The Figure of Advent, 2: Jesus, the New King Matthew 2:1-12

The Figure of Advent Two: Jesus, the New King

Matthew 2:1-12

- In the account of the birth of Jesus, Matthew deliberately sets out to contrast Jesus, who is the true king of the Jews, with Herod the Great, the Roman appointed King of the Jews.

- By setting up this contrast, Matthew is encouraging his readers to draw comparisons between Jesus and Herod.

- Matthew wants his readers to see that we can either choose the way of Herod, which is paranoia and fear in response to the birth of Jesus or we can choose the way of the Magi, which is the way of seeking out the Messiah in faith and paying him homage.

- And by setting up this comparison between Jesus and Herod, Matthew begs us to answer a question, which way will we choose, the way of Herod or the way of the Magi?

- Will we choose the way of fear or the way of faith?

- If we choose the way of fear we will fight tooth and nail to keep the power and control that we think we have and we will use whatever tactics we think are necessary to keep that power and control.

- That's what Herod did, whatever was necessary to maintain power and control. That way is the natural response of the sinner's heart.

- Herod the Great was notorious for his paranoia and jealousy. As history shows, his fear and suspicion were at the root of his murder of his wife, Mariamne, and two of his sons (Osborne, 2010).

- Let's notice Herod's immediate response to the inquiry of the Magi, where is the new born King of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose and have come to worship him.

- Herod's immediate response is one of fear. He was filled with fear over the possibility that the real anointed king of Israel might be born because the anointed king of Israel was a threat to Herod's power and control, a threat to his throne.

- Herod knew that he was only a usurper.  Also, because he was aging and his health was poor, he knew that his time on Israel's throne would one day come to an end and it terrified him.

- Herod's fear also disturbed the residents of Jerusalem, most likely because they feared how Herod would respond to this news and what kind of brutalities he would commit to protect his throne.

-While Herod was King of the Jews, he was no Jew and was ignorant of their Scriptures, which is why he called all of Jerusalem's religious leaders together not just the Sanhedrin to learn where Messiah would be born.  They told him about Micah 5:2 & 2 Samuel 5:2

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

- Matthew highlights these Scriptures as a reminder to his readers that Christ will rule and that no Roman appointed ruler can take Christ's place because God himself will shepherd his people.

- The Messiah, the true king, will shepherd God's people and restore them to a right relationship with God.

- But Herod was already hatching a secret plot to rid himself of the threat of this so-called new born king of the Jews.

- He called the Magi to a secret meeting so he could ask them the exact time the star appeared, which became influential in his scheme to murder all of the male babies 2 years and under in Bethlehem.

- Let me ask a risky question: How far are we willing to let our fears take us?  How often do you operate out of a sense of fear? Fear leads to taking control, where it's God place to have control.

- Herod was ruled by his fear.

- When we try to control situations out of our fears, then we are plainly failing to trust God.  Trusting instead in ourselves because we sometimes think we know better than God.

- You know something, I'm guilty, you are guilty, all of us are guilty of this sin and all of us need to repent and trust God.

- Instead of trying to control everything from a place of fear, we need to move to a place of simple trust and surrender, a place of faith.

- There's only one way to do that, which is to actively, regularly meditate upon the greatness of God and to see ourselves in light of his greatness.  When we truly know that his will is perfect, we are better able to surrender our wills.

- Now what about the Magi?  They came seeking the new born king of the Jews in good faith.

- As to why, we are not told, but it is assumed that they came because of Balaam's prophecy of the star rising out of Jacob, which is recorded in Numbers 24.

- Also, as to how many Magi there were, we are not told, contrary to popular belief, but this we can safely assume, that they represent the non-Jewish world coming to Messiah Jesus.

- Matthew's first readers may have guessed that the Magi knew more than average people in those days & would also have celebrated the infant Jesus as more than an earthly king, but the King of Kings.

- The Magi came to Jerusalem seeking the one born king of the Jews.  They were honest seekers, looking for this new born king in good faith.

- They met with Herod in good faith, Herod who desired to know the exact time of the star's appearance and requested they return to him with the exact location of this child.

- But because their search was in good faith God warned them not to return to Herod.

- The Magi may have undertaken what was by ancient standards a long journey to pay homage to a king, but the final leg of their journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem was only about two hours.

- As the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire led Israel through the desert, so the star led the Magi to Jesus.

- This was a God thing and God is still in the business of leading honest seekers who are searching for him in good faith to Jesus.

- In fact, Matthew tells us that when they saw the star they were filled with great joy.

- They could not be certain that they would see the star again having first understood the sign and been told where the prophet said the child was born, but they continued their journey on in faith and their faith was rewarded with supernatural guidance.

- Upon seeing the child with Mary his mother, falling on their knees, they worshipped him, and opening their treasure chests, worshipping him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

- These gifts were lavish, costly, and fit for a king.  These three gifts represent the most valuable things available to the Magi and the only things suitable as gifts for a king, even the one they very likely understood to be King of kings.

- These verses also reflect OT prophecy.

- The psalms proclaim that Kings will fall down and worship him, giving gifts.

- Isaiah proclaims that the nations rejoice and bring their riches.

- Their honest seeking in good faith is rewarded.  They worship the king of kings and they are warned supernaturally by God not to return to Herod, probably for their own protection as well as for the protection of Jesus.

- How about us?  Are we honest God seeking people?  Do we look for him in our daily lives out of good faith?  Do we listen to his guidance and obey his interventions?

- OR are we like Herod?  Allowing our fears to control us, do we try to control things to our will rather than following God's will?

- Those who seek Christ in good faith worship and obey when they find him.

- When we submit our wills to King Jesus, then we will worship and obey.