Come and Worship
Matthew 2:1-12 introduces us to three major characters, or groups of characters, that appear at the time of Christ’s birth. Matthew 2:1-12 introduces us to the Magi, King Herod, and the chief priests and scribes. First, we have the Magi. Likely hailing from Persia in the East, the Magi advised kings and were considered the experts and elite individuals of their day. They had seen a great star and had followed it to Jerusalem where they inquired about the birth of the King of the Jews. Word got around quickly in Jerusalem in that day and King Herod, the king over the Jews at that time, did not share the Magi’s enthusiasm for the birth of the new King.
The unique combination of cruel, paranoid, and tyrannical, the nation did not think highly of King Herod. Even his own family members were subjects of his jealous suspicions. He executed many of his own family members including one of his wives and a few of his sons. When he heard of the birth of this new king he was upset and the whole city with him. Herod called the chief priests and scribes together in order to figure out where the Messiah was to be born.
The chief priests and scribes seem to have had no trouble answering Pharoah’s inquiry. “Bethlehem" they answer, quoting the corresponding passage from the prophet Micah. Of all places God would send His Messiah, Bethlehem seemed the least likely location, yet this was precisely why God chose it. Now that Herod had his answer, he cunningly enlists the Magi to find the newborn King so as not to arouse suspicion. Ostensibly, Herod means to worship the Messiah just like the Magi.
The Magi set out for Bethlehem, only to discover the return of the star, which guides them directly to the home where Jesus resides. When the Magi see Jesus, they bow low in reverence and worship and present gifts to Him. The Middle Eastern custom was to provide a king or dignitary with gifts. The gold, frankincense, and myrrh belonged more in a palace than they did in a simple home in a small village. The Magi gave extravagant gifts, the absolute most precious treasures that could be given in that day.
Each of these three characters reveal to us three different responses that people have to Jesus. You have the hostile opposition of Herod who feels threatened by Jesus. Herod is not the only person who doesn’t like the competition of another king. Human sinfulness is such that all of us want to be our own ruler. The hostility Jesus found at His birth continued throughout His ministry and even beyond to every generation of His followers. We shouldn’t be surprised when we encounter this same attitude of hostility. The great news is that even those who oppose Christ and are hostile to the Gospel are not beyond the reach of God’s grace. Romans 5:8 says: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
We might be tempted to skip right past the chief priests and scribes but we have much to gain by reflecting on them. They knew the teaching of Scripture. They were able to quote chapter and verse about where the Messiah was to be born. Yet, when the news comes of the King’s arrival, none of them feel compelled to accompany the Magi or to go see for themselves. Their lack of interest is truly stunning. The chief priests and scribes represent indifference and complacency. Their passivity and disinterest in worshipping the Savior is a danger to any of us who have been walking with the Lord for any length of time. When we become content in our intellectual knowledge of the Lord we tend to lose a sense of wonder and in turn a desire for worship. Over the last several years the American church has manifested more and more of this attitude. The priority of worship for God’s people has grown cold. When we start to feel convicted we might give ourselves a pass and think, well, surely this is much better than outright hostility? But is it? Our Savior deserves better.
Jesus deserves our very best. He deserves our worship. That’s the response the Magi had to King Jesus. They go to great trouble to travel a great distance and they bring extravagant gifts to present to Jesus. They are wholehearted in their worship. They express worship tangibly, not simply by bowing down but by giving. As much as we resent the idea, you cannot divorce your stewardship from your worship. Generous giving reveals a surrendered heart. Here’s a challenging question to help apply this passage of Scripture: What does your giving reveal about how much you value the Lord? What’s even more convicting is we know the rest of the story. We know more than the Magi! Jesus isn’t just the King of the Jews, He’s the King of Kings. Lord, help our giving to communicate that!
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