Knowing Is Not Faith (Matthew 2:1-12)
Rev. William L. Barron, December 6, 2020Part of the Advent Series: Christ Coming To Build His Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
At the advent of Jesus, the prophecy of Micah had come true. Justice was absent from the land; leaders did not tell the truth. Their interest was in self-aggrandizement. They acted according to their own wisdom and did not seek God’s ways. However, the golden age prophesied to take place after the exile was at hand. God would send His son, to come to earth as a baby born in Bethlehem, David’s home town. Bethlehem was a small, insignificant place. It was Boaz’s home town as well. God has a way of tying many things together to bring about His will. There were four entities involved in Jesus coming to earth: King Herod, the priests and scribes, the people of Jerusalem and the wise men or maji. Strangely, the only ones to act upon what they knew about Christ were the maji, used by God as an example of instruments to bring Him glory. All four entities were called to confess Jesus as King and as a mighty shepherd of His people who would die to redeem them. The maji were examples of stewardship and commitment. We must ask what our response should be. Will we be apathetic toward what we know? Will we sacrifice our wealth and our time to bring glory to God’s name? Is our faith genuine?
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « The Miraculous Birth Of Jesus | None | Ezekiel Chapter 19 » |
Matthew 2:1–12 (Listen)
2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
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. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
(ESV)