Server Outage Notice: TheSeed.info is transfering to a new Server on Tuesday April 13th
| > Sermon Archive > Sermons by Author > Rev. Mark Chen > Two Responses to the King | Previous Next Print |
| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) |
Two Responses to the King
Matthew 2:1-18, Psalm 2:10-12
There will always be different responses to the rule of government. In Singapore, we’re blessed with a parliamentary system. We can vote the government we want - one to enforce laws, develop good domestic and foreign policies, protect against foreign aggressors, to give its people benefits, etc. Some will be apathetic to government. Others will be ecstatic. And some will be dissatisfied. Some will be angry. This was often the case in ancient times. A king ruled with absolute power - he fought for his people against their enemies. His work involved saving and protecting his people. But during times of succession - when a king ascended the throne - enemies took the opportunity to rise up and overthrow the new king. There was either deference or disobedience to the king. Now God had given a good king to his people - King David. He was not perfect but he ruled justly. But God promised that one of his descendants would be a perfect king - he’d rule perfectly, deliver and save perfectly, and judge his enemies perfectly. He’d rule the world. But none of the successive kings matched that perfect promised king. So at the fulness of time, God himself came to be that king - to be born a descendent of King David. His rule would be characterized by justice and righteousness. Those who accepted him as king, were devoted to him, deferred to him, would be saved by him. But despite the perfection of his rule, there’d be those who resist him, rebel against him, and disobey him. Even when Jesus was born, there were various responses. So today, we consider these responses from various people. They are firstly, a response of desire and distress; secondly, a response of dispassion and deception; thirdly, a response of devotion and defiance; and fourthly, a response of deliverance and destruction.
Firstly, a response of desire and distress. When God took human form to be born, he was born in Bethlehem - the hometown of King David. We learn that not long after, visitors from the East had come. Matthew 2:1 says - “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.” Why did they come? Verse 2 says they desired to worship him - “for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” And in verse 11, when they came to where Jesus was, they “fell down, and worshipped Him.” Their desire was clear. These were wise men - scholars who studied ancient texts. They probably studied Psalm 2. They knew of a coming king, sent by God who’d rule over all - one who’d rule perfectly in justice, goodness, truth, mercy, and grace. A king who’d save every single one of his people and punish every single one of his enemies. They also studied Numbers 24:17 - “I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre (a king) shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” They read and believed. This was the time of his coming. That’s why they came to worship - to fall down, bow, and worship.
We’re told they came from the East. Meaning they weren’t Jews but came to acknowledge that this Jewish king would be king of the world. Coming from the East would’ve taken time - several months’ journey. This is why, by the time they came, Jesus was no longer an infant but a young child; no longer in the stable, but in a house, verse 11. This was an arduous journey which showed their desire. And there were many. Some will say there were 3 kings on account of the 3 gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But this was more than 3. It was an entourage, a diplomatic convoy, a delegation from a foreign land. That’s why verse 3 says, “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” There was distress. Not just because of the size but because of the news. Verse 2 says they asked in Jerusalem, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” But King Herod was the king of Judea - appointed by the Romans. And he was a wicked king. He had ten wives, with many sons plotting to be heir. The royal palace was a place of scheming. And he was extremely paranoid. He executed three sons on suspicion of treason. He murdered his favorite wife, her mother, and several family members. When he was about to die, he knew no one would mourn him. So he ordered the popular leaders arrested. He wanted them killed when he died, so the Jews would mourn at his death. That’s why he was troubled. Such news was a threat to him. The King of the Jews? “No king, no matter how perfect, just, or good, must ever take my place!” But also all Jerusalem was troubled with him. If such news ever reached Rome, it’d be a threat. They’d react. Judea was a colony. And many Jews didn’t like that. Many tried to gain independence. But each time Rome crushed the rebellion. Such news caused distress.
Secondly, there was a response of dispassion and deception. After being asked where the king of the Jews was born, Herod consulted the chief priests and scribes. He gathered the religious experts together, verse 4, to study the Scriptures. And verse 5 says they knew he’d be born in Bethlehem! They were able accurately to quote Micah 5:2 - “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” This was written 700 years before Christ was born. These priests and scholars knew and quoted accurately! But they didn’t seem interested in honoring Christ. They knew the wise men had traveled from afar, claiming Christ was born, and asking questions all over Jerusalem. But none of these priests accompanied the wise men. None wanted to see if this long awaited promised perfect king had come or not. They were dispassionate and detached. (illustration) Such indifference to Christ by those who were His own people was very puzzling. John 1:11 even says “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” But indifference of such magnitude by religious people is doubly puzzling. They knew the Scriptures said he’d be an example of righteousness. He’d obey God perfectly. He’d deliver his people from their enemies. A king who’d forgive sin! But they weren’t moved. At his crucifixion, the chief priests even said - “we have no king but Caesar.” And they had him killed. Jesus died on the cross. But this is how he saved his people. We’re sinful - deserving of God’s anger. But he lived a sinless life and offered himself in the place of sinners to be judged for their sins. This is what a king does - he fights to save his own people. Anyone who comes to him, bows to him, worships him - he will save. He will receive his enemies who come to him in deference, and save them from their sin and his judgment.
But compare this to Herod. He didn’t serve people, he used them. When he mistrusted people, he killed them. Here, Herod resorted to deception. He sent these foreign dignitaries to Bethlehem and told them in verse 8 - “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.” We know this was not sincere. It was not submission and deference that Herod was willing to give, but to receive. Verse 7 says he privately called them to find out when the star appeared. This was not a publicly endorsed search. If he had been found and proclaimed king, Herod’s position would be compromised. No, it was private. It was secret. Herod’s intention was not noble but evil. To find, seek, and kill. Which is why he felt mocked in verse 16 when they realized his deception and didn’t tell him they found Jesus. He wasn’t interested in worshiping Jesus. He wanted to use them to destroy Jesus.
Thirdly, a response of devotion and defiance. When they came to Bethlehem they found Jesus. Verse 11 says - “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” They saw the young child in a house, not a palace. There, they prostrated themselves before Jesus and worshipped him. Their devotion to him was to a king. This is why they brought tribute. As custom demanded, they brought gifts to honor Jesus. Gold was given. Because of its scarcity and value, gold was associated with royalty and nobility. When the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, she brought great quantities of gold as a gift. By bringing gold, the wise men showed they considered Jesus a king.
Frankincense was an aromatic resin used in incense. It was produced by scraping the bark of a certain tree. This resin when burned created a strong and beautiful aroma. This was one of the ingredients in the temple used by the priests as incense in their times of prayer. After the priests offered a sacrifice for the sins of the people, they entered into the temple to pray for them. And those prayers at the altar of incense involved frankincense. By bringing frankincense, the wise men showed that they considered Jesus to be more than a king. They also saw him as a priest. Someone who would pray for them and offer sacrifice for them for their sins.
The oddest gift was that of myrrh. It was a spice also derived from the bark of a tree. Like frankincense, it was used as incense but it also had a wider and more common usage as a preservative. Most notable in those days, it was a key ingredient used in a mixture of spices to prepare bodies for burial. In Jesus’ own burial after he was crucified, myrrh was used to embalm his body. These wiser men knew that King Jesus was a special king, God born as man to be a priest - forgiving the sin of God people, saving them from his own judgment, by dying for them and taking upon himself their judgment for their sin.
When they learned Herod wanted to kill Jesus, they defied his orders. Verse 12 says, “And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” This was clear violation of the instructions they were given. This would even risk war and international conflict. This was poor etiquette. They would risk his wrath against them. Such a large envoy would not go unnoticed and would not be able to move quickly. But they defied Herod. Why? Knowing who Jesus was, their king and savior, they knew his destiny. His message of salvation was to be proclaimed. People had to hear of his everlasting kingdom. They needed to hear the message of repentance. This is why they defied. Deference to Christ would mean disobedience to others.
Lastly we see what happened, a response of deliverance and destruction. After the wisemen left, Joseph - the adoptive father of Jesus - received instruction to flee to Egypt because Herod meant to do him harm. And that’s what they did. God responded to such an evil intention by delivering the King that he sent. Now, it was not time for Jesus to die. He would die one day. And by his death, he would conquer. All that were supplied by the wise men - gold, frankincense, myrrh - were all tradable items to support this family in their time of need. We learn in verse 15 that they were there until Herod’s death - and Christ’s return from Egypt would fulfill prophecy - “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.” You see, God sent a very unusual king. He was meant to die to save his people from their sins. One day, he’d be delivered to his death. But not yet.
And when Herod heard he had been defied, he reacted sinfully. He destroyed the children under 2 in Bethlehem. He couldn’t get to Jesus - that prophesied king - he’d try all means to kill him even if it meant killing every child there. This destruction speaks of the sin that was in Herod. This is why Jesus had to come. Our sin - can never be addressed and forgiven; our sinfulness - can never be changed; unless the work of a king is done for us - to rescue us from ourselves, and to conquer death and sin. And while we aren’t exactly like Herod - he had the opportunity and the power - yet such sin which is done by the hands, which is conceived in the head, comes straight from the heart. How many of us, if having position, power, and potential, would not do these very things? But God is not mocked. Herod didn’t defer to Christ, nor worship him, nor admit his sin, nor cry out for forgiveness. We learn that he eventually died. History tells us that he died in Jericho after an excruciatingly painful putrefying illness of uncertain cause - known as Herod’s evil since. In his illness, Josephus the historian stated that it was so painful, he tried to kill himself by stabbing. And as said before, even in his throes of such pain, he still wanted the people to mourn - if they wouldn’t mourn for me, they’d mourn because of me.
What’s the point of this? In what way can we apply this message to ourselves? For those who do not belong to the people of Christ, is there a threat that if you don’t accept Jesus as king, you’ll have a painful death? Lots of people refuse to worship Jesus. Lots of people don’t repent. Lots of people get away in this life with their sin. But Jesus is not a helpless baby today. He grew up. Jesus is not that crucified savior. He resurrected. Jesus is a king in heaven today. And while many may get away with their sins on earth, they will not get away with them eternally. Christ is a just king. As Psalm 2 says, he will punish with an iron scepter - an unbreakable judgment - all those who refuse him. Psalm 2 tells you to kiss the Son - to adore him, to be devoted to him, to come to him, and receive him as your king. Just as the wisemen came acknowledging his rule, his role as forgiver, and his payment of his death. This king saves his people - a people who are are humble before him, grateful for his rule and salvation. This king conquers his enemies. Do you belong to his people? And while he will do that, he gives you time now. Will you not consider this king? Will you not see you are his enemy because of your sins, but you can be his friend?
Dearly beloved, I speak to you as God’s people. If Christ is your king, what is your response to him? Is it one of grateful worship? And while the giving of gifts to the work of the Lord is a very easy application - more than that - how are you devoted to him as your king? As they gave gold and acknowledged his rule, how do you acknowledge his rule in your life? Are you living holy and dying to self? Are you defying your flesh and the world that seek to draw you away from Jesus? And while you have freedom in your life, you have no freedom to sin. And while you have freedom to enjoy your liberties in Christ, yet you have freedom to pursue greater godliness and piety in your lives. How is he your king?
As they gave frankincense and acknowledged his prayers for them, how relieved are you that your sins are forgiven? That you are at peace with God? How relieved are you that even though you are not perfect, and you continue to sin - how grateful are you that he has forgiven you? That you need not live with guilt and being always morose; supposing that your much browbeating of yourself and penance is spiritual! No, it is not. Have you not experienced the forgiveness in Christ and the joy he brings? And him praying for us, he has made peace between us and God, and between us and one another. Are you forgiving? Are you penitent towards one another? Are you a peacemaker?
And as they gave myrrh and acknowledged his death one day, how are we grateful for his sacrifice? Are you living daily, rejoicing that he died for you. Your king sacrificed his life for you - he lived his life for you, he died on that cruel cross for you, he loved you with an everlasting love - that he left heaven’s glory to be a man that he may die for you. Are you therefore willing to sacrifice those things which are dearest to you - those sins of yours that placed him there. Leave them crucified at the cross. Take them no longer up. You are crucified with Christ and you no longer live. The life that you live in the body, you live by the faith of the son of God, who loved you and gave himself for you. How then, dearly beloved, will you respond to your king?
A Response of Desire and Distress
A Response of Dispassion and Deception
A Response of Devotion and Defiance
A Response of Deliverance and Destruction
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2022, Rev. Mark Chen
Please direct any comments to the Webmaster
