https://www.bible.com/events/49539159
Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus
The Gifts Part 4
Gold for The King
We are continuing our Advent teaching series called “The gifts”. Throughout this series we have studied the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold.
On their own these gifts were very valuable, but more than their value, they tell us a story about who Jesus is.
Why did these men bring a small child yellow rocks, perfume, and spices What did they mean? What can we learn from the story they tell.
These are The Gifts.
Today, we are going to look at the gift of Gold. Just one ounce of gold would cost you about $4500
Throughout the bible and in ancient times gold is often the gift given to kings. When the Magi placed gold before Jesus, they essentially declared: “Jesus is King”.
As we read the story of the Magi in Matthew Chapter 2, Matthew has made it a point to tell us the story of two kings. King Herod and King Jesus.
Matthew is telling the story of two kings, and he sets them in contrast for us to see. King Herod, a worldly king, embodying a life ruled by desire. And King Jesus. The king who has come to lay down his life for his friends, for you and for me.
There is really only one question facing you in this morning’s message: who’s your king?
Matthew 2:1-3
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 when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
The Magi came looking for a ruler, a leader and commander. The person in charge and calling the shots. They came to worship the King.
And at first, all of that might seem just fine to us. But there was just one problem… There was already a king of the Jews, and there can only be ONE king.
Matthew introduces us to King Herod. He is known to most as Herod the Great. He was King of the Jews, or so he thought.
He came to power in the region of Jerusalem around the year 37 BC. You could say he was a talented politician, even as a person of Jewish decent, he knew how to win favor with the Roman Government.
But for all the things he accomplished, he is perhaps remembered most for his rabid jealousy and savage tyranny. Herod would stop at nothing to eliminate any threat to his own power.
So, it’s easy to imagine then why King Herod was disturbed or troubled at the news of the Magi when they were asking about a NEW King.
He was disturbed because he thought HE was the king of the Jews. This bloodthirsty king was troubled and ready to attack any threat to his own rule.
Matthew 2:4-6
When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah 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 shepherd my people Israel.’”
This prophecy from the Old Testament, not only gives us where the new king would be born, it tells us what he will be like. It says, “a ruler”, that’s the same idea as king, a ruler who will SHEPHERD my people.
This is King Jesus. A King who came to serve and not to be served, but to give his life as a ransom for many.
Two kings set in stark contrast before us, as the story continues.
Matthew 2:7-11
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 search carefully 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 the star they had seen when it rose 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 worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
These wise men, they used to give kings advise, they were the ones the kings came to when they needed help, when they couldn’t figure something out. In some ancient cultures, the Wise Men would be the ones who chose and installed the king. These guys knew kings.
And when they encounter Jesus, they know that he is not just a king, he is THE KING. And when they bow down to the ground and offer him gifts, they answered our question for this text this morning: Who is your King?
Matthew has crafted this contrast of two kings, in such a way as to ask you and i to consider that very question: Who is your king?
The truth for us today is that we are being ruled by something. Right now, there is something at the very core of who you are, that is calling the shots. And there really are only two choices.
Either your life is ruled by King Jesus, or you are ruled by your desires, and the things of this world, just like Herod. There is no middle ground, there cannot be two kings.
Have you surrendered your life to the Kingship, the authority of Jesus Christ? Or are you one for a throne like Herod? Living by your own authority and your own desires?
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
King Jesus, gentle and humble in heart, is inviting all who will, to come and find rest for their soul. To know a life lived under his authority, with rest, not turmoil, in your soul.
If you take that invitation seriously, you begin to recognize, that Jesus as King is no easy task.
King Jesus has given us a model prayer to pray, to help us out in this journey, maybe you have heard it called, “The Lords Prayer”
Our father in heaven hallowed be your name, may your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
In response today, we are going to pray that together, all those who want to declare that Jesus is King.
Merry Christmas! Jesus is King!