“THREE RESPONSES TO JESUS”
MATTHEW 2:1-11

I. Introduction
How many of you, in the last few weeks, have heard someone say, “Happy Holidays”? On the other hand, how many of you have heard someone say, “Merry Christmas”?

It seems that virtually everyone is interested in the holidays. Just think of all the fun stuff. There’s time off work, office parties, gatherings of friends and families, food, decorations, lights, and presents. Then there’s Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Charlie Brown, the Grinch, and Ebenezer Scrooge, to name but a few. And by the time the holidays have past even the Grinch and Scrooge are happy and having fun.

“Let’s see now, have I missed anything? I sure hope not.” Because the spirit of the season is to be all inclusive, isn’t it? I mean, we’re continually reminded that we’re to be tolerant of everyone and everything because we’re a diverse and multicultural society.

In our generation alone we’ve been treated to a new holiday called Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days beginning on December 26 and ending on January 1, during which time the “seven principles of blackness” are reiterated and celebrated. It was invented in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, founder of the United Slaves, a violent rival of the Black Pan-thers. In 1971 Karenga was convicted of sexual assault and spent four years of a ten-year sentence in prison. Soon after his release, Karenga – a secular humanist – was awarded a Ph.D. for a dissertation on Afro-American Nationalism. In 1994 he was awarded a second Ph.D. for his Study in Classical African Ethics. Today Dr. Karenga chairs the black studies department at California State University at Long Beach.

For those of you who are familiar with “Seinfeld” you may remember an episode dedicated to those unfortunate people who couldn’t find a December holiday that pleased them. So they invented “Festivus” – “a Festivus for the rest of us.” It even had its own traditions. At Festivus family and friends would gather together around the Festivus pole for the pur-pose of airing their grievances.

Obviously Festivus is a joke, but we’ve come to the point in this country where if someone wanted to take Festivus seriously, they certainly couldn’t be questioned. We are continually reminded that we need to treat everyone’s religion with great honor and respect. That is, as long as the religion in question isn’t biblical Christianity and the One for whom it is named.

It seems that non-Christians will do anything to steer people away from God’s only begotten Son and the celebration of His coming to earth to seek and to save the lost. As such we are continually pressured to paint what most of us know as the Christmas season with a very broad brush. At least, that’s what the “thinkers” and the scholars tell us.
After all, doesn’t everyone have their own personal “holiday needs”? University of Texas professor Dr. Penne Restad says, “Historically, it has been a struggle for America to find meaningful holidays that include a sufficiently broad number of people. But Christmas seems to have many modes of interpretation upon which we can set our own personal needs. Christmas has become as much a celebration of community as it has a celebration of religion.”

Ron Barrier of the American Atheists says, “As a free thinker, I believe the holidays are a great tradition regardless of the underlying basis for them.” By the way, it is these same American Atheists who put up billboards like the one this year that says, “Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is to skip church! I’m too old for fairy tales.”

So the bottom line is this. Many Americans are just fine with Christmas as long as you don’t limit it to Christ. Many more are pleased to completely exclude Him. They like the festivi-ties, the trimmings, and all the multicultural gibberish, but not the “Reason for the Season.”

Today there are far too many people who draw the line when it comes to Jesus. To be clear, this is not a recent phenomenon. Just as there was no room for Him at the inn in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, the baby Jesus finds there is no welcome mat out for Him in most places today either.

So the issue for us this morning is not about people’s response to Christmas at all; it’s really about people’s response to Christ.
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II. Text
This morning, on this third Sunday in Advent, I want us to take a brief look at three totally different responses to Christ. The first two are found in Matthew, the third will be seen in Revelation. Turn with me to Matthew 2.
*Matthew 2:1-11
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
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.”
3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And gathering together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet,
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.’” (Micah 5:2)
7 Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.”
9 And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was.
10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

In Matthew 2 there are two very different and distinct responses to the news of Jesus’ birth. The first response is that of an unbeliever.
1. Unbelievers do not respond well to the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
*Matthew 2:3a
3a And when Herod, the king heard it, he was troubled…

“…troubled” is a classic understatement. Herod the Great (as he is known in history) was far more than troubled. He had reason to be. The Magi had told him they were there to worship the (true) king of the Jews. Herod wasn’t the rightful king of Israel. He wasn’t a descendant of King David nor was he even a descendant of Jacob (Israel). In fact, he wasn’t a Jew at all. He was an Edomite, a descendant of Esau. He had literally purchased his throne from Rome and consequently, he was hated by the Jews.

So if this newborn baby was the rightful heir to Israel’s throne, then Herod had a problem. Jesus’ presence was not bringing comfort to most people. It was beginning to stir things up. Some things don’t change, do they?
*Matthew 2:4
4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born.

Although Herod was an unbeliever he was familiar enough with the Messianic prophecies in the OT to make a connection between the one “born King of the Jews” in v. 2, and the Jew-ish Messiah, the Christ. The Jews had always believed their Messiah would eventually be born. So Herod called upon the religious leaders to tell him what the prophecies said. He wanted to know, “Where is this king supposed to be born?”
*Matthew 2:5
5 And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet…”

They knew it because of Micah’s prophecy made 700 years earlier… “But as for you, Beth-lehem…too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel…” This news probably concerned Herod even more. Bethlehem was nearby, not more than six or seven miles from his own palace. And he knew the Jews expected their Messiah soon.

Herod’s counselors would most likely have told him to expect a powerful military ruler (like Alexander the Great) so it isn’t surprising that he would want the baby dead.
• “Do you know anyone who claims to be a Christian but refuses to place Jesus on the throne of their lives?”
• “Do you know anyone who thinks talk of God and even Christmas is just fine as long as you don’t bring Jesus Christ into the conversation?”

2. Unbelievers do not respond well to the claims regarding Jesus’ birth.
Herod’s reaction was not only emotional (“I don’t want to lose my throne.”), it was intellectual as well. While he was aware of the prophecies of a coming Messiah, Herod was thoroughly ignorant when it came to the deeply held religious convictions of the people over whom he ruled. If he had understood anything about them, he would have known that the OT spoke of the throne belonging exclusively to a descendant of Jacob…and he wasn’t one.
Genesis 49:10
10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah (Jacob’s son), nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” (“Shiloh” is a Hebrew idiom for “Messiah.” It means “rest giver.”)

If Herod had understood anything about the OT, he would have known about the star pointing the way to their Messiah.
Numbers 24:17 (Balaam speaking)
17 “I see Him but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a star shall come forth from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel…”

If Herod understood anything about the OT, he would have known of Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem, here repeated in…
*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.’”
• “Do you know anyone who claims to be a believer or appears to be religious, but is profoundly biblically illiterate and even hostile to scriptural truth?”
• “Do you know anyone who has no clue that Jesus Christ is literally God in human flesh?” (Immanuel) (The women’s Bible Study is currently immersed in a study of Jesus’ deity.)

3. Unbelievers do not respond well to the call for a proper response to Jesus’ birth.
*Matthew 2:7-8, 13
7 Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him. (What he meant was, “Let me know where He is so I can destroy Him”)
13 And when (the Magi) had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”

There are many who say they don’t hate Jesus. They claim to be neutral. But Jesus Himself said that such claims of neutrality about Him are impossible.
Luke 11:23
23 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.”

There is no such thing as neutrality when it comes to Jesus Christ. However, there are many who, like Herod, hate Christ, but are dishonest about it. They accept the Christmas story intellectually. They pretend to worship Him. But they have no intention of obeying Him or submitting themselves to His Lordship. (many want a Savior – few want a Lord)
• “Do you know anyone who has time for everything else this season except Jesus?”
• “Do you know anyone who claims to believe in Jesus but refuses to humble himself, accept Jesus’ sacrifice, repent, and put their faith and hope in Him and Him alone?”

We’ve seen the unbeliever’s response to Jesus.
• They do not respond well to the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
• They do not respond well to the claims regarding Jesus’ birth.
• They do not respond well to the call for a right response to Jesus’ birth.

What about the response of the true believer?
1. Believers respond with great anticipation at Jesus’ birth.
*Matthew 2:1-2, 11
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
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.”
11 And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshipped Him…

No one knows exactly who these men were, but several ideas have been suggested over the centuries. They were most likely wealthy Gentiles from Parthia, northeast of Babylon.
(This would be northern Iran today.) Their title, Magi, implies that they were royalty and had great knowledge of the natural sciences – astronomy among them. Clearly, whoever they were, they knew far more about the Hebrew Scriptures than did Herod. But how?

They may have had contact with Jewish scholars who had earlier migrated to the east. They may have had copies of the some of the OT writings from the Babylonian captivity. In any case, they certainly had knowledge of the prophecy of the star from the Pentateuch (Torah).

With regard to the star itself, modern astronomy often tells us there was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 B.C. which could have accounted for it. Some astronomers believe it may have been a supernova, an exploding star that increases in brightness and then shrinks back to its earlier intensity. Either or those seem somewhat plausible until you read v. 9.
*Matthew 2:9 (referring to the Magi)
9 And having heard the king (Herod), they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was.

Astronomical conjunctions and super novas do not move like the star in Matthew 2:9! So some believe “the star” was actually the Shekinah glory of God, revealed over Jerusalem and then Bethlehem to lead the Magi. It was the Shekinah that led God’s chosen people through the wilderness and hovered over the mercy seat on Ark of the Covenant.

By the way, the Bible never tells us just how many Magi there were. We sing, “We three kings…” but their actual number is unknown. The idea that there were three may have come from the tradition that they were representatives of the three people groups descended from Noah’s sons: Ham, Shem, and Japheth. That’s a nice story but it has no basis in Scripture.

In any case, by the eighth century, it was generally accepted that there were three. So they were given names. Have you ever heard of Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar? Just like their number, their supposed names are pure fiction.

But regardless of their numbers or their individual identities, the point is this: The Magi responded rightly to Jesus’ birth. They sought Him out, and they and gave Him gifts. They were truly “wise” men.
• “Are you so wise this Christmas? Are you seeking after Him?”
• “Are you convinced that, no matter what you may give or receive this Christmas, He Himself is the Perfect Gift?”

2. Believers respond with hearty acceptance of the truth of Jesus’ birth.
*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.”
They got it! They believed the Child was in fact the Messiah so clearly prophesied in the OT. They were convinced. Remember, they weren’t Jews but they believed the Hebrew Scriptures and they acted on their belief. This is a classic definition of volitional belief. This is nothing less than saving faith.
• “Are you biblically literate and becoming more so all the time?”
• “Are you living a life that displays your conviction that Jesus is who He says he is?”

3. Believers respond with joyful worship at Jesus’ birth.
*Matthew 2:10-11a
10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11a And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshipped Him…

Consider the meaning of some of the words here in these two verses. In v. 10 the words, “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy,” literally mean “exulting in the gladness of a very great emotional magnitude.” Simply put, “These guys were thrilled.” The Amplified Bible actually says it that way. “When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy.”
*Matthew 2:11b
11b …and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frank-incense and myrrh.

They humbly submitted themselves, they worshipped Christ, and they offered Him the most valuable things they had.
• “Have you found time for Jesus this Christmas?”
• “Have you offered Jesus the most valuable thing you have this Christmas?”

So these are the true believer’s responses to Jesus.
• Believers respond with great anticipation at Jesus’ birth.
• Believers respond with hearty acceptance of the truth of Jesus’ birth.
• Believers respond with joyful worship at Jesus’ birth.
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Earlier I said that I wanted to talk about three responses to Jesus. In Matthew 2:1-11 we’ve looked at two of them. The first was that of utter hatred and contempt for our Lord. We saw that in Herod’s response to Jesus’ birth. He hated the very thought of it and would do any-thing to destroy the Child. The second response was that of the Magi. They believed God’s Word about who Jesus was, they sought Him out, and they worshipped Him.

But what about the third response to Jesus? Turn to Revelation 3:15 where He is speaking to the church at Laodicea. The seven churches of Revelation give ua a picture of the Christian church from its birth at Pentecost to its removal from this earth at the Rapture. Laodicea, the seventh and final church, is representative of the church’s predominant spiritual condition at the end of the age just before Jesus’ return.
The fact is that Laodicea is a church in name only. It neither hates Jesus nor loves Him. It loves its ritual, but it is indifferent to Jesus.
*Revelation 3:15-17 (Jesus speaking)
15 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot.
16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.’”

Is this not a picture of much of the professing church today? Is this not a picture of many professing Christians today? Using the metaphors from this passage we see that those who are cold reject Jesus, those who are hot love Him and have been transformed by Him, but those who are lukewarm neither openly reject Him nor truly embrace Him. They are hypo-crites who simply do not care. They cling to their religiosity and nothing else. And no one is harder to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ – no one!

In v. 16 the word spit is “ĕmĕō.” It means “to vomit.” Jesus says that the people He describes as “lukewarm” make Him so sick to His stomach that will vomit them out of His mouth. How descriptive (and how frightening) is that?

Listen, if you’ve rejected Jesus, you can still come to saving faith. If you’ve received Him, you have already come to saving faith. But if you’re indifferent to Him – if you don’t care, or if you think you can just take Him or leave Him – that is fatal. Even though you may think you’re alive, you’re spiritually dead. Or to use Jesus’ words from Revelation 3:17, “…you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”
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III. Conclusion
So there are the three responses to Jesus. You can be like Herod, coldly rejecting the Christ of Christmas. You can be like the Laodiceans, ignoring Him and not caring about Him one way or the other. Or you can be like the Magi, recognizing who He is, believing it in your heart, and offering Him the very best that you have. Which of those three responses is yours this morning?

You say you have nothing to give Him? Buy you do! You have the only thing He really wants. It’s you! That’s it. It’s you. Jesus wants you to give yourself to Him. In return, He will give you everything – including eternal life. Will you thank Him for His gift of salva-tion in Christ and, like the Magi, worship Him this Christmas?
2 Corinthians 9:15
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
~ Pray ~