This morning, I invite you to turn with me to Matthew 2, Matthew chapter 2, as we read together verses 1 through 12, and consider this episode in the history of Revelation. Matthew 2, verses 1 through 12. Beloved, this is the Word of God. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, 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 in the east 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 and asked them where the Christ was to be born, In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, For this is what the prophet has written. 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. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 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. After they had heard the King, they went on their way, and then the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Beloved in the Lord, what a sight that must have been as these visitors hoofed their way into Jerusalem. You see, these were not just your average tourists who were passing by, stopping through for a bite to eat and maybe to fill up with gas. But these were VIPs, boys and girls, very important people who were on a mission. They had a purpose. And no doubt they were the kind of men who caused heads to turn. What did they want? Why did they come? And who knows, maybe Jerusalem was used to visitors like this. Kind of like we see on the news, heads of state and other national leaders come to visit with President Bush and we really don't think a whole lot about it. Maybe it was no big deal. Certainly, it was a big deal in Bethlehem, their final destination, that small town. Certainly, in a small town like that, the people were shocked to see these magi coming because that doesn't happen every day. And when something like that happens in a small town, it is a big deal. But who knows, maybe it really wasn't a big deal in Jerusalem until they state the reason for coming. But you see, beloved, these magi, These wise men, as we call them, remind us still today. They remind us of our purpose on this day and every day. They remind us of that as they brought worship for Christ the King. And you see, no matter what the world's purpose might be today, and we know the world has many purposes for gathering and celebrating today, but no matter what the world's purpose might be today, May our purpose be, may it always be, as we gather with loved ones and share gifts and food and fellowship, may our purpose always be worship of the Savior who has come. Because you see, beloved, this is truly the reason for our celebration of Christmas. That's truly what Christmas is all about. Worship of the One who came to save us. And with this text this morning, with this episode before us, we notice worship for Christ the King first of all by a surprising congregation. We've already introduced them. The Magi. In verse 1 we read, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. Magi from the east. That's what the Bible says. What is their identity? What do we know about them? Well, of course, if we follow today's cues, if we follow Hallmark and we follow all those nice little nativity scenes, if we follow the song that we learn as kids, we think that there were three kings. That they were standing side by side with the animals looking at the baby in the manger. But is that what happened? You see, the truth is we don't know how many there were. There may have been many of them. We do know that they were probably not kings. They were some sort of wise men. They held an important place in their own country, maybe priestly positions or government positions. Most likely they were astrologers who studied the stars and diviners who studied dreams. We remember Daniel who was promoted to chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. And it is believed that these wise men came from either Babylon or Persia, Two nations, both of them that were influenced by Israeli captives at some point in history. And therefore, two nations that were both influenced in a way by the religion of the true God. But ultimately, the identity of these magi is that they were strangers. They were foreigners. They were Gentiles. That was their identity. And what can we say about their trip? Again, compared to the cues that we have today. Well, they traveled possibly up to a thousand miles on camel or donkey. And of course, that took time. And we know that Herod put to death all the baby boys in Bethlehem, two years old and younger, based on the time that the Magi reported that they had first seen the star. And verse 11 says, on coming to the house. So they did not come to the manger. They were not there on the night that Christ was born. They did not stand side by side with whatever animals might have been there or next to the shepherds who came from the hillsides that night. But notice also their question. Verse 2, Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him. Now, beloved, that's an amazing question. And even more, it's an amazing declaration. Where is the King of the Jews? We have come to worship Him. These Gentiles, these outsiders, knew that a king had been born and they knew that He was the King of the Jews. How? We don't know for a fact. It's possible that the promise of Messiah had become known through whatever captives may have remained in whatever country they had come from if that was the case. But ultimately, we know that they were led by the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit, these magi interpreted this unordinary star, whatever it was. They interpreted this unordinary star to point to the birth of a king and not just any king, the king of the Jews. And therefore, the logical place to look for this king would be in the Jewish capital of Jerusalem. Where else would he be? And everybody would know about it because they would have announced his arrival with trumpets. Think of our day. We think of Prince William and Prince Henry, the sons of the late Princess Diana. When they were born, everybody around the world knew it. Right? But you see all of these details, the identity, their identity, their trip, their question, all of these things, beloved, point to a surprising and unexpected congregation. these Gentiles, instead of the Jews. Those whom we would have expected to go and worship Him. And all we can say about the Jews is talk about their disturbing reaction. These Magi were Gentiles, yet they were more faithful than Israel. Than Israel, who should have been looking for a Messiah. Who should have been waiting patiently for Him. And upon hearing this piercing question, And from these magi, they should have studied Scripture. All they did, they sent the chief priests and the teachers to go look and see what the ancient writings say. But when they were told that it was Bethlehem, they should have hurried off to Bethlehem like the shepherds did on that night so long ago. But instead, they let the magi go. You guys go. If you find anything, let us know. Come back and tell us. But who knows, maybe the Jews thought that the Magi simply did not know what they were talking about because, you see, they're not from our church. They're not from our tradition. They don't know what they're talking about. But instead of becoming excited as Israel should have, they became disturbed. They got scared. Herod saw a threat to the throne, a throne that he had gained by bribery and by being appointed by the Roman emperor. And if there was a legitimate heir to the throne, that could mean not only his position, that could mean his neck, his very life. And the people feared because of Rome. They were under the thumb of Rome at that time. They were under the rule of Rome. And they really didn't want anything to rock the boat. And if there was a real king, that might seem like rebellion to Rome. They could be in trouble. And beloved, what a tragedy here. The Jews missed the birth. They missed the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. They miss the fulfillment of God's great promise. And that is true of so many today. So many today celebrate Christmas without knowing or believing that Jesus Christ has been born and lived a righteous life and died and rose again and ascended into heaven. So many today celebrate Christmas without knowing and believing that God has come in the flesh, that a Savior has come. And therefore, so many celebrate Christmas today in some way, but they do it without any real hope. And we notice too, in connection with their disturbing reaction, we notice Herod's plot. In verses 7 and 8, then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 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. And then jumping down to verse 13, when they had gone, that is the Magi, away from Bethlehem, when they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. Get up, he said. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you. For Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. You see, beloved, yet another attempt by the seed of the serpent to extinguish the seed of the woman. And that happened all throughout the Old Testament period. It began when Cain killed Abel, The seed of the serpent trying to wipe out the line leading to the Messiah. It continued on when Esau wanted to kill Jacob. And it continued on in many other episodes throughout Israel's life. And here too, Satan himself, through his servant Herod, tries to wipe out, tries to extinguish the Messiah himself. But these magi, these magi were on God's errand. And they were not discouraged by a people who were disturbed. They were not bothered by a nation that didn't even know that their king had been born. They didn't reconsider their plans. They didn't turn around and say, we must have made a mistake. Instead, they followed the teaching of Scripture that had been given to them. They followed it to Bethlehem. And they found the child Jesus. And they came to Him in the second place with fitting gifts. With fitting gifts. And it's fascinating that with these fitting gifts, beloved, they were unhindered by the sight. They weren't bothered by what they found. You see, Matthew does not treat the details of this true story like Hallmark. He doesn't romanticize them. He doesn't make them look more glamorous than what they really were. He simply tells of the humble setting, the very opposite of a king. These magi, again, they were important men. No doubt they were used to being in the presence of royalty and they were probably used to being treated like royalty, like royal guests. But what they found was so unexpected. They found this child, this king of the Jews, they found him in a little village, not in the capital of Jerusalem. They found him in a humble house, not in a palace. They found his mother to be a woman of a low degree, not an exalted queen. When they found this child, this one whom they believed to be the king of the Jews, they found no servants. They found no royal robes or blankets. They found no royal guards attending him. They just found the child and his mother, the text says. And we trust, too, of course, that Joseph was nearby. and unlike Naaman you remember Naaman the leper when Naaman came to Elisha he was put off put out disgusted because Elisha didn't come out of the house and treat him as he thought he deserved to be treated he didn't wave his hands over the leprosy and say abracadabra and make it all go away instead he had the nerve to send Naaman this important guy send him to the muddy Jordan to wash he was put out at first these magi were not turned off by externals but you see beloved by faith they recognized his greatness they recognized his greatness they interpreted that star to mean that a king had been born and it didn't matter to them where he would be found but also and this must have been amazing to them he was found where the scriptures had said he would be found and the reaction the reaction in all of their worldly splendor they humbled themselves and the text says they bowed down and worshipped him and Matthew's focus is on their actions their actions came from the heart they literally prostrated themselves in all of their glory they prostrated themselves on the ground before this ordinary looking child in the most humble of circumstances now we don't know how much the Magi understood But they reverence Christ as the Messiah, the King of the Jews. They reverence Him with true and proper worship. They reverence Him with humility before this One who was so great. And along with the gifts of heart worship, they brought physical gifts fit for a king. Physical gifts, beloved, that testified to His identity. Verse 11 says, Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of frankincense and myrrh. Notice they presented gifts for the true king only. It doesn't say that they show any respect for Herod's position, the false king, but only for the Christ child, the true king. And these were precious and costly gifts. Many commentators agree that these gifts have significance. Gold, we know, is the most precious metal. And in Scripture, it has special significance for royalty. It points to Christ being the King. And incense or frankincense, we know, was used in burnt offerings, the worship of God, and therefore it points to Christ's divinity. And myrrh is a perfume used to anoint bodies of the dead, and therefore that points to Christ's humanity, His death. There was significance in these gifts that they brought. These gifts pointed to the very person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, of this Christ child. These Gentiles, these outsiders who came from maybe a thousand miles away brought gifts that pointed to the person of Christ, who He is. He is God Himself. And gifts that pointed to the work of Christ, His saving sacrifice for sin. These magi, led by the Holy Spirit, had found them as I, but not only for Israel, but for all who would believe in Him by true faith. And this also points to the fulfillment of Scripture. Isaiah 60, verse 5 says, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. And Psalm 72 speaks of the universal reign of the Messiah. And verse 10 of that psalm says, The kings of Tarshish and of the Isles will bring presents, and the kings of Sheba and Sheba will offer gifts. And with regard to these gifts, on a practical note, They provided Joseph with the financial resources he needed to flee to Egypt at the command of God because of Herod's plot. God the Father was watching over His Son who had come in the flesh as a child. And these fitting gifts, beloved, provide a lesson for us too today. Again, these magi teach us what Christmas is really all about. It's the coming of the Son of God to set His people free. He came in humility not to rule in splendor on earth, but He came to humble Himself and to humble Himself unto the death of the cross and take upon Himself our sin. And these magi, these strangers, these foreigners, so long ago teach us how to respond to this One who is God with us. So many today are more concerned about giving and receiving gifts to and from each other. Sometimes boys and girls are more concerned about how many gifts they will receive and if they will have an equal amount as their brothers or sisters. But beloved, in all of our gift-giving and receiving today, may we not allow that to take away from bringing to Jesus Christ the gift of our hearts' worship for the One who came to give us that greatest gift without compare. There is a lesson for us as the Magi's worship of Christ the King is finally as a testimony to His purpose. They point to His very purpose. We know what that purpose is. That purpose was to bring salvation. That was the angel's announcement to Joseph. You shall give him the name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins. That's what the angel said to the shepherds. A Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. That's the very promise of Scripture. In John 3, verse 16, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. His purpose was to bring salvation, but not just for the Jews, they rejected Him. Not just for those who deserve it, because there would be none. But He came to bring salvation for those whose eyes would be opened by the power of the Holy Spirit through new birth to see clearly their need and to see their hopelessness and to be brought to see by faith just as clearly the eternal hope of heaven in Christ Jesus. He came to bring salvation for those who by faith are unhindered by the sight of the foolishness of His cross. just as the Magi were unhindered by the sight of His humble surroundings. He came to bring it for those who by grace forsake the great things of this world for the greater wisdom of heaven which alone sets us free from all of our sins. His purpose was to bring salvation. But along with that salvation, beloved, His purpose was to transform lives, to transform them today. You see, salvation in Jesus Christ is not just about our future hope. It is so much. It is about that future hope, but not just about what's in the future. But it's also about that present confidence and that present joy in Christ Jesus that you and I might have today. That present confidence and joy that is foreign to the old man of sin, but very much characterizes new life in Christ. Well, these magi had found what they were looking for. They went home. And they were not disappointed. But they were fulfilled with the joy of the Lord in their hearts. Now, beloved, we don't know what happened to them. After this, we don't know what happened to them. But for us, for those who are brought to true faith in the Christ of Christmas, We can never be the same. We should never want to be the same. As Paul says in Galatians 2, verse 20, I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. For those who are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit for the sake of Jesus Christ, we hear with joy the voice of the Savior who says, take up your cross and follow Me. Who says, if you love Me, you will keep My commandments. Why? That we might demonstrate Christ and His love to the world. That's our great privilege. Even today, on this day of celebration, to demonstrate Christ and His love to the world. You see, this transformed life, beloved, is one with no regrets, no disappointments. These magi, their thousand mile trip, no doubt, was a test of faith. Yet again, they didn't weary. They didn't give up. They didn't reconsider. They didn't say it's simply not worth it. And for those who look to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, those who are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, they will never be disappointed. They will never say, no matter what the circumstance, it's not worth it. because the joy of the Lord is their strength. A joy that drives disappointments and discouragements far away. You see, beloved, when the circumstances and people of this life disappoint us and let us down, we are called to lift our hearts on high and remember what we have in Jesus Christ. We are to remember what we have that can never be taken away, that we can never lose. His purpose was to bring salvation. His purpose to transform lives. His purpose also has to do with His revelation. You see, the Magi had so little. They had a star. And then they were given a few words of Scripture. But God led them on such a wondrous journey. Today, beloved, we have the revelation of God inscripturated. We have the whole story. We know how it ends. But really, it's just the beginning, isn't it? Because it will never end for those who are in Christ Jesus. How glorious! What a wondrous journey from eternal death to everlasting life. And there's only two responses, only two reactions that anyone can have to the Christ of Christmas. And one is to reject Him, as the Jews of His day did. One is to reject Him because this Jesus Christ, many reject Him because this Jesus Christ does not fit their idea of a Messiah if they even think they need one. This Jesus Christ is a threat to this life for many. He is a threat to their enjoyment of this life. He is a threat to the things they hold dear in this life and therefore they are disturbed by the mention of Jesus Christ. They have no hope. The other response is to receive Him by faith. And those who look to Him in faith by the grace of God recognize their need and they recognize that their only hope is in the Christ of Christmas for this life and the next. And beloved, those who miss the joy of His first coming will miss the eternal blessing of His second coming. But those who celebrate the first coming of Christ today in worship will rejoice to see Him come again in glory. Beloved, we too are a surprising congregation. We too have been brought from so far, from death to life. We too have been led by His Spirit with the light of His truth. And we have heard of the glory of the Lord. We have heard of His promise fulfilled and it is a big deal. We have heard of the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And therefore, come. Bring the gift today and always of worship and adore Christ the King. Amen. Let's pray together. Father, once again, as we remember, as we remember the reason that our Lord Jesus Christ came, May we truly be humbled that He came into a sin-stained and sin-soaked world to put Himself through the hatred of wicked men, to give Himself for those who are so undeserving, to give Himself for us. And Father, though we are humbled in this day, because He came and humbled Himself to take on our human nature, yet we are filled with joy and gladness because of a great gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. And indeed, may that truth be that which undergirds our very life, our very celebration, our very reason for existing. And indeed, may it be that we too would be those who herald the coming of Christ the Lord. Hear our prayer. Bless us in this day, O Lord, and keep us safe in Your care. In Jesus' name we pray these things. Amen.