We are members of the family.

    C. We have access to all the rights and privileges of the family.

        1. The resources of the family.

            a. Information

            b. Knowledge of the ages

            c. The wisdom of the ages.

        2. The power of the family.

            a. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

            b. Overcome temptation.

            c. Power to overcome our devices and habits.

        3. The rewards of the family.

            a. Peace is one of God's greatest rewards.

            b. A transformed life

            c. Eternity is another.

II. So we too follow wise men from the east and worship Christ, the newly born king.