Stars, Part 3
Worship - Matthew 2
Matthew 2:1-2, 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, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him?”
Worship is more than a song – it’s sacrifice.
1 Peter 2:5, You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Worship is the sacrifice we make with our lips.
Hebrews 13:15, Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Worship is the sacrifice we make with our lives.
Romans 12:1, Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (NASB)
Matthew 2:9-11, When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen 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 exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
True worship is truly costly.
The wise men brought very costly gifts as an act of worship. Worship that costs nothing isn’t really worship. Worship is “all of me for all of Him.”
The wise men worshiped by offering gold, recognizing Jesus as our King. *In the ancient days, gold was always associated with royalty – it was the commodity most associated with kings. *
Numbers 24:17, A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel…”
Revelation 19:16, And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
The wise men worshiped by offering frankincense, recognizing Jesus as our Healer. In the ancient days, frankincense was used to make medicines and a healing ointment to be placed on wounds.
Isaiah 53:5, But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 61:1-2, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted…”
The wise men worshiped by offering myrrh, recognizing Jesus as our Savior. In the ancient days, myrrh was used to anoint and embalm the dead. Jesus came to die for our sins.
Matthew 1:21, And she [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Isaiah 53:6-7, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet he opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter…
Jesus was not born to live but rather to die. Christmas is not about a baby lying in a cradle; it’s about the Lamb of God hanging on a cross.