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The Wonderful Christ

Sunday, December 19, 2021
Pastor Jojo Ma

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Matthew 2:7-11

Matthew 2:7-11
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.

I.          The Wicked Herod [vv7-8]
II.        The Worshipful Magi [vv9-11]
III.       The Wonderful Christ

I.         The Wicked Herod [vv7-8]
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."

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under.

There is no one too wretched or wicked that God cannot save. We call this sovereign grace. Salvation is of the Lord, not of man. 

II.        The Worshipful Magi [vv9-11]
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.

Any naturalistic thesis that tries to explain away God’s activity with this star is unacceptable and inadequate. This was no natural phenomenon. This was a very supernatural work of God. God was directing this star in a very specific and special way as signage pointing to the Christ-child.

9…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.

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.

Gold, which pointed to Jesus’ majesty as king; frankincense, which pointed to Jesus’ deity as God; and myrrh, which pointed to Jesus’ humanity and foreshadowing his death, burial, and resurrection.

“These great men see in this baby someone much greater than they. They kneel to Jesus, anticipating the day when ‘every knee (shall) bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue (shall) confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’ (Phil 2:10-11).”

Charles Spurgeon: “Those who look for Jesus will see him. Those who truly see him will worship him. Those who worship him will consecrate their substance to him.”

III.      The Wonderful Christ
He will come not as he did that first Christmas as a lamb, but he will return as a lion, and he will come to raise the dead, judge the world, and make all things new. 

For we who believe, don’t let anything take your eyes off of him. Don’t let any distraction draw you away from seeing him. Don’t let any worldly gain defraud you from treasuring him.