1 THE CHARACTERS OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Matthew 2:1-12 December 21, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee - My favorite reading and study is biography. I enjoy reading true accounts of people s lives and two of my favorite genres of literature are missionary bios and presidential bios. Roy Fish taught us in seminary the importance of reading the stories of great men of God. I also enjoy reading for other reasons like it exercises my mind and thus helps me in my preaching. It also provides stories I can use in preaching to help illustrate the truth I am attempting to communicate from God s Word. - Currently I am reading the bio of William Carey written by his great grandson Pearce Carey. It is a most fascinating and true story of the father of the modern missionary movement. Carey s life reminds me how every journey in life has twists and turns and God works all things together for God to those who love Him as Romans 8:28 teaches us. The key is how do you and I respond to these difficult twists in our otherwise tranquil journeys to our destinations? When Carey would meet with such difficulties his response was stellar he would rely on God and remember the sovereignty of God and that God would take care of him and bring about good from the current hardship. For example, when he was appointed as the first missionary from England from their Baptist society, he told his pregnant wife and two children that he would not see them for 3 years. He took his son Felix and joined with his missionary partner Thomas and headed for India. But they were halted due to Thomas and his creditors and they got off the ship and watched it sail away without them on it. It was a crushing set of circumstances and yet Carey continued to trust God and knew without any doubt that God was sending him to India. As a result of them missing the boat Carey went back home to the shock and surprise of his family. Through Thomas s influence and assistance Carey was able to board another ship within a few days, but this time all of his family were able to go on board with him! God oftentimes does this very thing in the lives of His children. He gives us a clear assignment then allows the storms to come into our lives like the disciples in Matthew 14 when Jesus sent them to sail to the other side of the sea and a violent storm swept over them, but it was in the middle of this storm when Jesus walked on water and they saw Him. - Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary have to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Travel in that day was very unlike travel today. Short distances would be difficult and time consuming. But they went and because there was no room for them in an inn, they had to go to an
2 animal stall where the animals slept, and Jesus the King would be born in a feed trough. Amazing. Baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem just like Micah the prophet said he would be born. - We see more triumph through trouble as The Wise Men from the East came to worship Jesus and yet were met with the deceptive Herod. When you expect great things from God and attempt great things for God, please note that you will encounter great opposition on your journey. - As we look at the various characters on the first Christmas nearly 2,000 years ago, listen carefully to what God would tell you through His Holy Spirit in this sermon. He will speak for He always does when someone preaches the Word of God. Listen and do not miss Him. He has a message for you and it will be a message of hope and encouragement and it will bless you greatly if you will hear, trust, and obey what God tells you. - Read Matthew 2:1-12. 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also. 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. I. JESUS THE CHRIST (VS. 1) - It is most appropriate to begin with Him for after all Christmas is all about Him and were it not for Him then there would be no Christmas. - Verse 1 Matthew records the fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the days of Herod. In Matthew 1:20-21 we learn more about who He is.
3 He is the Savior born of the Virgin Mary, and His name Jesus means Savior and He would indeed save His people from their sins. - Why did He come to save? The answer is mankind needs a Savior because we are in sin and cannot break the hold sin has on us. And instead of God just annihilating us and doing away with us, He comes down to us and offers us forgiveness and deliverance. - Charles Wesley s Christmas carol, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is one of my favorites. Charles was John s brother and they were the founders of the Methodist denomination. They were gifted and dedicated men of God. The third stanza says Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die; born to raise the sons of earth; born to give them second birth. - Jesus said in Luke 19:10, For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Who is lost? And why are they lost? Everyone born is born with the image of God imprinted on him or her and also original sin imbedded deeply within him or her. Both facts are easily seen in humanity. We have the image of God within as we have a soul that has the capacity to think deeply and know our Creator. But we are sinners by nature and by choice and no one who has preschoolers disputes original sin! - Herein lies one of the beautiful distinguishing marks of Christianity other religions offer a works salvation where man through good deeds tries to gain the approval of God, but in Jesus Christ, God comes down to us and does for us what we could never do for ourselves and that is bring man and God together through His death on the cross and resurrection. Again, as Wesley so eloquently states it in his carol, Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! - The next character in the first Christmas was a man named Herod. II. HEROD THE RUTHLESS KING (VS. 1) - Who was Herod? He was a very prominent figure in Jewish and Roman politics in the first century. He was born in 74 BC and died shortly after Jesus birth in 4 BC. His father was a Jew who was appointed as procurator of Judea by Julius Caesar in 47 BC. He appointed his son, Herod, governor of Galilee when he was only 22 years old. Herod was a clever politician. After Julius Caesar s death in 44 BC, he became friends with Mark Antony and Octavius after their defeat of Cassius and Brutus in 42 BC. Antony and Octavius advised the Roman Senate to give him the title the King of the Jews, and he served in that capacity from 37 BC till his death, a clever reign of 41 years. He was a successful builder as seen in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem which began in 19 BC. (See The Believer s Study Bible, p. 1333.) He was an excellent politician but ruthless leader as he would assassinate even infants if he felt they were a threat to his throne. Verse 16 tells us
4 how he had executed all male children 2 years of age and under. He was not the rightful king of the Jews for he was not a descendant of David but of Esau and an Edomite; therefore, he lived in paranoia for he was not the king of the Jews according to the Jews. - As one commentary reads, If someone had been rightfully born king, then Herod s job was in jeopardy. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) III. WISE MEN THE WORSHIPPERS (VS. 1-2, 11) - These wise men (magoi) were seers from a Median tribe in Persia who interpreted dreams. They possibly became acquainted with the Jewish belief in a Messiah while Israel was under the rule of the Persians from 539-332 BC. (The Believer s Study Bible, p. 1333) Some believe they could have learned of the Messiah from Jews who had migrated to the East with Old Testament manuscripts. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) - These three men of the Orient far did indeed travel from a great distance as they followed the star. It could have been a literal star as God can do anything or it could have been the very Shekinah glory of God that led Israel for 40 years in the wilderness as a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, and for lack of a better term they simply referred to the guiding light as a star. (Ibid.) - Verse 2 says their purpose in coming was to worship Him. I love this. They came not to get but to give. Worship is the Greek word proskuneo and it means to bow down, literally to bow on one s knees and touch the ground with the forehead (BlueletterBible.org) and that is why they came to give honor and worship to the newborn King. - I like the saying we have heard many times wise men still seek him. - Vs. 11 by the time they reached Jesus, he was a child (Paidion) perhaps months old or even a year and in a house in Bethlehem (The Believer s Study Bible, p. 1334). Notice their reaction they saw, they fell down, they worshipped, and they gave gifts. Wise men still do the same today we see Jesus, we fall to our knees, we worship, and give gifts. - Gifts they gave were gold, the costly metal fit for a king, frankincense, and myrrh. I thought it interesting what one commentary said about these gifts Some believe the gifts had further significance by reflecting on the character of this Child s life. Gold might represent His deity or purity, incense the fragrance of His life, and myrrh His sacrifice and death (myrrh was used for embalming). These gifts were obviously the means by which Joseph took his family to Egypt and sustained them there until Herod died. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary.) IV. RELIGIOUS LEADERS THE KNOWLEDGEABLE BUT BLIND (VS. 4-6)
5 - These chief priests and scribes were the religious leaders of the Jews. One commentary defines these two groups of Jewish leaders in the following way Verse 4 refers to the two key groups of religious leaders in Jerusalem. The chief priests headed the twenty-four main orders of priests who lived in and around the city. The scribes ( teachers of the law ) had inherited the ancient profession of copying Scripture, but they had evolved into a class of teachers well trained in interpreting and applying the Old Testament as well. 1 All of Jerusalem being troubled refers to the religious leaders. (Ibid.) Those who rejected Him in His birth would also reject Him in His life and refuse His death and deny His resurrection. - This is true of most people today. Many commercialize Christianity and use Christmas a time for vacations and parties giving no real spiritual significance because to do so places them in the valley of decision. - Though they knew much about Scripture and prophecy concerning the birthplace of the Promised Messiah they still did not make the connection and believe. - Interesting that Herod gathered all of the religious leaders. That had to take some time and cause some concern among them. - But their theology was spot on. They told Herod where the King would be born based on Micah 5:2. 2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. - And indeed Jesus was born in Bethlehem; yes little town of Bethlehem and that is in keeping with the wisdom of God. He passes over the mighty, proud and strong and reveals Himself to the poor in spirit and humble. - I read a comment by a pastor friend of mine, Jeremy Roberts, and thought it very insightful. He wrote, Bethlehem was an unlikely place for God to use, but God has a way of using people and places that others deem unlikely. Jesus could've been born in Jerusalem, the seat of religious power; or Rome, the center of political power; or Athens, the center of intellectual power. God used the little town of Bethlehem because the hope of the world is not in religion, politics, or philosophy. The hope of the world is in a SAVIOR! CONCLUSION AND INVITATION 1 Blomberg, C. (1992). Vol. 22: Matthew. The New American Commentary (63). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
- Jesus has come to save us from our sins. Our sins will be paid either by Jesus and our acceptance of Him and His full pardon or by us as we pay for eternity for our sins in hell. - Do not make the mistake of so many and trivialize Christmas and make it only about you and parties and family and friends. There would be no Christmas were it not for Christ. It is a Wonderful Life because God makes it wonderful through Christ. - Accept and believe what you already know to be true Jesus very name means Savior and He was born of the Virgin Mary in the little town of Bethlehem and all the Nativity scenes that scatter across this globe have historical meaning and proclaim a message of hope. Accept that as His birth was miraculous and unique so was His life. He lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for your sins and the sins of the world. For He was the only One qualified to be your substitute for He was not born in sin as you and I were, and He was sinless thus God s perfect sacrifice for you. Believe and accept the most widely known piece of literature all over the world John 3:16. Yes believe that this Jesus born of a virgin, died a substitutionary death, He also arose from the dead in what we celebrate as Easter or better-said Resurrection Day. Everything about Jesus is miraculous His birth, life, death, and resurrection. And one grand day He will miraculously come again. - Will you receive Him today? Turn from your sin and let the dear Savior in your heart. Do not give lip service or intellectual assent but truly believe and give Him the reigns of your life. He makes a far better Lord and Savior than you! 6