1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:02,720 If you'll please turn in your Bibles. 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,400 This morning to Matthew's Gospel. 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:11,880 We'll be in chapter 2. Matthew's Gospel, chapter 2. 4 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:28,480 As I mentioned in the Welcome, the word Epiphany means to shine 5 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:34,240 the light on. So you're in darkness and on 6 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:38,760 come the lights. Now we need light in our 7 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:42,080 physical lives just to. Make it through literal 8 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,360 darkness, but it also serves metaphorically, doesn't it, as a 9 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:54,320 symbol darkness of ignorance or more negatively, evil, and 10 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,720 therefore the theme of. Light and the image of light is 11 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:03,560 all through scripture to be. The opposite of that instead of 12 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:10,680 ignorance, knowledge instead of evil, righteousness and so. 13 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,840 Our Lord is considered the Sun of Righteousness and His. 14 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:19,960 Coming is a kind of dawning into a World of Darkness. 15 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:25,040 We need light, don't we? Thinking as I was preparing 16 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,240 about how much we hate to be wrong. 17 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:28,680 Do you hate to? Be wrong. 18 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,280 Do you hate to be proven wrong when the evidence comes up to 19 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,920 you and it's incontrovertible, Incontrovertible and it at last 20 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,200 you have to say, oh, I. Was wrong. 21 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:46,960 I hate this and hopefully you have enough humility. 22 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:52,800 To not bend reality, to force it into your narrative. 23 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,560 And you can just say hey. I was wrong. 24 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:03,480 Probably my most embarrassing moment of being wrong is when I 25 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,480 penned the wrong date on someone's marriage license. 26 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,920 Thereby forever giving them two anniversaries. 27 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:14,760 I thought it was a gift later, but I was so embarrassed. 28 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,200 I remain embarrassed. I don't. 29 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,960 Like thinking about that, we hate to be wrong. 30 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:28,440 And so we will sometimes resist the light because we don't want 31 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:29,480 to be. Wrong. 32 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,920 Sometimes we resist the light so much we try to. 33 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:40,160 Put it out, Don't we thinking about our Christmas movies that 34 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:41,120 many of. Us have on. 35 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,720 Repeat during Advent and Christmas time. 36 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:48,480 And so many of those plots turn on some. 37 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,400 News or some? Revelation. 38 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,320 Some kind of? Epiphany. 39 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,560 That hits the main character and changes everything. 40 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:57,720 I won't go through them all, but. 41 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:58,800 If a quick list. You can kind. 42 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:05,080 Of Think About It, Charlie Brown, Kevin McAllister, The 43 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:12,200 Grinch, Walter Hobbs. George Bailey and. 44 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,320 A character with whom? Many of us can relate. 45 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:20,640 Ebenezer Scrooge. Ebenezer Scrooge. 46 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,480 And many, particularly Walter Hobbs and George. 47 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:28,520 Bailey with him, they. Initially, resist greatly resist 48 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,200 the messenger that comes from without, sometimes from. 49 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,760 The land of Beyond. Resist this messenger. 50 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:42,160 Don't want them to be true or real or right in order to 51 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:47,440 maintain their status quo. Which you can recognize as 52 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:56,880 dysfunctional, but they cannot. We resist the light, and the 53 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:58,400 Bible tells us that this is an old. 54 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:03,960 Problem Pastor Brighton last week was talking about the light 55 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:09,040 in the darkness from John 1. And review a little bit In him 56 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,960 was life, that is Jesus, and the life was the light. 57 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,600 Of men the Light. Shines in the. 58 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:19,519 Darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it, The light 59 00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:22,480 winds. Down in verse 9 it. 60 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:24,800 Says this. The true light, which gives 61 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,920 light to everyone was coming into the world. 62 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,880 He was in the. World, and the world was made 63 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,360 through him, yet the world did not know him. 64 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:36,080 Still in darkness. He came to his own, that is the 65 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:37,920 Jewish people. And his. 66 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,440 Own. People did not receive him. 67 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,280 But to all, but to all who did receive him, who believed in his 68 00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:47,760 name, he gave the right to become children. 69 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:53,080 Of God in other places, children of light, the light bearers. 70 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:56,360 So we've got our. Christmas candles. 71 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,920 It's almost time to put them out, isn't it? 72 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,200 And if you're old enough, you may remember a device. 73 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,720 A very fancy device maybe? You can see it on the side there 74 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,280 and on top it looks like an upside down cone. 75 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,360 It's a snuffer or an extinguisher for candles. 76 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:13,440 Anybody have one? Raise your hand A. 77 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,040 Few of you do Great, you can just stick it on there. 78 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,480 In case you don't. Want to blow this and blow wax 79 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:20,400 everywhere? It's a pretty. 80 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:25,280 Convenient little thing. Charles Dickens uses this as a 81 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:28,800 very important image in his masterpiece A Christmas Carol. 82 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:30,640 I read it every. Advent. 83 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,480 It gets me in the mood and it pushes out the grinchy parts. 84 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:41,000 The first ghost besides Marley that comes to Scrooge at night. 85 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,960 In these visitations. Is a ghost of Christmas past 86 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,440 this ghost will give him scenes from his childhood, his 87 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:53,760 adolescence and his early life which cause him to feel feelings 88 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,360 he hasn't feel felt for a long time to the point. 89 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:03,520 Of sobbing in emotion. Becomes so painful for him that 90 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:08,040 he wants to put out the light. You see this ghost Dickens 91 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:14,160 portrays as a type of candle? Lots of light coming off their 92 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,360 head. And holding, I don't know how 93 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:21,000 well you can see this image, an extinguisher, one of those 94 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:22,720 snuffers as his hat. You can put it on. 95 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:23,960 And kind of. Dim the light when he wants to 96 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:25,240 be a little. Bit more dim. 97 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:31,120 But at the end of these scenes that cause Scrooge so much pain, 98 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:31,840 you know? What he does? 99 00:06:31,840 --> 00:06:35,160 I don't know how many stories in the movies actually depict this, 100 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:38,040 but he grabs the ghosts extinguisher. 101 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:42,280 Cap and tries to snuff. Out the light, starting to push 102 00:06:42,280 --> 00:06:44,960 it down on top of his head, pushes all the way down to the 103 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,480 floor. Here's an old drawing of what 104 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,240 that looks like. See him smashing down this 105 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,440 extinguisher on top of the Ghost of Christmas, trying to snuff 106 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,800 out the light, but Dickens writes he could not extinguish 107 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,360 it. See how the light still? 108 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,600 Spills out from underneath. The extinguisher it. 109 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:09,840 Will not be snuffed out and poor Scrooge collapses in bed, 110 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:14,320 exhausted, only to be visited by another ghost and another ghost. 111 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,800 You know the story. Why do we? 112 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,760 Seek to snuff out the light. Why is it so? 113 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,320 Deeply ingrained in us. To resist. 114 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:30,280 What we need the most, it's because of sin. 115 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:36,960 It's because of an inward bentness away from God, and we 116 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:43,320 need desperately for angelic visitation and even a God from 117 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,160 on high to come. To us to give. 118 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,880 To us, what we cannot do for ourselves, that's what we need, 119 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,080 and that's what Epiphany is all about. 120 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,360 As I said, we're in Matthew. Chapter 2 And instead of our 121 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,560 scripture reading more formally this morning, I'm going to just 122 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,760 enjoy a reading of this chapter with you. 123 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:08,120 You can relax, kind of step into the story with your imagination 124 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,120 and. See how? 125 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:14,520 They try to snuff out the light, but the light cannot overcome 126 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,360 it. You know, it's so easy to get 127 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:23,640 into a nostalgic sentimentality about Christmas time, but in 128 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,640 this story, we're going to see that the Lord entered into a 129 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:32,000 dark and scary night, a war zone. 130 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,440 There's a dragon in the nativity. 131 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,559 My friends hear the word of the Lord from Matthew 2. 132 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,160 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days. 133 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:46,840 Of Herod the King. Behold. 134 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,760 Wise men or Magi? From the east. 135 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:55,040 Came to Jerusalem saying. Where is he who has been born 136 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,480 king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it 137 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,520 rose, and have come to worship him. 138 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,400 When Herod heard this, he was troubled. 139 00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:07,080 And all Jerusalem with him. And assembling all the chief 140 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,200 priests and scribes, the people, he inquired of them, where the 141 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,720 Christ? Was to be born, they told. 142 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,080 Him in Bethlehem of. Judea for. 143 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,480 It is written by the prophet. Quote In you of Bethlehem in the 144 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,520 land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, 145 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,960 For from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd. 146 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,640 My people Israel, End Quote verse 7. 147 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,280 Then Herod summoned the wise Men secretly, and ascertained from 148 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,400 them at what time the star had appeared. 149 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,960 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, go and search diligently 150 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:42,800 for the child. And. 151 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:46,160 When you have found him, bring me word that I too may come and 152 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:49,280 worship Him after listening to the King. 153 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,120 They went on their way, and behold the star that they had. 154 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,960 Seen when it rose. Went before them until it came 155 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,240 to rest over the place where the child was. 156 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,320 When they. Saw the star, they rejoiced 157 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,640 exceedingly with great joy and. Going into the. 158 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,160 House they saw the child. With Mary. 159 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,440 His mother and they. Fell down and worship. 160 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:13,080 Worshipped him then opening their treasures. 161 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:17,280 They offered him gifts. Gold and frankincense and myrrh. 162 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,120 And being. Warned in a dream. 163 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:22,480 Not to return to Herod, they departed. 164 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:27,320 To their own country by another way now, when they. 165 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,280 Had departed. Behold, an Angel of the Lord 166 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,760 appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, rise, take the child 167 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:36,240 and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I 168 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,760 tell you for. Herod is about to search for the 169 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:41,800 child to destroy him, and he rose and took the child and his 170 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:43,560 mother by night and departed to Egypt. 171 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,240 And remained there until the death of Herod. 172 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,800 This was to fulfill what the Lord has spoken by the prophet 173 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:54,640 out of Egypt. I called my son verse 16. 174 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,160 Then Herod when he. Saw that he had been tricked by 175 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:03,680 the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the 176 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:06,240 male children in Bethlehem. And in all that? 177 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,200 Region who were two. Years old or under, according to 178 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,560 the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 179 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,960 This was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah. 180 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:22,160 A voice was heard in Rama. Weeping and loud lamentation. 181 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,240 Rachel weeping for. Her children, she refused to be 182 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,640 comforted because they are no more. 183 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:36,080 But when Herod died, behold. An Angel of the Lord appeared in 184 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:40,280 a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, rise, take the child and 185 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:41,720 his mother, and go to the land of. 186 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:43,920 Israel for those who sought the child's life. 187 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,120 Are dead. And he rose and took the child 188 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:47,920 and his mother. And went to the land of Israel. 189 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,600 But when he heard that Archelaus. 190 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,280 Was reigning over Judah in place of his father. 191 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,880 Herod, he was afraid to go there and being. 192 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,600 Warned in a dream. He would drew to the district. 193 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,720 Of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city 194 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:03,560 called Nazareth. So that what? 195 00:12:03,560 --> 00:12:07,000 He was spoken by the prophets, might be fulfilled. 196 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:12,200 That he would be called. And Nazarene, the word of the 197 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:16,560 Lord. It's a very raw. 198 00:12:16,560 --> 00:12:18,920 Story and I think it's helpful for those. 199 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,680 Who suffer grief? In the time when everyone else 200 00:12:22,680 --> 00:12:25,360 seems to be rejoicing. There is a. 201 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:30,000 Loud lament. Every aspect of the emotional. 202 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,840 Range is represented in the text from the Fury. 203 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:34,960 Of. Herod, to the loud lamentation 204 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:39,960 of the mothers of Bethlehem, to the exceeding great joy and the 205 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:47,040 adoration of the Magi as they come to honor King Jesus, So no. 206 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,680 Matter where you are. In that emotional spectrum 207 00:12:49,680 --> 00:12:52,520 today. There's something for you. 208 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,920 And there is good news for all of us. 209 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:00,480 First thing that we're going to think about. 210 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,640 Is the regal. Rejection. 211 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:07,880 The regal rejection. We have to talk in order to set 212 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:09,280 this up. We have to talk a little bit 213 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,160 about the. Historical context of what's 214 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,680 going on here, right as you know, even. 215 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:18,080 As far back as. Abraham, God promised. 216 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,800 Abraham that through his. Family, he would bless the 217 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:25,520 nations and so. We get this two people motif. 218 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,440 The insiders, the Jewish people, the descendants. 219 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,720 Literally. Of Abraham and his family. 220 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:35,080 But also those who are. Not. 221 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:40,800 The gentile nations who will receive revelation from this 222 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:46,200 special nation of priests in order to know the good news and 223 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:47,880 in order to. Know that indeed. 224 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,920 There is a God in Israel, indeed the only true. 225 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:55,440 God lives in Israel. And the Old Testament sets up a 226 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:56,280 type. Of. 227 00:13:56,560 --> 00:14:00,080 Candle or a light on a hill to. The nations by which? 228 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:05,640 They may come and. See that there is a God in 229 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,680 Israel. That motif kind of hits its high 230 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:12,680 point with the Glorious King. Solomon in the Golden. 231 00:14:12,680 --> 00:14:15,840 Age and there's this beautiful story that is so. 232 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:20,280 Precious to me where the. Queen of Sheba journeys from a 233 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,440 far distance. This gentile dignitary, this 234 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:28,600 queen comes to Israel to see if all the stories she had heard 235 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:30,720 about King Solomon were indeed true. 236 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,760 And she comes. And she is amazed. 237 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:40,320 By his wealth, amazed by his. Wisdom and exclaims not half of 238 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:45,280 what was told me. You exceed this abundantly. 239 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,680 More. And we get a. 240 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:49,240 Little glimpse. Of how it was. 241 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,800 Supposed to be. And as you know, in the Old 242 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,680 Testament, there's just a series of failure and decline until 243 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:57,520 there's exile. And return. 244 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:03,040 And what you get now in this text is a reiteration where you 245 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:09,840 have foreign dignitaries coming and seeing the one God giving 246 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:14,600 him worship and adoration here in Israel, a recasting of the 247 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:17,320 great Gentile. Pilgrim to come and see. 248 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:24,680 It's awesome. But we also have right there 249 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:29,480 beside it this regal rejection because all the insiders, the 250 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,240 Jewish people who have access to revelation. 251 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,240 They can kind of look it up. And say, oh, yeah, it's in 252 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:36,960 Bethlehem. It's right here in the prophets. 253 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,040 Yep, Bethlehem right over there. That's where it's going to 254 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:45,040 happen. These people, Herod and all of 255 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,400 Jerusalem with him, is referring to the Jewish religious 256 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:55,360 establishment, the Sanhedrin. They enjoy their power as the 257 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:59,600 puppet protectors of the Jewish state under Rome. 258 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:05,080 They enjoy their power too much to be troubled with, Jesus to be 259 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:09,120 troubled with. The Messiah, and so you. 260 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,200 Have this. Resistance and this. 261 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:18,400 Grand attempt A genocidal, maniacal attempt to stuff. 262 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,760 Out the light. Killing children. 263 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:31,760 Horrific. The regal rejection. 264 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,840 Now, though, we read the story as Gentile. 265 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:41,800 Outsiders and can resonate with the Magi. 266 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,520 Perhaps the good guys. We always do that, don't we? 267 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,680 We read the stories and we think we're not the bad guys, we're 268 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,520 the good guys. But if? 269 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,480 You've grown up in church. In your whole life, you've been 270 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:54,080 a. Part. 271 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:55,920 Of a type of privilege that comes. 272 00:16:55,920 --> 00:17:00,160 From being within the Christian establishment, particularly in 273 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:06,160 this country where that doesn't bring you much persecution, it 274 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:07,720 can be. Very easy to slip. 275 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:14,319 Into a type of hardness which is Herodian and Pharisaical and 276 00:17:14,319 --> 00:17:16,800 much less magi than we would like to think. 277 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,119 So when we read about a regal. Rejection. 278 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,960 We must think that could be me too. 279 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:28,680 It could be I who? Seek to snuff out the candle of 280 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:32,720 Revelation. I don't like the preacher Medlin 281 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,000 too much. I don't like those. 282 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:39,840 Parts of my Bible. Let's push that back. 283 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,880 Let's explain that away. Let's deconstruct it a bit to 284 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:46,640 make it a bit. More comfortable instead of 285 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:51,000 coming with a seeking, journeying humility that bows 286 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,640 before these things and says, Here am I Lord, I'm open to your 287 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:59,480 word, may it be unto me. As you have said, thy will be 288 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:04,400 done. The regal rejection. 289 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:08,680 The text is obviously putting into putting to you a. 290 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:12,240 Direct contrast between Herod and the Magi. 291 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:14,680 And it's also. Proclaiming a whole Bible. 292 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,320 Theme, which is the gospel, goes first to the Jews. 293 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,320 And then to the Gentiles. And so we shift now to think 294 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:22,960 about the. Gentile Reception. 295 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:25,160 The Gentile. Reception. 296 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:31,400 Represented here by these. Magi, your texts may say kings. 297 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,720 Magi would have been heard by the original audience as a. 298 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:42,200 Very negative word. Think astrologers or Pagan 299 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,840 priests of some kind. Now they may have. 300 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:46,880 More. Access. 301 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,560 There's theories about. Them having access to old 302 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,800 records from Daniel that go way back that they have knowledge. 303 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,800 But you notice that they're following a *. 304 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:59,920 That means something to them, a regal. 305 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:06,280 Sign Bible gives us very. Little more than this. 306 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:08,600 Other than Matthew's original audience would have. 307 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:15,520 Heard Magi and they would have been like Magi to make a very 308 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,840 important point. Careful insider. 309 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,400 Sometimes the outsider that you think shouldn't get it 310 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:26,200 understands better than you do. Listen to them, pay attention to 311 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,120 them. What are we going to see? 312 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,920 Well, for one thing, we see that they journey to see Christ, 313 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:37,680 don't they? They journey to see the Christ. 314 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:44,080 They come from a distant land, probably a risky enterprise. 315 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,160 It's not easy. There's not big Interstate. 316 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:49,640 Highways back then. They come from a distant. 317 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,360 Land and when they and they are seeking when they come to 318 00:19:52,360 --> 00:19:54,920 Jerusalem they're asking questions can you please tell us 319 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:56,400 more we're. Following the star we need more 320 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,680 information and then when they. Are shown this. 321 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,640 Child, you hear, You see this exuberant rejoicing exceedingly, 322 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,240 with great joy. Matthew's just stacking all of 323 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:07,360 these. Intensifiers. 324 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:16,000 We see them giving. To the Christ child Expensive. 325 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:21,280 Gifts should note, by the way, that they're up to two years. 326 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:23,840 Later than the nativity story, which goes with. 327 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,240 The first to the. Jews, then to the Gentiles. 328 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,960 This is why Herod seeks to murder the children that are two 329 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:30,960 years and younger. You can also notice in the text 330 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,200 that they're at a house now instead of some temporary 331 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,920 accommodation. No room in the end. 332 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,080 And they come and they give these gifts, these gifts that 333 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,600 were prophesied by at least two of them by Isaiah 60. 334 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,400 In our call to worship, we heard this, but then we sang it. 335 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,840 As many have noted that there is probably very. 336 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:55,920 Significant biblical theological significance. 337 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:00,400 To the types of gifts that are. Given remember seeing it. 338 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,720 Born a king on Bethlehem's plain gold, I bring to crown him again 339 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:07,280 king. Forever ceasing. 340 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,800 Never. Over us all terrain, so the. 341 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:14,440 The poet notices. Gold is a regal gift fit for a 342 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:18,640 king. Next verse says frankincense to 343 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:22,200 offer Have I incense owns a deity? 344 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,440 Nye. Prayer and praising. 345 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:28,280 Goes up like incense. Voices raising, worshipping. 346 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:32,480 God on high. So, the gift. 347 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:36,640 Of frankincense evoking an. Incense of prayer and praising. 348 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,560 A worship of God. Next. 349 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,440 Myrrh is mine. It's bitter perfume. 350 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,440 Breathe a. Life of gathering gloom this 351 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:51,560 could be a embalming agent attend a funeral type of smell 352 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:58,480 sorrowing sighing bleeding dying sealed in the stone cold tomb 353 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:00,840 and the. Poet looks forward to Christ's. 354 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:07,840 Passion into his burial. But it. 355 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:12,840 Comes to the climax glorious. Now behold him arise 356 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,840 resurrection language, and then the stacking of the. 3 gifts. 357 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:21,960 And their significance. King and God and sacrifice, and 358 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:22,920 then the Word. Of praise. 359 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,520 Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Sounds through the. 360 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:28,360 Earth. And skies. 361 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:33,200 It's a beautiful song, it's an important song, and it's a way 362 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,640 to understand perhaps what's going on in the text with these 363 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:42,200 gifts in a broader framework. Last thing that we see them 364 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,880 doing besides journeying and rejoicing exceedingly with 365 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,960 great. Joy and giving is protecting, 366 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,760 don't they? They're warned by. 367 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:55,600 The Angel that Herod. Does not mean well and decide to 368 00:22:55,600 --> 00:23:01,040 go back a different way protecting the Christ child. 369 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,080 This doesn't work with every text, but in many texts it does 370 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:08,960 where you do. Have a model. 371 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:11,880 When you move into your application section. 372 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,760 Of the sermon. These are held forth to the. 373 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:19,560 Reader as examples. So the first thing I have is 374 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:22,440 come. We also like to sing about this 375 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:23,760 during. Advent, Christmas time. 376 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:28,880 Come, let us adore him. Come, let us adore him, O Come. 377 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:30,840 All Ye Faithful all. Right. 378 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:36,200 The idea that your Christian life is a movement, it's a type 379 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:40,000 of journey. It isn't a passivity that sits, 380 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:47,400 it goes forth. It seeks first thing that we're. 381 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:54,520 Seeking is Jesus. Are we seeking Jesus this year 382 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:55,760 as we? Move into the new year. 383 00:23:58,160 --> 00:23:59,440 Is he our? Passion. 384 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:07,000 Not only are they seeking Jesus, but here there's this idea of of 385 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,800 seeking out to the lost because God is revealing himself to 386 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:15,640 these Gentiles with a *. Seeking them out, drawing them 387 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:21,400 in. Now the church is called A. 388 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:25,400 City on a hill, a lamp on a stand, a place a bright light. 389 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,160 We must be seekers, but we also must care. 390 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:31,800 And Minister? To those who are. 391 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:38,320 Seeking as a star in this text. So we see these. 392 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:43,160 Journeying pilgrims on their way, coming to a door. 393 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:45,080 Seeking Jesus. But we can also. 394 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:49,720 See that their response of worship entails gifts. 395 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:51,240 Doesn't it? We give. 396 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:55,720 You don't have to be long in a church before you should be 397 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:57,440 hearing about the proper response. 398 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,600 Of faith to. God is a heart of. 399 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:08,680 Giving what happens to Scrooge stingy old Scrooge can barely 400 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:09,680 afford light. Or. 401 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:15,920 Heat, he thinks. But when this change is wrought 402 00:25:16,120 --> 00:25:20,680 in him, he becomes exceedingly generous. 403 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:24,560 Instantly. Buy the biggest Turkey. 404 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:28,920 That we can find. Take it over to Bob Cratchit's 405 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,680 house. He meets the people that asked 406 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,280 him for charitable donations earlier, and he says here 407 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:37,680 there's a lot of. Back payments included. 408 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,440 He intends to change Bob's life forever and his nephew. 409 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:47,000 'S life forever because. He has been changed forever. 410 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:52,880 So when we. See these magi outsiders giving 411 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,200 abundantly out of their abundance. 412 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,360 We see a model all through Holy. Scripture. 413 00:25:58,360 --> 00:26:03,320 Reflected in what we should do that a mark of a Christian is 414 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,280 generosity. Generosity. 415 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:11,920 Toward God, generosity. Toward his people generosity. 416 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:15,080 Toward those in need, generosity. 417 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:21,320 Toward neighbor generosity. This is our worship. 418 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:23,000 Our hearts should well with joyful. 419 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,760 Generosity. And we often talk about giving 420 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,280 to the church, not just material. 421 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,920 Resources like money, but also giving generously out of our 422 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:35,120 time. Here you are, first day of the 423 00:26:35,120 --> 00:26:37,760 week. You could be doing other things 424 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:43,600 Sunday mornings, kind of like a time ties the first fruits off 425 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,920 the top of the week. Let's go be with the people. 426 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,880 Let's go rehearse the story. Of redemption in Word and prayer 427 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,000 and song. And here we are. 428 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,040 We give our time not only for corporate worship, but in 429 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:58,520 ministry. So. 430 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,360 Many of you give countless hours to this church and to this 431 00:27:01,360 --> 00:27:02,880 community. God bless you. 432 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,000 We couldn't do. Even a fraction of what we do 433 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,600 without generous volunteer hours. 434 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,880 Countless generous volunteer out. 435 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,200 Hours from our community. God bless you. 436 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:21,560 God bless you. Our time, our treasure. 437 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:23,840 Yes, Preacher, there are three T's. 438 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:25,520 What's the third one? You've heard it. 439 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:30,480 Before your talents, what gifts do you have to bring for the 440 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:34,080 King? I hope at some point in the next 441 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,320 few weeks you go and hug a musician. 442 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:42,400 They've been working super hard, giving a great gift. 443 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,960 During Advent Christmas time. And then they'll continue to do 444 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,880 that week after week after week as they help lift. 445 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:55,040 Our hearts in worship. But it's not just the musicians. 446 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:57,600 Right that are giving. Their spiritual gifts of worship 447 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,960 to the church. We have teachers and 448 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:06,120 encouragers, those who are good at hospitality and acts of 449 00:28:06,120 --> 00:28:10,920 mercy, people who visit the sick, people who extend kindness 450 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:16,400 to the poor. What is your spiritual gift and 451 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,760 how is it? Being activated. 452 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:25,520 And are there places? Where it can increase treasure, 453 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:31,240 time and talents. The last thing we see in the 454 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:32,960 text. Which can and does. 455 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:37,120 There was a model for us is. Protection, protection. 456 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:43,280 Does Jesus need your help? On the one hand, no he does not. 457 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:47,240 The King of heaven has his. Own sword he doesn't need. 458 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,000 Yours. We learned this from the story 459 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:55,200 of Peter, who, in his rash boldness and attempt to save his 460 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:59,440 Savior, whips out a sword and lops off someone's ear. 461 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:08,360 Such an interesting story. Jesus is like, put the sword 462 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:14,320 away, here's your ear back. That's not what we need, right? 463 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:19,560 Now. So there's an inappropriate way. 464 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:22,640 That we're too defensive. Too protective too. 465 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:27,800 Rash and brash. We can dial all that back a lot 466 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:33,480 into a better slot that's less insecure and more aware of the 467 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:38,800 end of the story, right? However, however, there is a 468 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:45,680 protection which is appropriate. So if your Savior is being 469 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:50,840 besmirched, if your church is being made fun of, if your 470 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:56,000 pastoral leadership is being unjustly criticized, that you 471 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:00,600 could maybe you know, say something to the bullies, at 472 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:02,680 least don't agree with them or pretend to. 473 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:06,320 Yeah, you're kind of right. The church and all her problems. 474 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:12,760 So there's a appropriate. Type of defensiveness. 475 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:18,840 Same kind that I have as a husband and as a father and as a 476 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:22,320 pastor of all y'all the right type of. 477 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:26,480 Shepherding defensiveness. Now I say, well, pastor, that's 478 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:27,440 awfully vague. Well. 479 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:29,360 It's awfully contextual, and it depends. 480 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:30,720 Very much on the. Situation. 481 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:33,480 You have to read it and choose wisely in each situation. 482 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:38,440 But the Lord helped the Magi, didn't they? 483 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:43,320 Didn't he gave him a message? By an Angel, don't go back the 484 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:45,920 way you came. Herod's a bad guy, so they 485 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,720 didn't. So all of us, we depend on the 486 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:50,600 Lord to give us the. Discernment to know how to. 487 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:55,920 Appropriately respond. Protecting Christ's dignity, 488 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:59,520 protecting Holy Scripture. Protecting the dignity. 489 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:03,080 Of the of the community of faith, in spite of our problems. 490 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:07,000 And I think finally, what? I would say is. 491 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:10,160 There's a protection which has to do with protecting your own 492 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:14,840 attitude from not being. Drawn off by the cynical. 493 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:21,720 And those who are deconstructing and who are putting forth doubt. 494 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:25,600 As a virtue. That we must in our inner. 495 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,520 Man and woman. Protect our. 496 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:33,640 Affections from the cynical. And this is maybe one of the 497 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:38,160 reasons why I have some of these Christmas movies on repeat and A 498 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:40,600 Christmas Carol Dickens on repeat. 499 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:43,320 And along with. These holy scriptures, it's 500 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,600 because you live in a dark and cynical world. 501 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:48,880 A doubting world that has no place for wonder and enchantment 502 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:54,160 and even Christmas itself. So you will protect your heart 503 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:59,640 from those grinches and hope that they have a same epiphany 504 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:02,560 as Grinch himself when he recognized that under all the 505 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:04,320 materialism there was a spirit of. 506 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:08,920 Unquenchable generosity. God bless them. 507 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:18,200 God bless us everyone indeed. So with exceedingly great joy, 508 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,640 we protect. Our hearts from the cynical and 509 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:26,760 the scoffers. So, my friends, let us shine our 510 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:32,320 lights brightly in a Dark World that seeks to snuff out the 511 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:35,280 Christmas candle. We can do this. 512 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:39,600 With Christ, His coming changes everything. 513 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:44,600 He forces a choice we can reject like Herod or receive. 514 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:46,520 And come and. Adore Give. 515 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,040 And bless and protect like the Magi. 516 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,040 Let us pray. Father in heaven, we're super 517 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:55,440 grateful for these beautiful stories that are so. 518 00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:00,760 Deep and complex, yet totally accessible to us. 519 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:03,880 Will you change our hearts by the gospel this morning? 520 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:09,880 We love you in Jesus name, Amen. Would you please stand and sing? 521 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:11,080 A song of response.