Three Kings | Matthew 2:1-12, 7:7-11

Maybe you’re on a journey this Christmas. You are looking for hope. You’re looking for faith, for joy, for peace. I want you to know all of these things can be found when you find Jesus.  I’m so excited to kick off with this week’s series, Wise Men Still Seek Him. Today we’re digging into the story of the wise men seeking Jesus, and hope you walk away soaking in the hope, faith, joy, and peace that He has for you.

Special thanks to Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, for bringing us the Bible For Busy People this Christmas season!

Show Notes:

• Who Is Jesus? Let us introduce you!
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Transcription:

Maybe you’re on a journey this Christmas. You are looking for hope. You’re looking for faith, for joy, for peace. I want you to know all of these things can be found when you find Jesus. It’s the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica, your host and wise men still seek Him. I’ve always loved those words because they’re so true. Even if you don’t know much about the Lord, I bet you’ve heard the Christmas story. You know about the wise men who came seeking God’s son and bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and all this week, you and I are going to look at people in the Bible who looked for Jesus and found what they were seeking. We begin, of course, with the kings because it is the Christmas season, so join me now in Matthew chapter two beginning in verse one.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” 3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

Now, in case you don’t know, pitch a small tent here. King Herod was very evil, and you’re going to see how God guides these three wise men who so want to meet his Son. Verse nine now.

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

You know what I love about that story is that it says they were warned in a dream, and so I wonder, did God give all the kings the same dream? Did he give two of them the dream, and the other one’s going, Hey, what about me? God works in mysterious ways. He did then he does today. But he is not hiding himself from you. If you’re listening to this podcast right now, I believe that is the God of the universe reaching out through his Word, the Bible, to say, “Hey, I want to know you. I want this Christmas to be the most meaningful you’ve ever experienced.” He wants to give you joy and peace and hope. Our God gives good gifts. And on that note, turn with me over to Matthew chapter seven, beginning in verse seven. This is the Lord Jesus now all grown up, teaching us that if we keep seeking him, we’ll find him. Jesus says,

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Isn’t that beautiful?

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

Indeed, it’s a rhetorical question, but I hope you’re already feeling peace in your heart, because I believe the Lord God who calls himself and who is the prince of peace, wants to give it to you. I hope that the God who maybe all of your life has felt very far away is drawing close to you right in this moment. He wants to give you the best gift, the gift of knowing Him.

When the wise men arrived in Bethlehem and they found the newborn son of God, their inclination, their immediate was worship. And maybe that’s what you’re feeling in your heart today. Worship is a gift you give back to God. Somebody once said worship is giving God his breath back. He made you. He made you the beautiful creature, the handsome creature, you are with all of your quirks. He wired you a certain way to give unique gifts to this world, and he understands that you’re not perfect and that you’re a sinner. Me too, both hands up. But that’s why God sent his son Jesus to be born, to grow up and live a sinless life, and to die on the cross for your sins and mine. And then to rise again. Greatest rescue mission in the history of the world. Greatest love story ever told, and we are part of it. We’re the one he came for. He loves each of us as if there were only one of us. That’s what St. Augustine wrote, and I couldn’t agree with that more heartily this Christmas. I invite you to seek Jesus. You’re going to find him. Alright. Until next time, you are really loved.

Thank you for making space to study the Bible with me today. If you feel something stirring in your soul, that’s the God who made you, saying, I love you and I want to know you. It’s what Christmas is all about. Jesus came for you so that your soul would know its worth. He came to bring joy to the world, and to your world. It’s the most beautiful love story ever written, and it’s true. It’s the greatest rescue mission in history, and it was for you. If you want to respond to that stirring in your soul, to know Jesus a little better, please take a moment and check out our show notes, where you’ll find lots of hope and encouragement for your journey.

The Bible for Busy people is brought to you this Christmas season by Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission. Every day and every night, their team is on a mission to share the good news with our neighbors who are homeless. Like the angels who came on the night, Jesus was born. They make sure that every person who walks through the doors of the Mission knows that there is hope because Jesus came, and how much He loves them. Every person they meet on the street encounters the love of Christ through a friendly smile, a warm blanket, a cup of cocoa, and an invitation to take that next step toward healing from addiction or mental illness. If you want to be part of making sure every soul knows its worth in Seattle this Christmas, volunteer or donate at ugm.org. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

This podcast is one branch of a Christmas tree called Purposely, a network designed to connect you with life-giving conversations, and to inspire you to find and live out God’s purpose for your life. If you’ve got a pulse, you’ve got a purpose.