News of the birth of the king of the Jews is not welcome to king Herod. He is actually troubled and all the religious leaders with him. In the light of ignorance of these scribes they go back to the sacred scriptures and find it. They go back to Herod and report it. Herod wants to eliminate his rival. The magi go, head toward Bethlehem following the star. The star they follow moves. It settles / rests over the house where Jesus is. They go into the house, bow down and worship Him. They genuinely worship demonstrating He is the king of the nations and fulfillment of the scriptures. Herod sends his soldiers to kill all newborn children to fight against King Jesus.
The Jews here have the bright revelation of scripture and the magi had a star. But the Jews don’t seek Him. The gentiles do. The magi want to worship the Jews seek to kill Him.
3 groups that lost Christmas
1 – Herod and his pride.
Herod does not welcome the news. The Spirit does not call Herod a king. He is illegitimate. He is not in the line of David. He was given the title King of Judea but not King of the Jews. He was not loved but hated. He was very cruel. To protect his throne he murdered several wives and sons. He knows He is the messiah. Mat 2:4 calls Him the Christ. His pride prevented him from coming to Christ
2 – The Jewish people and their fear.
This is a fear of man. Do people lose Christ for fear of man? Mat 2:3 – the people are troubled. They knew Herod was cruel and they knew what he was capable of. Fear of man can bring a great snare. It over ruled their coming to Christ.
3 – the religious apathy.
The very experts on the word of God (scribes and pharisees) ought to know God intimately. On the one hand they can know the scriptures but on the other they don’t accept or see Him. No religious leaders go with the magi to Bethlehem. No priests. These religious guardians of sacred scripture have no passion or heart. With all their biblical knowledge they missed Christmas. Jesus warned one of the churches in revelation that they are neither hot nor cold.
The magi were elite. They humbled themselves and bowed to the king. We must humble ourselves. Come bow before Him.!! We must stir our hearts if we become dull. He is too great a king. Don’t let anything interfere. Nothing compares to the salvation of Christ.
Worshiping Christ is giving all we have to Christ. Let us be willing to give even our lives. We can’t hold onto the world and have Christ. Don’t lose Christmas. Like the wise men humbly seek and fear Him. All who seek Him and all who find Him He saves!
Matthew 1:18-25 (NKJV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man,] and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
Matthew 2:1-13 (NKJV) 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. 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”