Matthew 2:1-6

Introduction * Christmas is incomplete if it does not celebrate the arrival of our king. * Democracy has hindered our Christianity because we have lost our respect for the king * Our appreciation for the King is drastically different than that of Israel’s * Israel was birthed under a theocracy * Left in the hands of unredeemed people to put someone in charge, there is no telling what you might end up with (1 Sam. 8:4-5) * Saul ruled well for awhile but was then impeached * Kings were looked to for guidance and protection, which is different from our view of kings now, we want to do it our way * Matthew’s gospel focuses on Jesus as Messiah as compared to the other synoptics * We should celebrate the birth of Christ because God has given us a king to rule over us (Isaiah 9:6-7)

He Challenges Our Worship * The new Kings arrival sent shockwaves throughout the landscape and exposed the hearts of the people * His arrival was atypical – compare it to the president or other dignitary * We celebrate the proximity because his presence is significant * Jesus did not get the typical welcome although the expectation had been brewing for 700 years * Magi didn’t show up until 2 years after the birth of Jesus * His presence should challenge our worship * You may not have been aware of who Jesus was before you met him, but your response should reflect your appreciation * What drew the wise men to Bethlehem (Numbers 24:17) – the word * Anticipation – “Where is he who was born king of the Jews” * Magi present one response, Herod presents another * With Herod there was great animosity because the world is not big enough for two kings * Herod brought peace but not peace for the Jews * The world cannot handle two kings because: + Herod was an unworthy king – illegitimate in the sight of the Jews + Herod was an insecure king – Herod killed any threat to the throne + Herod was an uninformed king

He Changed The World * The arrival of the king changed the entire landscape of our world * Bethlehem goes from being too little too little to be among the clans of Judah to being great among the clans of Judah * Jesus didn’t just level the playing field he turned it upside down – the first shall be last and the last first * Jesus became the ruler of the Jews and the Gentiles * Jesus is our ruler * Jesus is not just a ruler, Jesus is also a shepherd * We tend to throw around the label king when people come along who change the way we view or appreciate something: + The King of Rock & Roll – Elvis + The King of Blues – B.B. King + The King of Basketball – Lebron James + The King of my Soul – Jesus + The King of the world – Jesus * Jesus kingship was radically different from that of any other King + Saul the first King + David the warrior King + Solomon the wise King + Herod the King of Peace + Jesus the king of kings