Jesus in King: Royal Adoration
Matthew 2:1-12
I. The universal nature of King Jesus; 2:1-2.
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 in the east and have come to worship him."
Now Jesus is a child and the family is living in Bethlehem. These Magi came from "the east” and were looking for the one born "king of the Jews." They apparently had been exposed to Old Testament prophecies from Jewish settlements. Their actual number is uncertain. Eastern tradition sets their number at twelve, but Western tradition sets it at three. Their natural stopping place was Jerusalem, the capital city of the Jewish people.
Through the Jewish community in their homeland, the Magi would have become familiar with Balaam's prophecy. Balaam obeyed God and blessed Israel three times. Balaam's final oracle begins in Numbers 24:16-17:
The oracle of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.
Magi from the east were following a star to the King of the Jews. That which God had foretold is now coming to pass in the birth of Jesus Christ. This is clearly a picture of God drawing those nations to the Jewish Messiah. This promised Messiah is not merely the King of the Jews; He is King of all peoples.
II. First attempts to destroy the King; 2:3-8.
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 Christ 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 be the shepherd of 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 make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
Herod was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. Herod knows he is not the rightful heir to the Davidic kingdom; he has seized the throne by aligning himself with Rome. So, with the Magi's announcement that they are seeking the one born king of the Jews, he probably perceives that invading forces from the east may perhaps join forces within Israel to oust him and place a king on the throne who is from the true line of the expected Messiah.
Not only is Herod disturbed at the arrival of the Magi, but so is all of Jerusalem with him. The word "Jerusalem" is the designation for the city, but it also represents the religious and political leadership of Israel. The central leadership of the Jews was lodged in the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They control the temple activities, treasury, and priestly orders. These were the official interpreters of the Old Testament. These religious leaders cite the prophet Micah, who centuries earlier referred to Bethlehem as not least among "the clans of Judah," because it would be the birthplace of the future ruler, the Messiah (Micah 5:2).
The leadership may be disturbed along with Herod because they know the consequences they might suffer if he were to fly into a rage at the perceived threat of the arriving forces with the Magi. But more likely, they have aligned themselves politically with Herod, and if his power base is threatened, so is theirs. One would expect the religious leadership to celebrate at the report of the birth of the king of Israel, but the arrival of the true king of the Jews presents a threat to Israel's religious, economic, and political power.
Herod secretly brings in the Magi and attempts to find out when the star had appeared to them. If the child the Magi are seeking really is the rightful king of the Jews, and if Herod were to eliminate him, it would not sit well with the Jewish people. So, he goes about his plans secretly so that he can be rid of the threat to his throne without the people knowing of it.
Herod is confident he has deceived the Magi because he does not send an escort with them to Bethlehem, and he has no reason to doubt that they will follow through and return to tell him the child's whereabouts.
You can know the Bible well yet still miss the point. It is a dangerous thing to know the Word and fail to respond.
III. King Jesus is to be worshiped; 2:9-12.
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east 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 and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The young family stayed in Bethlehem instead of returning to Nazareth to raise their son. The purpose of the Magi’s journey to see the child is accomplished as they bowed down and worshiped Him. Their worship is far more than even they understand. When approaching royalty, gifts were often brought to demonstrate respect.
The danger from Herod’s paranoid jealousy of the infant king comes to the forefront as the Magi are warned in a dream not to return to him with their report. Instead of retracing their steps through Jerusalem where Herod awaits them, they returned to their country by another route.
The miraculous appearance of the star to Gentile Magi signaled that God was initiating deliverance for Israel-and for all humanity. If these Gentile Magi have recognized Jesus as Israel’s king, then the Jews should certainly acknowledge Him as the Messiah. Those who had the greatest opportunity to worship the true king of the Jews became pawns of the false king, Herod.
God sends Jesus, the Christ, Messiah, Son of David, Son of Abraham, Immanuel, King of the Jews, King of all. That's what we celebrate at Christmas. The invitation at the beginning of Matthew is clear: Come and see the King. God invites the Magi, and He invites you to see His Son and to joyfully offer your life as a worshiper.
Whenever people come face to face with Jesus, they must decide whether they will fall down before Him as God’s promised Savior, or whether they will reject Him. Will you receive Jesus as the promised Savior, or will you reject Him? There is no middle ground. There never has been. Whose side will you take - Herod’s or the Magi’s?
