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Christmas Day Worship 2023 : “Exceedingly great Joy”

Text: Matthew 2; 1 Peter 1
25 December 2023

INTRODUCTION

1. Christmas is a Season of Joy

a) Celebrating the Advent of the Lord Jesus
b) Commemorating His Coming
i) As Prophet
ii) As Priest
iii) As King who brings Salvation and Redemption

2. The Joy of Wise Men

a) It is a story of profound significance
b) The Joy they discovered is worth studying carefully

THE STORY OF THE WISE MEN

1 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,

2 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.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 2:1-3

1. The Source of Inspiration

a) In their knowledge
b) In the Star that was revealed
c) In their faith

2. The Same news

a) This Troubled King Herod
b) He could not countenance the appearance of “the King of the Jew”

GATHERING MORE INFORMATION

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Matthew 2:4-6

1. Herod knew he lacked deep knowledge

2. He gathered all the chief priests and scribes

a) They were the scholars
b) They had vast knowledge of the Scriptures

3. They knew of an ancient prophecy

a) That a Ruler would be sent by God
b) He would be the Shepherd of Israel
c) This Messiah- Ruler would be born in Bethlehem

4. But the scholars had a problem

a) They possessed knowledge
b) But they did not have faith

THE DECEITFUL PLOY OF KING HEROD

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

Matthew 2:7-8

1. He called for the Wise Men

a) He wanted to know when the Star appeared
b) He sent them to Bethlehem

2. He asked them

a) To find the “King of the Jews”
b) He too would like to come and offer worship

SEEING THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM

9 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.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11 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.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Matthew 2:9-12

1. The Star

a) It was seen again
b) It went before them
c) It stood in a house in Bethlehem

2. The Response of the Wise Men

a) They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy
b) They saw the young child
c) They fell down and worshipped Him
d) They presented gifts to Him
i) Gold
ii) Frankincense
iii) Myrrh

3. A Divine warning

a) They must not return to King Herod
b) The wicked king had no intention to come and offer worship
c) They heeded this word of warning and returned to their home land

JOY INEXPRESSIBLE AND FULL OF GLORY

8 Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

1. The great joy of the Wise Men

a) It is not confined to them
b) It is not an exclusive thing

2. Joy through faith in the Lord Jesus

a) We may indeed rejoice
b) With Joy inexpressible
c) It is a Joy that is full of glory

CHRISTMAS JOY

1. It is given by the Lord Jesus Christ

2. It comes with genuine faith in God’s Salvation

3. This Joy

a) Genuine
b) Great
c) Glorious