2019年11月1日星期五

Be Jesus' Own People - Christmas Message



Matthew 2:1-18
Magi from the East Visited Jesus
Christmas is the only season when the whole world will celebrate. Basically, everyone has somewhat heard about the person, Jesus. However, the challenge issued by Christianity now is not so much the question “Who is Jesus?”, but rather, “How would you treat Jesus?”
The Gospel of Matthew recorded that, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, two thousand years ago, during the time of King Herod, the Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 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. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied.
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and 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.”
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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. (v 1-10)
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. 
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Herod was furious when he found himself fooled by the Magi. He tried all ways to kill the new born king, and he even commanded those children who were below two in Bethlehem to be killed.
It was a violent act carried out by an authoritarian ruler towards its own people. The family of Jesus was forced to flee to Egypt.
The birth of Jesus had caused disturbance to Herod. It was because Herod, though being the king of Jews, was not considered pure in his pedigree as a Jew. He was more of the descent of Idumaean. He was used as a political tool by the Roman Empire to have their control over the Jews.
Herod was afraid that the Jews would enthrone their new king and rebel against him. Hence, he resolved to hold on to his position by all means.
But how about the disturbance of the people in Jerusalem? Even the Jews were disturbed, for they fully understood in their hearts that Herod would not allow anyone to be called the King of Jews, and he would definitely stir a bloody storm for this.
The subsequent event that took place proved them right. A massacre of the innocents had caused many infants to be killed. The Jews in Jerusalem wanted to maintain stability at the cost of forsaking their rightful Jewish King.
They thought that, faith was certainly precious but life was even more important than faith! Though the new king was honourable, Herod was definitely someone not to be offended!
Were these Jews not godly?
No! They followed rules to offer sacrifices in their temple. They observed and celebrated their festivals accordingly. They were well-versed with their scriptures. But they were also meticulous, calculative and self-serving when confronted with challenges. 
Many Christians hold this type of attitude today. They have no issue with attending Sunday service. They are willing to pay tithes. And they are comfortable with running a safe ministry. But they are reluctant to pay a higher price or even to give up certain comforts of their lifestyles.
Many Christians may think this way: Jesus has to meet my needs and He is not supposed to change my way of living. I welcome Jesus to solve my problems but I forbid Him to disrupt my life.
Jerusalem is about 8 km away from Bethlehem. It takes two hours of walking distance to reach Bethlehem. But there was no one traveling from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to visit the new born king then.
In contrast, let us have a look at the Magi from the East:
Jesus was not born in their place. They were unfamiliar with Jesus, and they did not see him as a threat to them. They knew well that the new king was the king of the Jews, and they were basically outsiders!
What was the point then to travel from afar to meet the new born king? It looked like they had to travel for more than one year in order for them to reach Bethlehem. It was not an 8km journey that took two hours!
They spotted the Star of the King and they longed to see Jesus, who was definitely an extraordinary king! Though Jesus was born only for the Jews, they had no regret to take on a journey which would take more than a year, and travelled from afar, they came to look for Him.
They persisted on undertaking the journey of thousand miles despite the big prices they had to pay, the length of time they had to spend and the high risk they had to take, simply because they recognized the greatness and excellency of the new born king!
It is a kind of selfless and genuine worship. A worship that goes all out and does not hesitate to lay down one’s own life for God. It is something that every Christian should imitate.
The Magi sought after Jesus and worshipped Him. They did that because Jesus was God. The Bible says that Jesus is the eternal Word of God, and all things in the universe were created through Him and by Him. God sent Jesus to come to rescue sinful men when the world had fallen in sin.
The people in Jerusalem were feeling disturbed and refused to visit the new born king. The Eastern Magi, who were outsiders, had become Jesus’ own people. But the Jews in Jerusalem, who were His own people, lost their privilege and they became outsiders.
May we who are here right now, whether we are Christians or non-Christians, have hearts as pure as the Magi’s, and go all out for Jesus, the new born king. Let us come and bow down to worship Him, and to receive Him as our king.
We shall become Jesus’- the king’s own people.
Conclusion
Now, many people reject Jesus because they are afraid, they will lose much of their freedom and fun in life when they choose to trust in Jesus. It is a misconception.
Jesus said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26)
Jesus comes not to threaten us, but to give us an abundant life. He comes so that we can be delivered from evil bondages. He comes to set us free from frustration and despairs, and to restore unto us peace, meaning and sense of direction in our lives. Jesus wants to enable us to live a more wonderful and joyous life!
Today, there are many witnesses sitting in the church. Their lives testify how Jesus has rescued them from their sin. They were once entangled and haunted by all kinds of bad habits, drugs, negative thoughts, bitterness, hurt, frustration and depression. But they are delivered now and their lives have been changed.
Jesus is here today. So, do not be hesitant or fearful. Let us walk this journey of faith, and let us offer to Jesus, the new born King, the most precious and sincere adoration and worship from our hearts!
Receive Jesus as Saviour and King in your heart, so that He could manage your life. He will shepherd you, and He will make your life wholesome and blessed. 

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