WORSHIP KING JESUS

Matthew 2:1-12
Key Verse: 2:2

“...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.’”

In this passage, some Magi come to worship the baby Jesus. Only Matthew tells this story. Matthew he recalled the Magi's testimony to further emphasizes that Jesus is the King. The Magi are great because they worshiped Jesus. They prove that Jesus is worthy to be worshiped by all people, small and great alike. Jesus is Immanuel–God with us. This story shows us that we are created to worship God. When we worship Jesus, we find the true meaning of life and true happiness. Lord, help us worship Jesus today.

First, Magi from the east came to worship Jesus (1-2).

Look at verse 1. “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem....” Jesus' birthday was the greatest event in Israel’s history, and the most amazing even in history of mankind. But it seems like only a few shepherds had heard about it that night. It could be a few months or up to two years later by now. Apparently nobody was interested in what the shepherds had seen because at the time, only some Magi from the east came to see Jesus.

Who were the Magi? Why did the come to see Jesus? They are famous as key figures in the Christmas story. They appear in many Christmas messages and dramas every year. Marco Polo claimed to have seen their graves on his journeys to the east. They say the Magi's bones are resting in the top of the Koln cathedral in Germany. These guys are enigmatic to say the least. Historically, the Magi came from ancient Persia or Babylon, as part a religious caste devoted to astrology, divination, and the interpretation of dreams. They were scholars, who believed in spiritual revelation as well as scientific reason as a basis for truth. They were advisers to kings and highly respected in society.

Why did they come to Jerusalem? Look at verse 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.’” Why were they were looking for the king of the Jews? How did they know about him? Wasn't it good enough for them to tell fortunes and practice magic in their home town? NO! The Magi were great in the history of the world because they took God's word seriously. In the beginning they studied the stars. They flattered the kings of the world and dazzled them with mumbo jumbo to get respect. But they were humbled and began to repent when Daniel and his friends came to town. Daniel proved to the king that God is God and that everyone must worship him. One day Daniel said, “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” It did not mean much right away, but later, King Nebuchadnezzar got the message for real and he made a decree. He said, “... in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.” Those Magi must have held on to the promise of God from that time on and taught their children to wait for God's appointed time. These were a people prepared for the coming of King Jesus. So when a different star appeared in the sky, they knew what to do. They knew they had to worship the king who's kingdom would never end. They were truth seekers who kept the promise of God alive in their generations, no matter what the people around them did or said.Ghandi said there is no religion higher than the truth. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” I don't know why Ghandi did not worship Jesus. But a remnant Magi went a long way worship him.

What is worship? How do we worship? To worship to express intense love and devotion to something. All people are made in the image of God to worship God (Gen 1:27). If men do not worship God, they worship created things, and become wicked and depraved (Ro 1:18-32). So the Ten Commandments begin, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything...” (Ex 20:2-4). However, in our time, many worship created things, such as a boyfriend or girlfriend, sports stars or rock stars, computer technology, human achievement, fame or money. This is sin against God. It damages one’s soul and leads to restlessness and ruin. Those who worship created things must repent.

The Bible says that worship belongs to God alone (Mt 4:10). Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” These Magi wanted to worship God. Humans are made in God's image with a strong desire to worship God. The desire to worship God urges us to cry out for God, like a little child cries out for his mother. There is a song about it based on the Bible. (Psalm 42:1-2) “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” St. Augustine said, “God made man with an empty spot that only God can fill; man is a restless wanderer until he finds his rest in God.” The Samaritan woman in John 4 had such a hole in her heart. She had tried to fill the gap thinking the right man would make her happy forever. But she only found heartbreak and misery. Jesus gently led her to repent and to worship God who is Spirit. Then she found healing, peace, and eternal life. Her heart was fixed up when she learned to worship God in spirit and in truth. (I know a lady with a hole in her heart. She wants something in the world. God, lead her to Jesus she she can come back to you.)

These famous Magi followed the ancient command of their king to worship God. They were hungry and thirsty for God; nothing less would satisfy them. The things of the world could not satisfy them. Only God could satisfy them. Realizing this, they sought the king of the Jews because they knew correctly that he was the one to rule the universe forever. They could worship him because they could see he is God in the flesh. The Magi worshiped God with all their hearts and souls and strength. Let’s seek and worship God, like the Magi.

Second, Jesus is a shepherd king (3-8).

Look at verse 3. “When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.” This was Herod the Great. He had ten wives, many sons and his family ruled Israel for four generations. But he was a wicked fellow. Once, Herod executed his own sons for conspiracy, and many innocent people perished with them. When Herod heard that the king of the Jews had been born, he only saw Jesus as a threat to his power base and he got disturbed. Then he disturbed the whole city. People who depend on the system tremble when it shakes.

Look at verse 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.” Herod decided to arrange a Christmas worship service and group Bible Study, but his motive was not to worship Jesus. He wanted to eliminate Jesus. His main prayer topic was to know where Jesus the Christ should be born. The religious leaders quoted Micah 5:2 telling Herod that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem, just a few miles from Jerusalem. The religious leaders were so near the birthplace of Christ. But they made no effort to go there. What a great contrast with the Magi!

Though Herod’s motive was evil and the religious leaders were corrupted, the word of God shone brightly, like sunshine in the darkness. Look at verses 5-6. “‘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.”’” The king of the Jews would be a shepherd of his people.

David had been a shepherd king. He understood the heart of God. In Psalm 23:1-2 David says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” A shepherd king protects his people. A shepherd king provides for his people. A shepherd king loves and serves his people like a father. It's not easy for teenagers to see a father's love. It's not easy to be a father to rebellious teenagers either. But Jesus has that kind of shepherd heart for his people. God puts his heart into people when they worship Jesus earnestly. I think I shook hands with Dr. Lee three or four times since I came to UBF. It seemed like Dr. Lee should not know me from Adam. But one day I got a letter from him mentioning how he was thankful we could meet together and thanking me for spending time with Bonn servants and many international guests one year after a summer conference. It was strange how he seemed to know his sheep by name and care for them one by one.

When a good shepherd loves and cares for sheep, they can become shepherds too. Pastor Paul Dang of Milwaukee loved and cared for Sh. Jeff Cummings for over ten years. Jeff has dyslexia, so he sees things differently than us. With a shepherd’s heart, Pastor Paul searched for the way to turn this weakness to strength. He found the true story of a dyslexic salesman whose boss sent him to a foreign country to sell shoes. All other salesmen who had tried came back discouraged, saying, “No one in that country wears shoes. There is no market.” But the dyslexic salesman said, “No one in that country has shoes. This is the best market for selling shoes.” He saw things differently, and made a great success. These day's we pray for Sh. Jeff and Missionary Grace and Zechariah Cummings to see things from God’s point of view as they pioneer the University of South Florida in Tampa.

There are many examples of those who care for others with compassion. But only Jesus is “the good shepherd.” Jesus said in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” To save us from our sins, Jesus died on the cross. Jesus took our shame, pain and eternal punishment, and bore it in our places. Isaiah 53:6 says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” Only Jesus could do this for us. Jesus’ saving grace brings us from death to life. Our their lives belong to Jesus. We can worship king Jesus forever like those who sing in Revelation 5:12. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Thank God for Jesus, the lamb of God and the shepherd king of all God's people.

After hearing about the good shepherd Jesus, King Herod should have fallen to his knees thanking God in repentance. It was good news for him too. But he was not really paying attention. He only got the information that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Then he called the Magi secretly to find out the time the star had appeared. It was to carry out his plot to kill Jesus. However, God was in control. God helped the Magi find the Christ through the Bible study. Later, God warned them in a dream to avoid Herod while going back to their country. God protected the Magi and the baby Jesus. Sometimes evil people of the world make us fearful. We feel that we must become more clever. This is the devil’s temptation. When we follow the truth with a pure heart, God will protect us.

Third, the Magi bowed down and worshiped Jesus (9-12).

Look at verses 9-10. “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.” When they came to Jerusalem, they did what seemed normal and visited the palace to see the new prince who would become the king of the world. But they had momentarily misunderstood God's plan. But after Bible study God's will became clear again. They stepped out of the palace and suddenly, the star they had seen in their homeland appeared again. When they saw the star, they had to know that God was leading them his way. They could not think humanly about Jesus. When they saw the star, they knew their long journey was almost over and when they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

True joy comes to those who seek Jesus with all their hearts and strength. Deuteronomy 4:29 says, “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Looking for God requires many decisions of faith, and perseverance through many trials. It is not easy. But in the end it gives us overflowing joy and eternal life. From a worldly viewpoint, our lives are full of sufferings and trials if we sacrifice something to serve Jesus. However, people are most blessed and happy, and they laugh a lot when they look only at Jesus. On the other hand, people who only see people and seek selfish pleasure spend most of their time complaining. They might die in bitterness and regret.

Look at verse 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.” The Magi’s hearts were thoroughly prepared. They knew without a doubt that he was God and he was the one they must worship. In this verse, we learn what true worship is from the Magi.

In the first place, they bowed down before the child Jesus. The Magi were noble and dignified people. But they were very humble before God. They knew they were creatures before their Creator, and sinners before the Holy God. Moreover, through their act of bowing, they declared their loyalty to the child Jesus, offering themselves as his subjects. True worship involves bowing before the King, recognizing the sovereignty of God. The Bible says “every knew will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2) We must worship Jesus now while we can be blessed for it, or we will worship Jesus from hell, crying out to him Lord, Lord, you taught in our streets, we did many wonderful things for you, as we try to associate ourselves some how with his present salvation ministry. But it will be too late. He will say, “I never knew you. Please get to know Jesus. Please come and worship Jesus. Bow down before Jesus the king of all creation and see how merciful and powerful a king he really is.

In the second place, they worshiped him. Simply speaking, they confessed their love to the child Jesus. It was the genuine outpouring of their admiration for God because of who he is and what he has done. No doubt, their worship was both universal and personal. They must have thanked him for their successful pilgrimage and for the great privilege to see God’s salvation in the child Jesus.

In the third place, they gave him gold, incense and myrrh. These Magi knew the palace protocol. They worshiped Jesus by offering their precious treasures to him. The treasures were not only valuable in themselves, but they also convey the meaning of who Jesus is. Gold was fit for a king. Don't give the king silver or bronze. When we come to God we must bring our best. They also brought incense. It signified the priestly identity of baby Jesus. And they offered myrrh. This was the embalming spice for one who dies. Though Jesus is King, he came to suffer and die for the sin of the world.

Today we learned from the Magi that we are made to worship God. When we seek God, find God and worship God, we can experience true joy and have eternal life. Mostly, we learned that Jesus is our shepherd king who laid down his life for us. He is worthy of our worship forever.