His Caring Kingship

Our annual theme is Enjoying Life in His Name. Biblical truth and living for the glory of God is serious stuff...but I really appreciate how the bible has so much delight, joy and rejoicing in it…

Following Jesus is marked by suffering…but it is also marked by a depth of joy that is unparalleled.

About a year ago, a friend shared with me Psalm 16:11 and it is a verse that has really impacted me to view God as my source of Joy… says,

Psalm 16:11 — 11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

We want to enjoy life in His name, because in His presence is fullness of Joy and from our Lord come pleasures forever…that joy, and that assurance that we can be in His presence for all eternity…comes from Believing Who Christ is….

As you may remember… John wrote,

John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

John articulated over and over again that the long-awaited Messiah is Jesus.

As we go back to the Birth of the Messiah we focus on the validity of Christ…as well as the Joy that comes from trusting in Jesus our Messiah.

So as we look at the Christmas story – Matthew 1-2 and explain how the Christmas story provides opportunity for us to focus on Jesus, Our Messiah.

As we do, we are going to find many reasons for rejoicing. We are going to find joy in …

#1. His family Tree (Matthew 1:1-17)

#2. His saving Purpose (Matthew 1:18-25)

#3. His caring Kingship (Matthew 2:1-12)

#4. His rescue from danger (Matthew 2:13-25)

As we think about this, I want to ask you if you have a favorite word to describe something fun, or good, that you enjoy…what is the best way to describe something you like…

• Wonderful

• Brilliant

• Super Duper

• Awesome

• Fantastic

How about this “Very Mega Joyful Rejoicing”…

• That is how The Apostle Matthew describes the Magi once they saw the star guiding them in to meet Jesus the King of the Jews….

• In our translation it says rejoiced exceedingly with great joy…

• Matthew uses the word Joy twice…once in verb form, and once in noun form…and he uses an adverb to amplify rejoice…and the adjective Mega to amplify joy…

• This rejoicing was a big deal…

We likewise are to respond with great joy and worship as we consider Jesus our Caring King.

Jesus, Our Messiah: His Caring Kingship

Please turn in your bibles to Matthew 2:1-12…that is on page 1 of the back section in the bible under the seat in front of you. [Read Matt. 2:1-12]

With our time this morning let look at 3 Reasons to Worship our King with great Joy

I. He is good in contrast to the worldly rulers

There is a clear contrast between Jesus, the King of the Jews and Herod the King…they are very different kings…Herod is a good example of how the world approaches leadership…

consider…

Herod’s characteristics

1. Herod governed with fear and brutality (v3)

When Herod heard about a child born king of the Jews, he was troubled…the text says all Jerusalem was troubled with him.

I don’t think the whole town was concerned that their beloved King Herod might lose his position.

More like a threatened angry despot is a danger to all around Him.

We will see later in the chapter the lengths Herod will go to try to stop any threat to the throne…but when you read about what Herod did, even before the star appeared, it is sickening.

John Macarthur points out in his commentary….

“Herod was also cruel and merciless. He was incredibly jealous, suspicious, and afraid for his position and power. Fearing his potential threat, he had the high priest Aristobulus, who was his wife Mariamne’s brother, drowned—after which he provided a magnificent funeral where he pretended to weep. He then had Mariamne herself killed, and then her mother and two of his own sons. Five days before his death (about a year after Jesus was born) he had a third son executed. One of the greatest evidences of his bloodthirstiness and insane cruelty was having the most distinguished citizens of Jerusalem arrested and imprisoned shortly before his death. Because he knew no one would mourn his own death, he gave orders for those prisoners to be executed the moment he died—in order to guarantee that there would be mourning in Jerusalem.” ^[1]

That is next level cruel.…I was talking to Pastor Green, and he pointed out that The Jewish Historian Josephus said/wrote, that it is better to be Herod’s pig than his son…and there is a word play in Greek as son and pig sound similar in Greek.

Herod was a cruel king…but in the worlds eyes...he was effective…As I was reading about Herod…some pointed out he was one of the only people able to bring a stability to a region that is extremely volatile…

He was very effective in keeping everyone in line…because He killed anyone who not just got out of line…but even those in His own family who might be a threat to Him.

So when all Jerusalem was troubled, this indicated how dangerous an angry threatened Herod was…

That is one mark of worldly leaders…they use anger, power and force to get people to do what they want.

Herod used any means to get what he wanted…in fact..

1. Herod used scripture for his own gain (v4)

What is fascinating is how quickly and accurately the text alludes to Herod determining the Messiah’s birthplace…

Herod gathered all the chief priests, and the scribes and asks about the Messiah…They quote to him from the OT where the Messiah is going to come from…Bethlehem in Judea…

Herod has no interest in scripture unless it serves his own ends…

I am reminded about when Satan tried to use scripture against Jesus when he was tempting him…

• it is so sad when a leader just wants to refence the bible to win points with a crowd, or when anyone pulls scripture out of context to make it fit with their own agenda or in this case with Herod to go to the scriptures, so he can use that information to protect Himself and kill others.

In addition,

1. Herod was dishonest and deceptive (v8)

Herod is very clever and cunning…

He actually historically did some pretty clever things to ingratiate himself with the people he ruled…in addition to being incredibly brutal.

He was known as Herod the great…because he did a lot of great things in the world eyes….especially building things.

He was not Jewish, he was a Edomite…

• So he was from the region south of the dead sea…

• and Edomites were descendants of Esau…the twin brother of Jacob…so there is a family connection, but they were constantly fighting with Israel….

• Herod married a Jewish woman (who he later killed) to be in a better position to rule over the Jews…

• He also gave back tax money at times, bought food for the poor, and built great public structures like the temple, as well as the massive fortress as Masada…

• He built theaters, race tracks and other places of entertainment for the people…

• He injected Samaria with resources, he built the port city of Caesarea…to honor Cesar Augusta…

• You see Herod’s Father governed Judea under the roman occupation and Herod was able to through his father get control of Galilee…so he was very good at political maneuvering with Rome as well as with the people..

He was very capable…and one wonders how many back dealing, blackmails, and secret dealing he had done over the years…and here is one more…He is going to secretly have the Magi do his work for him, find the child and report back….

Herod comes off as various pious and wanting to worship the child…but he has wicked self centered plans…

Worldly leaders often tell you what you want to hear, but just seek to use you for their own selfish plans…Christlike leaders speak the truth in love.

Followers of Christ speak the truth in love…because our savior speaks the truth in love….

We have a very different king than any earthly ruler, esp Herod, the so called great…lets consider some of…

The Messiah’s Characteristics

The Prophet Isaiah speaks to what the Messiah is going to be like…our King is very different…our King truly is Great.

1. Isaiah 9:6 — 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

With all the turmoil in our world…it is so helpful for me to remember that only Christ can have the government rest on His shoulder…only He can govern a people where justice and mercy, truth and Love can be balanced perfectly…He is the only one who can bring peace among rebellious sinners.

Bottom Line….our King is caring…one passage that highlights that so well is…

1. Matthew 11:28–30 — 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Leaders often pile up huge burdens on those below them…Jesus seek to give us rest…He took the heaviest burden for us at the cross.

He is a gentle and humble ruler, even though He is the creator and sustainer of the universe...

• He is literally holding every molecule in the world together, and yet he is not going to hold that over you…

• He is going to give you important reasonability as you follow Him…but it is not going to weigh you down like the rulers of this world.

Our king is caring because ….

II. He will shepherd His people

He is a servant king

1. Matthew 2:6 — 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Shepherd are not viewed as exalted in many cultures …

• The Egyptians did not think highly of them…and I believe that while the 3 Magi were welcomed to Herod’s court…

• …the Shepherd’s that also visited the Christ child probably don’t have a standing invite at the palace….yet a shepherds care for their flock, their commitment to lead the flock, to be near them, to care for them, to protect them, to feed them…that is personified by our King.

Mathew seems to quote from a couple OT sources…one of the aspects that is focused on is how small a clan the Messiah came from….

1. Micah 5:2 — 2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Just like the mustard seed that grows to a great forest, or a few loaves can be multiplied to feed 5000, so the ruler of the universe will come forth from a small town…

This town used to be called Ephrah or Ephrathah in the OT…it was renamed Bethlehem after the conquest of the promised Land under Joshua….

• the name Bethlehem means house of bread….and it is so fitting that the one who is the bread of life, the bread from heaven…

• …is the one who can provide true nourishment for the whole world…comes from a little town called the house of bread.

When I think about Christ coming from the house of bread…I just think about how giving our king is…He is so powerful…and yet…

He uses His authority to serve

All those who follow Christ…all those who serve The great caring King Jesus…well they are to be marked with his same character….

1. Matthew 20:25–28 — 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

He doesn’t just serve with the extra time he had…He served us by laying down His life for us and taking the wrath of God in our place…

[Gospel] - If you have never trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior…will you accept that you need him to serve you…will you admit your sin and accept that He used His power and authority to serve you and give His life as a ransom for you…to buy you back from the slave market of sin…and bring you into His kingdom as a son, a daughter… an heir of eternal life.

Believing friend…do you find joy in serving because you have been served by the king of the universe, by the Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, the Eternal Father, our Prince of Peace.

Does that move you to rejoice exceedingly, with great joy…or Very Mega Joyful Rejoicing

We have a good king…in contrast to Pharaoh, In contrast to Herod, or Ahaz, Manasseh, or Tiglath Pileser, or Pilot, or Cesar, or Nero…or any other leader in all human history…we have a good King who cares for His people.

In addition to his servant leadership as a Shepherd…we worship Him because

III. He is the legitimate/rightful King

There is something important not just about the position of power you have, but the way you get it…did you lie, cheat, steal…did you take it by force…or are you the rightful heir…

Jesus is legitimate…

He was born King

1. Matthew 2:2 — 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

The Magi recognized He was born King…that a great leader was here on earth…

The magi were from East….

• usually in the bible …when EAST is mentioned…nothing good follows…

• the Assyrians are to the East, The Babylonians are to the East…

• Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden and an Angel posted to the East…

• East is Bad…but the Messiah in the rightful King…the King of Kings and Lord of Lords…He is going to be recognized as such even by those from a place that historically have not been good to the Jews….

He is recognized as the rightful King from those far off…That is an amazing part of God’s sovereign plan…

…and it is amazing He is able to bring those from the East to come and bow down before Him….even as a baby.

I think the legitimacy of Christ as king is important as it signifies a stability, that is part of God’s great plan of redemption…

• in contrast to the conflict, bloodshed and turmoil that often happens, when whoever is most ruthless, most strong can just fight their way to grab the throne.

Jesus does not have to grab the throne…

• it is His not just by birth right…but because of Who He is…God in the Flesh. He is born King of the Jews…He is not born to become King of the Jews…He simply is…as a baby…and the only response is to bow down and worship Him.

The Lord is gracious to show us in various ways that He is worthy of our worship…

He was authenticated by miracles (star)

Matthew 2:9 — 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.

There are so many miracles that affirm and demonstrate Jesus divinity that come later in the gospels…

• but we already saw that He was born of a virgin….

• now we see that the star that drew the wise men, or the astronomers from East is now stopped over the place…leading them right to the Christ.

When they saw the Star…

• That is when they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy…

• we don’t know if they lost track of the star after the palace and it reappeared, but what we know is that it guided them right to where they wanted to go…So they can worship Him.

He is the fulfillment of God’s plan as He is from the Royal Line of David

John 7:42 — 42 “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

Bethlehem is small…but it is the Royal City...it is the city of David…

• and so for the Messiah who will sit on the throne of David forever…must come from the city of David…

We are seeing with more and more clarity How God’s sovereign plan to provide a caring King for His people is in action.

• Even good leaders in the bible fall short and fail…but God is our King...

• and He came down to take on Human flesh and be our King as that was His plan from the very beginning to walk with Us, to be with us, to provide for us…

• so that we can reign and rule with Him, as his image bearers, His ambassadors, as His citizens, ultimately as His children…

Because Christ was legitimate…you and I can by trusting in Christ also be legitimate heirs in the Kingdom of God.

He can even take those who are outside of the people of God…outside of the family of David…and bring them into His forever family…

We see a taste of that as…

Even Gentiles bow down before Him

Matthew 2:11 — 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Worship is a theme in the book of Matthew….He has repeated that word already 3 times in just 12 verses…

This desire to worship started when the Magi saw the Star back in their own home…we know they are from the East…we assume that is Babylon but we don’t know for sure….

What is amazing is that they saw HIS start in the east…they recognized something from the star that a king was to be born…

We don’t know if there were some vestiges of when Daniel was in Babylon and some OT scrolls may have influenced these magi…

• Something from the Jewish Captivity in that area of the country that influenced their view that a king would come from Israel and that may influence how they look at astrological events…

But what is clear…is that people from the East…a direction that usually brought death and suffering to God’s people…is bringing people who are going to worship the Christ and bring His gifts of great value…and ultimately bow down and worship.

Our God is so caring…He loves His enemies…He brings those who are far off to be near to Him…He works to draw His enemies to Him for reconciliation…We too were once far off…

Romans 5:10–11 — 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

We were Enemies who are reconciled all because of the Care of our King...who chose not to crush us…but to rescue us…

Ephesians 2:13 — 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

We now exalt in God, because we too have been brought near by our Caring King ….

• we worship Him with Joy inexpressible…because we see Him as more valuable than anything else in our lives…He is our treasure…

The Magi brought gifts to emphasize the honor of the King…

• Some say The gifts represent various things…but what we know for sure is that the gifts had great worth, great value….and these magi saw the star…recognized the King of the Jews was born, and they traveled all the way to bow down and worship and recognize the great value of the Messiah, the King of the Jews…Jesus of Nazareth born in the city of David…Jesus the Christ.

May we too Worship our King and rejoice exceedingly with great joy because of his great love and care for us.

^[1] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1985). Matthew (Vol. 1, pp. 25–26). Chicago: Moody Press.