YOUR SAVIOUR IS BORN: LOOK FOR HIM

Sunday Sermon by APOSTLE JOSEPH K. ASSABIL (Area Head, COP, Agormanya)

If we do not move beyond our parochial interests and traditions to truly seek Jesus like the wise men did, we, like King Herod and the
Jews, will not find Him.
Main Text: Matthew 2:1-12 (Quoted in full at the bottom of this post) See also Luke 2:8-16

God's Plan through Abraham and His Descendants

If you study the scriptures, one realizes that God’s ultimate mission is to let the people know who He is, and how He can transform them. Whiles Abraham had not known Him, God revealed Himself to him (Abraham was the first person God revealed Himself to for that purpose). God promised Abraham a lot of things, key among which is "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12:3b). Jesus is from the lineage of Abraham so all who believe in Christ become descendants of Abraham (Gal. 3:14). Interestingly, Abraham's descendants, now commonly called the Jews or Israelis rather failed to recognize the Messiah when he came.

Was it hidden from them or they did not learn about it. No: The Scribes, the Pharisees, and indeed all the Jews expected a coming Messiah. It was such common knowledge and expectation, that even the Samaritan woman also knew of the coming of the Messiah (John 4:26,26).

The question is: How would you receive the Messiah; what is your response to Jesus?

A Tale of Three Responses

The Jews had been foretold of the coming Messiah, but did not know who the King of kings is. The wise men or magi from the east were not Jews and had lesser knowledge of who Jesus is. Yet they came looking for Him. ( If anyone sets a good goal, God will help him to reach it).They told king Herod, the Roman-backed king of the Jews that they were looking for a king who is born and is going to be the light of the world. Herod was alarmed by this because even if this new born king was not going to overthrow him, he might take the kingship from his lineage. So he ordered His death.

The Magi, Herod and the Jews represent the three main reactions to the coming of the Messiah:

A. The Magi or the wise men represent the receptive reaction: Though they knew little about him from the Scriptures, and what aroused their interest in Him could even be in relation to divination practices not approved by God, they sought Him.

1. They spent great effort and wealth looking for Him as for a precious gem of great value. They counted their effort worthless, compared to the great gain of finding Christ;
2. They found and followed the direction of the Scriptures. Though they had hitherto been led by a star, the Scriptures consolidated their hunch, and they traveled with more conviction.
3. When they found Jesus, they bowed before Him, a fitting obeisance to the one they have already cherished in their hearts as Lord of all. In worship, they counted themselves not worthy before Him
4. They gave their treasures to Him, indicating an offer of their hearts to Him.

B. King Herod represents the hypocritical reaction. He pretended to be very interested in Jesus, but but was all the while scheming against Him.

1. He sought Jesus as one seeks out a rival, that he might destroy Him
2. He caused the Scriptures to be searched, but not for his edification, but that he might find a way to destroy Christ. This is the Antichrist tendency of studying and being adept in the Scriptures, and outward Christian practices, but all towards a self-gratifying or diabolical end.
3. In false humility, he told the Magi to report back to him when they found Christ, that he may also go and worship Him. Beware of those who will make no effort at finding Him now, but claim they will serve Him when He has done so and so has in their lives! These are wolves in sheep's clothing.
4. In a rage of frustration, when the Magi did not return to him Herod ordered the death of all children of up to two years old in his kingdom, just to get rid of all possible Divi
   ne challenge to his domain. This represents the largely immoral quest of the world to get rid of every authority of God on earth: attacks on marriage, the family, the church, etc.

C. The Jewish leaders (Priests, Scribes, Pharisees, etc) represent the traditional reaction to the coming of the Messiah. They were supposed to know Him but remained blinded by their preoccupation with their traditions and rituals. (Jesus has come, but let life continue as usual)

1. They were unprepared for His coming, although it was to them that the knowledge of Him had hitherto been "officially" entrusted through the law and the prophets
2. They were uninterested in His coming, although the quest of the Magi sh
3. ould have prompted them to be. They were indifferent to the progressive revelation of God, as they stuck to Moses like a superior heritage.
4. They were blind witnesses to the mystery of Christ that they were supposed to be known for. Till today, the Jewish people in general do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. And this in many ways does not help the testimony of Christ on earth.

Quotable Observations:

• Revelation is progressive. God develops what He has already revealed, so we should not be limited or tie ourselves to just one phase of revelation as the Jews did.
• There is a difference between seeking God and going to church. You can be going to church but not really seeking God, just like the Jews did everything religious, but were not seeking Jesus, whom their Scriptures were all about.
• Jesus is the bread of life. If we can strive for our daily bread, and go through thick and thin to make ends meet, why can't we also struggle looking for Jesus who is life everlasting?
• Jesus did not come seeking honor, so we need not seek honour but rather seek to serve. To be a leader means to be a servant.
• When you go to a place where pride reigns, you can be sure that the Spirit of God is not there and that they are in the flesh.
• When you meet Jesus you cannot stand, that is why when the wise men from the east saw Jesus even as a baby they couldn't help but bow before Him in worship.
• A major proof of your having met Jesus is your humility.
• There is a huge difference between knowing Scripture and knowing God. The Jews knew the Scriptures, but they did not find Jesus, because they did not seek Him
• If the Bread of life; the Living water lives in you, nothing can get in your way
• Don't expect someone to go and seek Him to come and tell you: Look for Him yourself. Seek the Savior for He is Born!

Other Comments You May Meditate Through:

After worshiping Him they gave out their treasures, because if He is such a king then their possessions are nothing. For where your treasure is there your heart will also be. The Scribes and Jews made no effort to look for the Messiah. If you think you are a preacher of the word of God so you know God more, you're deceiving yourself., Look at the Scribes, Priests and Pharisees, they knew the scriptures so well but did not accept God's accredited Savior of the world. The Bible emphatically says, the people worship with their lips but their hearts are far away. There is a huge difference between knowing Scripture and knowing God. That was something the Scribes, Pharisees and Priests didn't realize. If you sow of the flesh, u will of the flesh reap corruption. Seeking God is done through humility not through big titles or congregation size.

Main Passage Read

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalemwith him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” (Matthew 2:1-12)