A Tale Of Two Kings

Raise your hand this morning if movies are your thing. I don’t mean going to the theater to see a movie. I mean those of you who would say, “My home is my movie theater.”

So, let’s see who the real movie fans are. Raise your hand if you have over 100 DVDs.

Does anybody have 200 or more DVDs?

Anybody have 300 for more DVDs?

Does anybody have so many DVDs that you’ve lost track?

Even if you don’t have a huge collection of movies, we can all agree that the best movies are the ones that tell the best stories. And everyone likes a good story.

I don’t know if you see the Bible as a boring book, but I hope this story will put that idea to rest for you. This story has as much intrigue as the very best movies.

You’ve got these international men of mystery who show up from the Orient because an unusual star attracted their attention and led them to Jerusalem.

You’ve got a secret meeting of experts who dig into these ancient texts to find the answer to a question that everyone else already knows.

You’ve got a king who shouldn’t be on the throne but he is, and he murders everyone he suspects of trying to take his power.

And you’ve got a little child who is the center of attention — and his birth is seen as either a threat to their grip on things, or it stirs their affections at the deepest possible level and leaves them changed forever.

The title of the sermon is A Tale Of Two Kings. May the Lord bless the preaching of His word.

[SLIDE: HEROD THE ILLEGITIMATE KING IS…]

Herod the illegitimate king is on his way out

Herod is an illegitimate king. And he’s on his way out. And it takes a group of men called wise men or Magi to show us that.

Now, picking up right here is like starting a movie or a TV show in the second season when you haven’t seen the first season. At this point, Jesus has already been born; he’s probably a few months old at this point. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are still in Bethlehem.

But now we learn that when Jesus was born, not only was His birth announced by angels to shepherds; a star arose in the east and caught the attention of a group of men in the far east who were known as Magi - or wise men.

Now, how does the song go? “We three kings of Orient are.” About the only thing the song gets right is that they were from the Orient. The east. Otherwise, some used to say that they were kings because of the kinds of gifts they brought like gold and frankincense and myrrh. But if they were kings Matthew could have just told us they were kings.

[SLIDE: WHO WERE THE WISE MEN?]

Who were the wise men?

Lit. called “Magi”

Studied astrology/astronomy

Magical arts

Studied religious texts

They don’t know God!

Really there’s not much we know about the wise men. They were into astrology and astronomy; they studied religious texts. They were into the magical arts like sorcery.

Most importantly: They are also Gentiles — pagans who don’t know God. And God wants to get their attention. So He meets them where they are. He places a star in the heavens to attract their attention. And since they studied religious texts of other religions, they may have known of Numbers 24:17 which was a Messianic prophecy:

[SLIDE: NUMBERS 24:17]

Numbers 24:17 ESV

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Either way, those guys see the star, the know somehow that it means that the king of the Jews has been born, they head out for Jerusalem and show up inquiring about it.

Now we said that Herod the illegitimate king is on his way out. What do the wise men have to do with this?

“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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matt 2:1-2 ESV). Now here’s what you need to see. This is the first clue that Herod the illegitimate king is on his way out. “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Troubled, it says. Panicked.

Now you might say, “Herod must be pretty insecure if some nerds from the east show up asking about a king who’s just been born.” And you’d be exactly right. Herod is insecure. Why is he insecure? Herod is insecure because Herod knows that he is a usurper. He’s a fake.

Where is Herod? Where is his palace? Jerusalem. Herod is reigning over Judea from Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is the throne of David. Only men from the line of David were to sit on the throne of David. Is Herod from the line of David? No! Herod isn’t even a Jew! He’s not even an Israelite. Do you know what nationality Herod was? Herod was an Edomite. The Edomites were long-standing enemies of Israel going all the way back to when the Israelites came out of Egypt.

Herod tried to make it look like he was a Jew. King Herod married a very wealthy woman from a prominent Jewish family. Do you know where Herod came from? Herod is a puppet king, placed on the throne of David by the Roman Emperor.

Now you say, “Alright, so I see why Herod is troubled. But why does the text say that “all Jerusalem is troubled with him?” Because when a tyrant king feels threatened, he lashes out. His people suffer. It might help if you knew this.

[SLIDE: WHO ALL DID HEROD KILL?]

Who all did Herod kill?

His brother-in-law the high priest

Every prominent Jewish citizen on the day of his death

Four of his sons

His wife

Why did he kill all of them? He perceived that they were a threat to his continuing in power. Jerusalem is troubled with Herod in the same way that the child of an alcoholic parent is afraid when they come home drunk: bad things always happen and people get hurt.

Herod is an illegitimate king who is on his way out.

[SLIDE: JESUS CHRIST THE TRUE KING…]

Jesus Christ the True King has come

How many of you know what binge watching is?

How many of you have ever engaged in binge watching?

If you’re a binge-watcher, that means you are into your show. You pay close attention to the plot. You read the subtleties. You notice character development. You pick up the small clues. Now here’s the thing: All of those little things, those small details that you pick up on when your’e into your show, they’re all there for a reason. To really understand your show, you need to notice those small details, those little things.

Now, reading the Bible is the same way. You might not think so, but it is. The Bible authors have placed the same kinds of details into the text. And the good news is that if you can pick up on those things in a TV show, you can learn to do it here too.

Will you practice it with me with your Bibles out, and your eyes on the text? Let’s read through all 12 verses together, and notice with me how many references you see to the word “king” and any other word associated with the idea of a “king”. That includes of course the word “king” but also “ruler”, “leader”, “shepherd”, and “Christ,” because the word “Christ” means “anointed one” or “king.”

Now here’s what I want you to notice. As we read along, you’ll notice that at first Herod is referred to as “Herod the King”, and then we’re introduced to another king.

Verses 1-3

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, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Alright, now as we keep going, we’re going to see that it’s no longer “Herod the King”; it’s just “Herod”, or just “the King”, but not the both together. Herod is losing his grip on power.

Verses 7-12

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Do you see that?

So if Herod the illegitimate king is on his way out, and Jesus Christ the True King has come.

He’s a baby now. What will He be like when the true King Jesus takes His throne? For that we will have to look at verses 4-6. Will you look there with me? Herod doesn’t even where the Scriptures promise that the king of the Jews will be born. He has to assemble his religious experts to answer the question for him. They know to turn straight to Micah 5:2. And here in Micah 5:2 they find not only a statement of where He will be born, but also the kind of King He will be.

“And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel”’ (Matt 2: 4-6 ESV).

He will lead us like a good shepherd leads his sheep. How does a good shepherd lead his sheep? Gently, patiently, mercifully, lovingly; firmly, yes, and truthfully, and wisely; but graciously. And ultimately, self-sacrificially. Let’s hear it from Jesus’ own mouth: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15 ESV).

This is how Jesus will lead us His people. How will Jesus deal with those usurpers? How will the true King Jesus deal with the power-hungry and illegitimate Herod’s of the world? One day, on the day, the final day of judgment, there will be literal hell to pay, and the Christ child who was meek and mild at His first coming will be a fierce, just and protective Destroyer of all who threaten the ones He loves.

That day is coming. It’s not here yet. For now, Jesus puts the tyrants of the world on notice.

[SLIDE: BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST]

There’s a picture on display by the artist Rembrandt in the National Gallery of Art in London. It’s Belshazzar’s Feast and it’s a depiction by the artist Rembrandt of the scene found in the Bible in Daniel chapter 5. King Belshazzar of Babylon feasting with a thousand of his officials in his palace. And yet what Belshazzar does not know is that as he is eating and drinking and celebrating, the armies of Persia are amassing themselves outside the capitol of Babylon.

And in the middle of his feast the scene that you see there unfolds with a hand coming out of nowhere writing a message on the wall. The message said: Mene Mene Tekel Parsin. It’s code. The prophet Daniel is called in to interpret. And this is what the message said.

[SLIDE: DAN 5: 26-28 ESV]

Daniel 5:26–28 ESV

This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

God is putting Belshazzar on notice: there is a higher authority than you, King Belshazzar; to this higher authority you will be held accountable, starting tonight. Chapter five closes with a chilling notice: “That very nigh Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old” (Dan 5:30 ESV).

This past week, the United States issued a joint statement to the president of North Korea, putting them on notice. That joint statement was given along with our ally South Korea. And the message was basically a warning to North Korea about the consequences of a nuclear attack on us or our allies. North Korea now has the capabilities to hit mainland US targets with intercontinental ballistic missiles. The US was putting North Korea on notice, giving their statement, a reminder that any such attack will be met with and immediate and overwhelming retaliatory force.

When Jesus comes, with the birth of this child in the manger, God is putting all nations and all rulers of the world on notice: one day every world leader will bow at the name of this Jesus, now a child, because “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil 2:10-11a ESV).

For now, He warns them in Psalm 2:10-12.

Psalm 2:10–12 ESV

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Three Responses to the True King

If Jesus is the True King, and all others are usurpers, and frauds, it is important that we know how we are responding to Him now.

There are three ways, three responses to the True King, that we see in this text. Only one of them is proper and fitting for a King such as He is.

[SLIDE: ANTAGONISTIC]

A. The illegitimate King Herod is antagonistic toward the true King

This hardly needs elaboration. The jealous King Herod thinks Jesus is a political rival, and we already know he will stop at nothing in destroying his political rivals. We know he orders the execution of every two year old boy in Bethlehem — just to be on the safe side.

[SLIDE: APATHETIC]

B. The people with the answers are apathetic toward the true King

The first response is of the religious people, the people with the answers, and they are apathetic toward the King. The people with the answers are apathetic toward Him.

We saw these guys when Herod called in his experts. These are the scribes and the and high priests. These are the professional clergy. The Bible scholars. It was their job to lead the people in worship in the temple. It was their job to translate and copy and teach the law. Maybe they’re tired and weary of the whole political game that their work is tied up in.

And they know their stuff; they give the right answer. But think about this. Out of all the people we see in this text, who is the group that seems the least interested in finding the King of the Jews who has been born? The religious people.

Church family, beware of knowing the correct answer, and giving the correct answer, and thinking that you have therefore done your duty. Study and affection for Jesus; study and devotion for Jesus. Get the answers right, by all means — that is not to be neglected. We do have answers from Scripture to important questions people have and we shouldn’t pretend like we don’t out of false humility.

But remember this: the answers are not the end; they are a means to the end. What is the end? You shall love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself.

Answers are not the end; they are a means to the end. What is the end? “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:18-20a ESV).

[SLIDE: SUBMISSIVE]

C. The wise men are submissive toward the true King

It would be far better for our response to be that of the wise men, who are submissive toward the True King. Now we come to the very end of our story.

Matthew tells us that when the wise men arrive at their destination they’re carrying gifts to give to the newborn king. We know they planned to bring the gifts. We know they planned to give him the gifts. We know they came to pay him homage as a newborn king.

But when Matthew tells us they saw him immediately they fall to their feet and worship, I wonder if they planned that? I bet they didn’t.

I think the wise men thought they were coming to pay their proper respects to a newborn king. I don’t think they knew who this king was until they saw Him. I believe the Holy Spirit revealed to them that this child, this baby, is not just any king but He is “King and God and Sacrifice — King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign!”

[BACK TO TITLE SLIDE]

Ladies and gentlemen, there is only one way to respond to King Jesus. There is only one saving response to King Jesus. Submission.

Submission involves trust. Trust says “I commit my life and my deepest and most urgent needs to you. I believe; help my unbelief.”

Submission involves obedience. Obedience says “I may not be perfect but I will make my aim to do what you say for me to do, whether I understand it or not.”

Submission involves worship. Worship says “I may not feel like opening my mouth and singing to you this morning with all that I have, but help me to do it anyway because you are worthy of it, whether I feel it or not.”

Trust. Obedience. Worship. Stand with me this morning, church, and let’s worship the True King.

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