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, 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.”
born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from
the East came to Jerusalem, 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.”
When Herod the king
heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 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. So they said to him, “In
Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: `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.'”
heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 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. So they said to him, “In
Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: `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.'”
Then Herod, when he
had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star
appeared. 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.”
had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star
appeared. 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.”
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. When they
saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 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. Then, being divinely warned in a
dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country
another way. (Matthew 2:1-12 NKJ)
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. When they
saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 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. Then, being divinely warned in a
dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country
another way. (Matthew 2:1-12 NKJ)
Worship is not the
normal thing that pops into our minds when we think of Christmas. The message
of Christmas is so profound because it speaks to the simple mystery of God’s
incarnation as a man. But normally we get sidetracked by the cultural
festivities . . . the decorations and gifts and food.
normal thing that pops into our minds when we think of Christmas. The message
of Christmas is so profound because it speaks to the simple mystery of God’s
incarnation as a man. But normally we get sidetracked by the cultural
festivities . . . the decorations and gifts and food.
Harry Reasoner, the
late ABC and CBS journalist once wrote “Christmas moves beyond all logic.
It must be either entire falsehood or the truest thing in all the world. It
demands acceptance that the God of all creation came to this world in the form of
a baby – that premise is so shocking that if it is not true, nothing else in
all of Christianity is true”.
late ABC and CBS journalist once wrote “Christmas moves beyond all logic.
It must be either entire falsehood or the truest thing in all the world. It
demands acceptance that the God of all creation came to this world in the form of
a baby – that premise is so shocking that if it is not true, nothing else in
all of Christianity is true”.
George Cagey wrote,
“the teaching of the incarnation is crucial to the Christian faith. If
this fact is not true, then we must face the clear alternative that we cannot
know how to be saved, how to live or even how to think about God.”
“the teaching of the incarnation is crucial to the Christian faith. If
this fact is not true, then we must face the clear alternative that we cannot
know how to be saved, how to live or even how to think about God.”
“God with
us” is the most important truth in all of Christian faith. It is a point
that continually focuses our worship. Winston Churchill once said, “If you
have an important point to make, don’t be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver.
Hit it once. Hit it again. Then hit it a third time with a tremendous
whack!”
us” is the most important truth in all of Christian faith. It is a point
that continually focuses our worship. Winston Churchill once said, “If you
have an important point to make, don’t be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver.
Hit it once. Hit it again. Then hit it a third time with a tremendous
whack!”
With the mass
commercialization of Christmas, the church must hit this truth with a
tremendous whack and declare the crucial nature of worshiping the Savior who
is Christ the Lord.
commercialization of Christmas, the church must hit this truth with a
tremendous whack and declare the crucial nature of worshiping the Savior who
is Christ the Lord.
Three key players in
the New Testament story teach us the proper response to his arrival. These Wise
Men from the East searched for the newborn King to worship him with their
gifts. In the 21st century, those who are wise still bring their gifts of worship
to him.
the New Testament story teach us the proper response to his arrival. These Wise
Men from the East searched for the newborn King to worship him with their
gifts. In the 21st century, those who are wise still bring their gifts of worship
to him.
Dear Father, thank
you for the Savior who is Christ the Lord. Everyday empower us with the gift to
worship him. I pray this in his glorious name. AMEN
you for the Savior who is Christ the Lord. Everyday empower us with the gift to
worship him. I pray this in his glorious name. AMEN
O Come let us adore
him today,
him today,