Matthew 2:1-12 Hope is Born
Xmas 2024 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro:
Intro:
To really enjoy Christmas, you must embrace hope.
This happens in many ways
Two students were describing their xmas to my wife this week
One girl, the oldest in her family, knew every gift she was getting because she had picked them out
The other was a boy who couldn’t believe she knew everything
Hew didn’t know one gift
He then told of how he was bummed this Xmas because his church was having their xmas eve service in the morning
He wanted his parents to find a church with an evening service because he loved the anticipation of getting thru the service because afterwards he got to open one gift
I know how he feels. It was the same way for me
Kids miss out on looking thru the JC Penny’s catalog at all the gifts
Scrolling thru amazon isn’t the same
This hope that every child feels is pointing to something bigger, greater, and more meaningful than any earthly store can offer.
As fun as it was to make lists and wait to open presents during the holidays, the bigger picture behind this holiday is that because of Jesus’ birth, we have hope that our greater desires, beyond electronics, toys, and jewelry…things like purpose, meaning, significance, forgiveness, and wholeness are available to us.
These are gifts that we don’t have to wait to open.
When we place our faith in Jesus, they are ours, and that reality fills us with hope no matter what circumstance or situation we find ourselves in.
That hope was born on the first Christmas day
Read Matthew 2:1-3
Read Matthew 2:1-3
Transition:
The events described in this passage probably occurred several months after Jesus was born
The fact that she offered “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24) instead of the normal lamb (Lev. 12:6–8) indicates that the family was poor.
Bethlehem was then a small town five or six miles south of Jerusalem, in the fertile hill country of Judea
Bethlehem means House of Bread
It was rich in History
Jacob buried Rachel
Ruth married Boaz
David grew up and tended sheep
The prophet Micah promised the Messiah would come from this village
Now the Messiah was born and he had visitors
Hope in a Star vs. 1-3
Hope in a Star vs. 1-3
vs. 1-2a Wise Men Seek Him
Few biblical stories are as well known, yet so clouded by myth and tradition, as that of the magi, or wise men, mentioned by Matthew
During the Middle Ages legend developed that they were kings, that they were three in number, and that their names were Casper, Balthazar, and Melchior
The magi became skilled in astronomy and astrology
They were involved in various occult practices, including sorcery, and were especially noted for their ability to interpret dreams.
It is from their name that our words magic and magician are derived
Because of their combined knowledge of science, agriculture, mathematics, history they were sought out for their wisdom
The OT prophet Daniel became their leader in Babylon and we can assume that is how they knew of the coming King of the Jews
Several things we know about these men
Magicians
At least two
Came from the East
First Gentiles to Worship
vs. 2b The sign of the King
The whole reason they were there was because they saw a star that appeared on the day that Jesus was born
These busy, wealthy, influential men dropped everything and traveled from modern day Iraq to Bethlehem
That route was 1500 miles along the fertile crescent and took four months
Hope was born in their hearts that night they saw the star of Bethlehem
This wasn’t just a cordial visit to a foreign king
The was the Messiah who was going to change the world
When we put our hope in Jesus our lives change
We are made new on the inside
Our Eternal destination changes too
That is the hope we live with
Fear & Indifference vs. 4-8
Fear & Indifference vs. 4-8
One thing we can surmise from their reception was that the people of Israel were indifferent and the king was fearful
King Herod
This Herod, known as “the Great,” is the first of several Herods mentioned in the New Testament.
Julius Caesar had appointed his father to be governor of Judea. He then managed to have his son Herod appointed governor of Galilee.
He was a clever and capable warrior, orator, and diplomat
In 19 b.c. he began the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem
Herod was also cruel and merciless.
He was incredibly jealous, suspicious, and afraid for his position and power
He had his wife Mariamne killed, and then her mother and two of his own sons
At the same time they arrived in Jerusalem and no one knew of the Messiah’s birth just five miles away and it appears they didn’t care
When the religious experts explained the prophecy they gave Herod the facts
They didn’t go with the wise men or inquire on their own
They were too busy with their lives
The world fears Jesus today
They are doing everything they can to destroy the church
While at the same time the religious people yawn with boredom
How do
Exceeding Joy in Worship vs. 9-12
Exceeding Joy in Worship vs. 9-12
vs. 9-10 Exceeding Joy
This phrase, “rejoiced exceedingly with great Joy” means that their joy was off the charts
On a scale of 1-10 it was way beyond ten
They were besides themselves with joy
This is surprising because they were noble educated men who were older in age
The fact that they were acting this way was outside the norm
Being in the presence of Jesus changed them
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Joy is result of the presence of Jesus being in your life
Hope Chapel’s theme verse
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
vs. 11 Worshipped
They laid prostrate before Jesus
The position of complete submission
Men who had everything the world says is successful didn’t hesitate to humble themselves and worship the King of Kings
Closing: Story of Teddy Martin
Dr. James Dobson relates a story of an elderly woman named Stella Thornhope who was struggling with her first Christmas alone.
Her husband had died just a few months prior through a slow-developing cancer.
Several days before Christmas, she was almost snowed in by a brutal weather system.
She felt terribly alone—so much so that she decided she was not going to decorate for Christmas.
Late that afternoon the doorbell rang, and there was a delivery boy with a box.
He said, "Mrs. Thornhope? Would you sign here?"
She invited him to step inside and closed the door to get away from the cold.
She signed the paper and said, "What’s in the box?"
The young man laughed and opened up the flap, and inside was a little golden Labrador Retriever.
The delivery boy picked up the squirming pup and explained, "This is for you, ma’am. He’s six weeks old and completely housebroken."
The young puppy began to wiggle in happiness at being released from captivity.
"Who sent this?" Mrs. Thornhope asked.
The young man set the animal down and handed her an envelope and said, "It’s all explained here in this envelope, ma’am. The dog was bought last July while its mother was still pregnant. It was meant to be a Christmas gift to you."
The young man then handed her a book: How to Care for Your Labrador Retriever.
In desperation she again asked, "Who sent me this puppy?"
As the young man turned to leave he said, "Your husband, ma’am. Merry Christmas."
She opened the letter from her husband.
He had written it three weeks before he died and left it with the kennel owners to be delivered with the puppy as his last Christmas gift to her.
The letter was full of love and encouragement and admonishments to be strong.
He vowed that he was waiting for the day when she would join him in heaven.
He had sent her this young animal to keep her company until then.
She wiped away the tears, put the letter down, and then remembered the puppy at her feet.
She picked up the golden furry ball and held it to her neck.
Then she looked out the window at the lights that outlined the neighbor’s house, and she heard from the radio in the kitchen the strains of "Joy to the world, the Lord has come.”
Suddenly, Stella felt the most amazing sensation [of hope] washing over her.
Her heart felt a joy and a wonder greater than the grief and loneliness.