Make Room in your Heart for Joy
Make Room in your Heart • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 33:32
0 ratings
· 46 viewsSometimes we think of joy as a feeling of happiness; the Bible tells us that joy is so much more than a feeling, it is an outward action that comes from an inward assurance.
Files
Notes
Transcript
Handout
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
There are so many questions buried in this story about the wise men. Who are these Magi exactly, and where from the East do they come from? How large of a group was this? The traditional Christmas carol says, “we three kings of orient are…” and custom holds that there are three only because three gifts are mentioned in Matthew. But there is nothing in the Bible itself to tell us how many Magi were in this group and how many more servants and attendants and other officials would have been along on the journey.
questions about origins of Magi
the characters: Magi
the characters: Magi
Since the land directly to the east of Israel was mostly desert, the next populated civilization beyond the desert would have been Persia—the former kingdom of Babylon. I suppose this makes sense that the royal astrologers (Magi) in Persia would have known prophesies about a coming king of the Jews in Israel. After all, during the time of Babylon, the Jewish exile Daniel rose to become the ruler of all the royal wise men in the kingdom of Babylon. If the Magi did come from Babylon, that would make this journey of the Magi about 900 miles following the trade route from Persia to Judea; a journey that would take several months and involve a large entourage of travelers.
royal astrologers from Persia (formerly Babylon)
900 mile journey would have taken several months
likely a large entourage with attendants and royal officials
It dispels some of the Christmas myths, anyways. The Magi did not show up at the stable on the day Jesus was born, and there were certainly many more than three in this group.
questions about the star
Beyond that, there are questions about the star. What exactly did these Magi see in the sky? Was it a comet or an aligning of planets? Was it a supernova or some other kind of celestial explosion? Or was it a supernatural event which had no explainable origin? Could they somehow see this star during the day or was it only at night? Does this mean they only traveled at night when the stars were visible? How did this star come to stop over a single house in Bethlehem?
Matthew is not interested in explaining the exact source of the Magi or the exact nature of the star
Matthew focuses his gospel on kingship
Magi are part of royal society
Magi come seeking out royalty (king of the Jews)
These are puzzling questions, but in the end I suppose it does not matter because these things are not the point of the story. Matthew does not seem to be interested in explaining the exact source of the Magi or the exact nature of the star; it is not important for the story. Which leads us to a more important question: What is the point of this story about Magi? We should note that Matthew’s gospel says very little about the birth of Jesus. In fact, chapter 1 is mostly genealogy of names tracing Jesus all the way back through David to Abraham. That’s a helpful detail to this story. It comes right on the heels of a family lineage which calls attention to Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, and David, the king of the people. The lineage is a set up for the question which the Magi bring to Herod, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” It is not out of character at all for Matthew. We should remember that Matthew writes his gospel to a Jewish audience and focuses a great deal on the kingship of Jesus. It fits that the only story Matthew shares about the birth of Jesus involves kings and royal nobility.
In fact, these are the main characters in this story. Jesus and Mary are hardly mentioned at all; this story really is not about them. Matthew wants us to focus on two main character groups. One group is the Magi, however many there may be in this traveling entourage. The other group that figures prominently in this story is Herod and all of his ruling officials in Jerusalem. We should probably say something about that.
the characters: Herod
the characters: Herod
Even though Matthew refers to Herod as the king in Jerusalem, he is not the rightfully legitimate king of the Jewish people, and he knows it. Herod is not from the line of David. He is an Idumean. This means Herod was an Edomite and a descendant of Esau. He came to power in Israel as a shrewd politician who made deals with the Roman Empire, and was appointed by Caesar as ruler of the region. Herod is named king of Jews by Rome. The Roman Empire makes this move because they know Herod is a pawn they can control and Herod will help keep Rome in power.
Herod is Idumean (Edomite - descendent of Esau): not Israelite and not in line of the throne
“all jerusalem” refers to Herod’s ruling officials
So, Herod takes up residence in Jerusalem and brings all of his royal cabinet and officials with him. This is why Matthew tells us that the appearance of the Magi in chapter 2 greatly disturbs not only Herod, but all Jerusalem with him. It is not that every resident of the city is disturbed. It is a reference to all the ruling officials who—along with Herod—hold onto power given to them by Rome.
question from the Magi points out that Herod is not a legitimate king
Now then, imagine the scene as it takes place in Matthew 2. This traveling entourage of royal dignitaries from a kingdom outside of the Roman Empire show up in Jerusalem looking for someone they call the “king of the Jews.” The Magi go to the palace of Herod in Jerusalem, stand right in front of Herod, the one installed by Rome as king of the Jews, and they ask him, “Where is the king of the Jews?” You can almost read between the lines. The Magi take one look at the puppet regime of Herod—the one who calls himself king of the Jews, and the Magi call out his hypocrisy with their question to Herod: “Where is the REAL king of the Jews? (because you are not him…)”
“it is better to be Herod’s pig than to be his son.”
Herod and his rulers are disturbed because Jesus represents a threat to Herod’s power
This is what triggers Herod to call together the Jewish religious scholars and find out where the prophets foretold the birth of God’s Messiah. And this also puts into motion Herod’s plan to remain in power. He tells the Magi to look in Bethlehem and gives an obvious false motive about wanting to come worship the child too. We see a little further down in chapter 2 that when Herod realizes he has been outwitted by the Magi, he orders his soldiers to kill all boys under the age of two in Bethlehem. It is noted in historical records outside of the Bible that at other points in time Herod had some of his own sons and family killed if he perceived them as a threat to his place on the throne. Caesar Augustus is known to have famously once said, “it is better to be Herod’s pig than to be his son.”
The two main characters in this story of Matthew 2, then, are the Magi along with all their attendants, and Herod along with all his royal officials. And the main point of the story here in Matthew highlights the reactions in these characters upon the realization that the king of the Jews has come into their midst. This is where the story of the Magi in Matthew 2 leads us today. It is a story in which the true king of all God’s people is revealed; and the announcement of this king demands a response that goes in one of two ways. Let’s spend some time looking at the two responses given in this story and consider how those two responses show up for us in our world yet today.
the response: Magi
the response: Magi
First, the Magi. The Bible tells us that when the Magi find the house in Bethlehem with Jesus, they are overjoyed. The response of the Magi to encountering Jesus, the king of God’s people, is a response of joy.
overjoyed
Greek four words - excessively large rejoicing gladness
months-long quest is complete | seeing Jesus affirms what they saw and believed and followed
Joy certainly includes an element of emotion. There is exuberant celebration and praise in their hearts. I imagine that this is especially true given that their months-long quest has now finally reached its objective. The whole reason they packed up and left home and traveled so very far has found its fulfillment. It is a joy that takes shape as a confirmation of their faith. They saw the star, they understood its meaning, they planned a long journey, they followed every step in which the star led them, they have believed it the whole way, and they have arrived at the object of their faith—the king of God’s people. Seeing Jesus affirms what they saw and believed and followed. Of course there is a response of joy!
response of joy includes action
bow down and worship Jesus
open their treasures and give gifts
But notice too that this response of joy includes an action. The Bible tells us that the Magi bow down and worship, that they open their treasures and give gifts. The response of joy is more than an emotion, more than just a feeling of happiness. In their joy, the Magi offer what they can to Jesus. It is a joy that shapes what they do.
Magi make room in their hearts for joy | you can tell because it shows in their action
Let me put it in language that ties to this advent message series. The Magi make room in their hearts for joy. You can tell they have made room in their hearts for joy because it shows in their action.
the response: Herod
the response: Herod
disturbed - fear, troubled, dread, terror
tarasso - stirred up, shaken
But this story in Matthew 2 has a contrast. The other response in this story is the reaction of Herod and all of his Jerusalem officials. The Bible tells us that they are greatly disturbed. It is the Greek word tarasso which literally means stirred up or shaken. This word also carries the nuance of fear, trouble, dread, and terror. The revelation of God’s promised king brings a response of joy from the Magi, but it brings a response of alarming terror from Herod.
news of Jesus as the king of God’s people means an end of Herod’s control over God’s people
I suppose this is not surprising. When the illegitimate king Herod hears news of God’s promised king Jesus, it is threat to Herod’s power and position. Herod has worked pretty hard to gain the favor he needs with Rome to be in his position of power. He stands to lose quite a bit by the arrival of a rightful and legitimate king for God’s people. The news of Jesus as the king of God’s people means an end of Herod’s control over God’s people.
the dynamics playing into Herod’s response to Jesus are power, control, position
Herod and his company have no room in their hearts for joy
Herod is focused on what he stands to lose, what will be taken away from him
power, control, high position
Power. Control. Position. These are all the dynamics playing into Herod’s response to Jesus. The Magi respond in joy with actions that give—offering worship and gifts. Herod responds in terror with actions that take—doing whatever he can to seize and hold the power and control of his position. Do you see the difference? The Magi make room in their hearts for joy. Herod and his company have no room in their hearts for joy.
Make Room in your Heart for Joy
Make Room in your Heart for Joy
HC Q31 - prophet priest king | Magi story focuses on response to Jesus as KING
Let’s wrap it up by considering how this story plays forward to our world today. I know we have many ways of thinking about all that the Bible tells us about Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the savior. Jesus is our mediator before God the Father. Our theological doctrine names for us the three ways in which Jesus fulfills all of the Old Testament. Question 31 of the Heidelberg Catechism says the three ministries of Jesus are that of prophet, priest, and king. I know our brains could go all over the map when we start thinking about all the ways we can respond to Jesus by all the ways that we name Jesus. But the point of this story in Matthew 2 has a narrow focus that may be helpful for us. Matthew is very deliberate in this story to only name the child as the king of the Jews. In this particular story of the Magi we are NOT talking about responding to Jesus as prophetic teacher; in this particular story of the Magi we are NOT talking about responding to Jesus as priestly mediator and savior. In the story of the Magi we are talking about responding to Jesus as kingly lord and ruler.
In the frame of this story, then, with Jesus revealed as king over all God’s people, a response is demanded. Every single person in the entire world must bring forth a response to the announcement that the king of God’s people has come into the world. And this story from Matthew 2 shows us the two directions of that response which still takes place in our world today.
let go of my own desire to be king (ruler, master) of my own world
The examples of royalty we see in Matthew 2—the Magi and Herod—places before each one of us today the ways in which we have all strived to become kings of our own world. It shows the many ways I have strived to be master of my own possessions. It shows the ways I have strived to be master of my own career, master of my own plans, master of my own future. Like Herod and all his royal officials, it is a response that refuses to make room in my heart for joy because my heart is already consumed with holding onto my own sources of power, my own places of authority and control, my own positions over and above other people.
There may be people in our world who are willing to let Jesus be savior—we can make room for his grace. There may be people in our world who are willing to let Jesus be teacher—we can make room for his wisdom. But how many times do we draw the line there? How many times do we face Jesus as lord and king, and our response turns in another direction? We struggle to respond to Jesus as the Magi did when it comes down to letting go of all in our own world which represents our own power and control.
the Magi are willing to HUMBLE themselves - worship and offer their best to a child
The Magi knew their place as royal officials and people of high nobility. But upon coming face-to-face with the Messiah of God who was only a child, they were willing to let all of that go by offering up their worship and by giving their gifts. They were willing to let go of their own claim as kings in order to give the proper response to Jesus—the King of kings. And others in our world—like Herod—are not willing to offer worship to Jesus. And for these others, they are left in a place in which their response to the kingship of Jesus is one of dread because they are so afraid to lose all that they have built up in this world for themselves.
willingly and eagerly embrace opportunities to lay down our own crowns of power and privilege
The difference we see here is a heart that makes room for joy. It is a heart that willingly and eagerly embraces all the opportunities before us to lay down our own crowns of power and privilege in submission to the REAL king revealed to us at Christmas as a helpless child. Not a heart of coercion; not a heart of obligation; not a heart of fear or disturbance; but a heart of joy!
(1) find a way this week to let go of something that you may want or desire to get out of someone else
(2) find a way this week for one thing that you may offer to give or provide for the need of someone else
Do something this week to make room in your heart for joy. Start with this. Find a way this week to let go of something that you may want or desire to get out of someone else. And in its place ask yourself if there is one thing that you may offer instead to give or provide for the need of someone else (without them having to ask). At Christmas we celebrate that our divine king Jesus let go of all his majesty, power, and glory to come and give everything for the people he loves so very much. Our divine king Jesus comes into this world as one of us so that you and I may be given the gift of new life. May we respond in joy with actions that give for others as God has given for us.