Zechariah's Song | A Sermon on Luke 1:68-79

Introduction
As we look at the biblical songs of Christmas, we come to Zechariah, father of John the Baptist.

Zechariah was a priest—an older man who had served faithfully for many years. In this story, his priestly division was scheduled for its week of service in the Temple. Each division took turns throughout the year, and during that week one priest was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and burn incense before the Lord. This was a great honor.

So they cast lots, and Zechariah’s was chosen. You can picture them drawing sticks—like deciding who gets the last piece of pie at Thanksgiving! Some might say it was chance, but Scripture makes it clear: God chose him. That’s why they cast lots—to discover whom God had appointed.

Zechariah entered the Temple to burn incense, and he stayed longer than expected. Everyone outside was wondering what was taking so long. Here’s why: while he was in the sanctuary, the angel Gabriel appeared. Gabriel told Zechariah that he and his wife, Elizabeth—both advanced in years—would have a son. This son would be a great prophet, “like Elijah,” and they were to name him John. John would prepare the people for the coming Messiah.

Now, Zechariah was an old man, and naturally he doubted. “How can this be?” he asked. “My wife and I are old!” He asked for a sign. Have you ever felt the Lord nudging you to do something, yet found yourself second-guessing it? That’s where Zechariah was. He knew the Lord was speaking, but he struggled to believe it.

Gabriel’s response is almost humorous. You can read it in Luke 1. Gabriel basically says, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God. I'm an angel!  Isn’t that sign enough?” But then he adds, “Since you need a sign, you will be unable to speak until this child is born.”

And so Zechariah entered nine months of silence. I imagine Elizabeth may have enjoyed the peace and quiet! But for Zechariah, those nine months must have felt very long.

Sure enough, Elizabeth became pregnant, and nine months later they gave birth to a baby boy. On the eighth day, according to Jewish tradition, neighbors and relatives came for the circumcision ceremony—a time of celebration and worship. This was also when the child received his name.

Elizabeth said, “His name will be John.”
But the relatives pushed back: “You can’t name him John! No one in your family has that name.” Tradition said you named a child after relatives.

So they turned to Zechariah.  Zechariah motioned for a writing tablet. And he wrote clearly: “His name is John.”

At that moment—instantly—his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak. And the first words out of his mouth were not, “I can talk!”  Scripture says the first thing he did was praise God.

Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and then he gave the powerful prophecy I call Zechariah’s Song, found in Luke 1:68–79.  Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

Luke 1:68-79
⁶⁸ “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has visited and redeemed his people.
⁶⁹ He has sent us a mighty Savior^[h]
    from the royal line of his servant David,
⁷⁰ just as he promised
    through his holy prophets long ago.
⁷¹ Now we will be saved from our enemies
    and from all who hate us.
⁷² He has been merciful to our ancestors
    by remembering his sacred covenant—
⁷³ the covenant he swore with an oath
    to our ancestor Abraham.
⁷⁴ We have been rescued from our enemies
    so we can serve God without fear,
⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness
    for as long as we live.

⁷⁶ “And you, my little son,
    will be called the prophet of the Most High,
    because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
⁷⁷ You will tell his people how to find salvation
    through forgiveness of their sins.
⁷⁸ Because of God’s tender mercy,
    the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,^[i]
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    and to guide us to the path of peace.”

A Prophecy of Old
Zechariah reminds us that all of this was part of God’s prophetic plan from the very beginning. In his song, he reaches back to King David, and for us that can be hard to grasp. We struggle to comprehend the vast span of time God has been working through.

Zechariah says the coming of the Messiah was prophesied long ago—by David, who lived around 1000 BC. That’s a thousand years before Zechariah’s time. Think about that. Most of us can trace our family line back maybe to our great-grandparents, perhaps a little further if we’re fortunate. Some families know their ancestors settled in this area in the 1820s—about 200 years ago.
But Zechariah is pointing back a thousand years.

And then he goes even further. He mentions Abraham, saying God is fulfilling the covenant He swore to him. Abraham lived around 2000 BC—that’s 2,000 years before Zechariah.

We all have doubts. When something threatens our health, our family, or our future, we pray, we worry, and we wonder whether God hears us or will work things out. But remember this when you doubt:

God has been working out the details of your salvation for over 4,000 years.

He has not forgotten you. He has been faithful for millennia—and He will be faithful to you.

He is not slow or silent.  But your rescue is difficult because your sin-sickness is deep. 
And God is not just saving you; He is saving the whole world.

A Prophecy for the Future
Then Zechariah turns to the future.  He prophecies about his son, John:
“And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
    because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
⁷⁷ You will tell his people how to find salvation
    through forgiveness of their sins.

John came to prepare people for Jesus.  He was the voice crying in the wilderness:
“Make a straight the path for the Lord.” 

Now, you may not know this, but in ancient times when a king traveled, he never traveled alone. He came with his guards, his servants, and his whole entourage. And before the king arrived, they would send a detachment of soldiers and servants ahead of him to make sure the road was clear.

After all, how embarrassing would it be for a mighty and famous king to be rolling down the road only to be stopped by a herd of cows wandering across his path? At that point it doesn’t matter how powerful you are—you’re stuck like everybody else, waiting for the cows to move! Kings wanted to avoid that, and far more importantly, they wanted to avoid bandits or an ambush up ahead.

So the advance team would clear the way. If someone was blocking the road, they’d shout, “Move aside—the king is coming!” And if people wanted to stay there, they’d better be ready to cheer and welcome him. Towns would gather, crowds would line the streets, and a parade of sorts would form as the king approached.

It’s not so different today. Imagine the President of the United States trying to drive through Atlanta in his motorcade and getting stuck in a traffic jam. It would make headlines around the world—and it would be dangerous. So what happens? The route gets cleared. Roads are blocked off. Everyone else sits in traffic so the motorcade can pass safely.

That’s John’s job. John came to “make straight the path for the Lord”—to prepare people for the arrival of the greatest King of all. His message was simple:  “The King is coming. Either get out of the way—or join the parade.”

And that’s the message for us too.  If you think about it, we should all be like John the Baptist.
We should, “prepare the way for the Lord.”
We should, “tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.”

Salvation through the Forgiveness of Sins
Here’s the situation.  All have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23)
Every single person in this room (and in the whole world) is guilty of sin.

And the consequence of sin is death. (Romans 3:23a)  You will die physically because of sin.
And you face eternal punishment for your sin.  You cannot save yourself. 

You are guilty and there is no hope for you—except through Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23b says, “the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.”
It is a free gift.  You cannot earn it.  You cannot be good enough to deserve it.  It is God’s grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

Romans 10:9-10 says, “⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”

So, we must accept Jesus as Lord.  And we should become little “John the Baptists” declaring:
“The Lord, Jesus Christ, is coming!  He is coming!  Either become join the victory parade by becoming one of His subjects or get off the road, because the King is coming down this road very soon!”

The Meaning of Advent

We are now in the second week of Advent.
The first Sunday focused on Hope—the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Before Christ, we were sinners under the penalty of death and eternal punishment. But because of Him, we have hope where there was none.

The second Sunday is the Sunday of Peace.
Christ did not come as a conquering king. He came as a baby, offering peace to a rebellious world. It’s as if God said:  “Yes, you have turned your back on Me. Yes, you have rebelled. But I am offering you peace—not a sword. Not judgment. Peace. Turn back to Me, and you will be forgiven. You will be welcomed into My kingdom. I will be your King, and you will have peace.”

But there is no peace without Christ.
If we remain in rebellion against God, how can we have peace? Peace is found only in surrendering to Him.

So we mark the First Sunday—Hope.
We mark the Second Sunday—Peace.
And we still have two more Sundays before Christmas.

Advent is a time to remember Christ’s first coming as a baby in Bethlehem.
Advent is also a time to prepare their hearts for His coming into their lives today.
Advent is also a time to look forward to His promised coming again in glory.

The word Advent actually means, “coming” or “arrival.”
It is a season of preparation for the Lord’s coming.
Yes, we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, but we also prepare for Christ’s return.
The first time He came in peace as a child.
But He promised He will come again in the clouds—not as a suffering servant, but as the conquering King.
For those who have already joined His “victory parade,” His coming will be a glorious celebration.
But for those who refuse His offer of peace, His return will be a day of reckoning.

So let me end with a question for you to seriously ponder:  Are you ready?

Mary's Song | A Sermon on Luke 1:46-55

Introduction
I’ve always felt like Christmas and music naturally go together. When I was a little boy, that was one of my favorite parts of the season. Even as a young child, our family was always singing Christmas carols—whether we were at home, riding in the car, or out running errands.

Honestly, I think my mom used singing to keep us occupied. We didn’t have smartphones back then, and half the time we weren’t even buckled in. We were just bouncing around the car while she tried to do her Christmas shopping with four kids in tow. She needed something to keep us under control, so she sang carols with us.

Those memories are deeply ingrained in me, and I think it’s fitting—because music has always been a part of Christmas.

Over the next few weeks, we will study the songs of Christmas from the Bible. In the Bible, Christmas has always had music.  Not about snow or mistletoe; about Jesus. Several prophecies, songs, and psalms in the Old Testament foretold Jesus’ birth. And in the New Testament we have the angels singing gloria to announce the birth to shepherds. But, before angels sang, before shepherds rejoiced, before wise men bowed—there was a young girl who trusted God enough to bear His Son.  And Mary sang a song about it.  Mary’s Song (also known as Mary’s Magnificat) is found in Luke 1:46-55.

Luke 1:46-55
⁴⁶ Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
⁴⁷     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
⁴⁸ For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
⁴⁹ For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.
⁵⁰ He shows mercy from generation to generation
    to all who fear him.
⁵¹ His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
    He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
⁵² He has brought down princes from their thrones
    and exalted the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel
    and remembered to be merciful.
⁵⁵ For he made this promise to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and his children forever.”

Who Was Mary?
When Mary sang this beautiful song of praise, she was likely only about 13 years old. In her culture, girls typically married between 13 and 16.

She came from an obscure little town—Nazareth—and yet she carried an extraordinary lineage. Most people know she was a descendant of King David, but they often forget she was also connected to the priestly line of Aaron. That means Jesus was born to her both as King and Priest—the perfect fulfillment of God’s plan.

Mary was a woman of deep faith, humility, and trust. And that matters, because we often think praise is something we offer after God answers our prayers—when life is good, when things make sense. But Mary praised God before any of it made sense. She trusted God even though His plan would first lead her through hardship.

She was betrothed to Joseph but not yet married, and now she was pregnant—claiming, truthfully, that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Imagine having to explain that to your parents, your neighbors, and to Joseph, the man preparing to marry you. It wasn’t just embarrassing—it was dangerous. In her culture, an unwed pregnancy could cost you your life.

And yet Mary still said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.”

Mary Praises God
She sees and trusts that God is going to do great things. She even says, “He has done great things for me.” Now, most people in a life-threatening, humiliating situation like hers wouldn’t be saying, “God has done great things for me.” But Mary does. Through the eyes of faith, she looks far beyond her present circumstances and says, “Generations will call me blessed.”

How many of us have that kind of faith when we’re facing difficulty? When the situation seems overwhelming—when all we can see is sorrow, struggle, or hardship—can we still say, “The Lord has done great things for me”?

Can you see beyond the obstacle in front of you to the blessing God intends to bring in the future?

The Great Reversal
Mary sings about the dramatic changes God is going to bring through her Son. Her song announces what I call the Great Reversal. God is going to overturn the usual way the world works.

He scatters the proud and exalts the humble.
He fills the hungry and sends the rich away empty.

These are powerful statements. In fact, they can even be threatening. They were in Jesus’ day. There were powerful people—religious, political, and wealthy—who thought very highly of themselves, dressed in fine clothes, and expected everyone else to look up to them. And then there were the lowly—poor, dirty, ignored, and pushed aside.

Yet Mary declares that God is going to reverse all of it.
He will lift up the humble.
He will bring down the proud.
He will feed the hungry, and the rich will walk away empty-handed.

And this dynamic hasn’t been unique to Jesus’ day. It has existed in every time and every place. What we might see as a harmless little passage has often been viewed as dangerous.

Did you know this passage has actually been outlawed or banned by several governments?

• During British rule in India (1910s–1940s), authorities discouraged Indian Christians from reading Mary’s Song because it inspired hope for the oppressed.

• In the 1930s and 40s, Nazi Germany also restricted it for the same reason.

• Other regimes have done likewise, fearing its message of God overturning unjust power.

When people cling to their own kingdom—when they want to stay in control—Mary’s song is a threat. It declares, “It’s not about you. It’s about God’s kingdom.”  Some people don’t like that.

So what does this Great Reversal mean for us?  Most of us may not feel wealthy, but compared to much of the world, we are. We have resources. We have influence. We like to be respected. And Mary’s Song reminds us:

Stay humble.
Don’t be too proud.  Take pride in your work, but don’t think the world revolves around you.  Don’t look down on others because they have less.  Don’t think you are better than anyone else.  If pride takes root, Mary warns us: Christ will scatter the proud and lift up the humble.

And don’t trust in your riches.
The Bible doesn’t condemn having wealth—many heroes of faith were wealthy. The issue isn’t possession, but dependence.  The danger comes when we trust our wealth, our position, or our status more than we trust the Lord. Wealth can disappear in a moment. It cannot save us, protect us, or give us identity.

Our trust must be in God alone.  Because God, through Christ, still scatters the proud, exalts the humble, fills the hungry, and sends the rich away empty.

The Greatest Reversal
But Mary’s not just singing of social reversals.  She is announcing the greatest reversal in human history.  As Isaac Watts wrote in Joy to the World:  “No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground! He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found Far as the curse is found Far as, far as the curse is found.”

Jesus reverses the curse of Genesis 3,
the curse brought on us by Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden.  

You may remember the specifics of the curse: pain in childbirth.  But as I thought about that this morning, it’s not just the pain of childbirth—it’s also the pain of raising children.  There are all kinds of pain wrapped up in parenting.  Sometimes it’s as simple—and as heartbreaking—as watching your kids grow up and move out. There’s a joy in seeing them become who God created them to be, but it also leaves a hole where they once were. That’s a kind of pain you can’t avoid—and honestly, you wouldn’t want to. It means they’re growing.

There’s also the pain that comes from generational differences.  I hear my kids talk sometimes and think, “They’re just young whippersnappers—they have no idea!” And then I remember I used to think my parents views seemed old-fashioned to me; and now my kids think my views are old-fashioned. And one day their kids will think the same about them. Every generation thinks differently. That’s part of the curse—this tension, this inability to fully see eye to eye.

Then there’s the curse on marriage.  God told Eve that her relationship with Adam would be strained:
“Your husband will rule over you.”  In other words, what was once perfect unity would now be marked by conflict, power struggles, and misunderstandings.

There’s also the curse on the ground.  God told Adam he would have to scratch out a living from the dust and that the soil itself would fight him—thorns and thistles instead of fruit. That’s why I love that line from the hymn Joy to the World:  “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground.”

Imagine being a gardener with no weeds, no thistles, no pests… everything you plant just springs up beautifully. Anyone who has ever worked in a garden knows that is not the world we live in. Gardening is often a battle.

And finally, there is the curse of physical death.  Our bodies wear out. We grow tired. And eventually, we pass away.  

But Jesus came to reverse all of this.  Imagine:

• No more pain in childbirth—or in raising children

• No more strain in marriage, but perfect unity and harmony

• No more curse on the ground—work becoming joy instead of toil

• No more physical death—eternal life with our King

This is what Mary is singing about.  
Her Son came to undo the curse and restore the world to what God always intended it to be.

Closing
Mary didn’t fully understand God’s plan. 
She didn’t know she’d flee to Egypt.
She didn’t know she’d watch her Son die for the sins of the world.
She didn’t know He would rise from the tomb.

But she knew this: 
God keeps His promises.  God sees the humble.  God lifts the lowly. God saves His people. 
And so she sang.

The first Christmas carol is not about nostalgia, snow, or sleigh bells.
The first Christmas carol was sung by a teenage girl who believed the impossible—
that God was about to undo the Curse and rewrite human history.

The same God who did great things for Mary wants to do great things in you.

The same God who brought His Son into the world through her trust
is still looking for people who will say, 
“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

So today, as we enter this Advent season,
may your soul magnify the Lord,
may your spirit rejoice in God your Savior,
and may you trust that Christ has come to reverse every curse, heal every wound,
and make “His blessings flow far as the curse is found”—even to you.

 

The Song od the Savior | A Message from Luke 2:8-14

Introduction
We’ll have a short sermon today, because the main message is in the music the choir sings though our cantata.  Music is a divine gift that touches the soul in ways nothing else can. It reaches beyond words, stirring emotions and memories buried deep within us. I have a friend here in Dalton whose mother has Alzheimer’s.  She cannot remember much, but whenever my friend visits her in the nursing home, he brings a guitar and she plays and they sing together.  Somehow the music resets her memory and she remembers the songs they used to sing together when my friend was a boy.  Music is a language of the heart, bridging the gap between the seen and the unseen, the known and the mysterious.  Truly, music reflects the beauty and creativity of our Creator. 

I want to read a passage from Luke 2:8-14 about the heavenly music that announced the Savior’s birth.

Luke 2:8-14
⁸ That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹ Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰ but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹² And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

The Message in the Music
Did you know, this is the only time recorded in Scripture where angels sang music to humans on earth?  There are several places where the Bible records heavenly being singing or playing music in heaven, but this is the only time the angels sang to people on earth.

And as they sang, they proclaimed glory to God and peace on earth.  The birth of Christ was a unique moment in history when Heaven broke through to shower God’s glory on earth as the angels announced the Son of God’s birth.  God became a human and was born as a baby.

The angels' song highlights Jesus as the bringer of peace and reconciliation.  True peace comes not from circumstances, but through the Savior’s presence in our lives.  The Holy Family’s circumstances were not the best.  A pregnant mother in painful labor. 

A worried husband unable to provide for his wife and newborn child. 
A stable filled with sounds and smells farm animals. 
And only a manger full of straw for the baby’s bed.
These are not peaceful circumstances.
Yet the angels sang:  “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Jesus is the Prince of Peace and peace comes when we walk with Him through the storms of life. 

Joining the Angelic Song
Just as the angels worshipped, we are invited to lift our voices in praise.  Our choir’s cantata is a way to echo this angelic celebration, glorifying God together.  You may notice, all the songs today focus on the baby.  May our music help you focus on this miraculous child who was conceived by the Holy, born of a virgin, suffered under Pontious Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried and who rose again on the third day, who will come again one day to judge the living and the dead.  Let the message of Christ’s birth inspire joy and peace in your heart beyond today.  How can we bring the song of hope and peace to others this Christmas season and all year long?

The Gifts We Bring | A Sermon from Matthew 2:7-11

Introduction
During Advent this year, we’re focusing on the story of the Wisemen who visited baby Jesus.  The Wisemen traveled a long way to worship Jesus, and when they found Him, they didn’t come empty-handed. They brought gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—to honor Him as their King. Today, we’ll look at their example and think about the gifts we can bring to Jesus. How can we give Him the best of our time, talents, and treasures? And how can we make our lives a gift of worship to Him?

Matthew 2:7-11
⁷ Then Herod called for a private meeting with the Wisemen, 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!”

⁹ After this interview the Wisemen 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.

True vs. False Worship
Last week, we learned that King Herod was a paranoid and ruthless tyrant, willing to kill anyone to keep his power. When the Wisemen arrived in Jerusalem asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” it sent shockwaves through the city. A new king? That was a dangerous and risky question. Herod had already killed his wife, his own son, and dozens of other people to protect his throne. What terrible actions might this news from strangers in the East bring to Jerusalem?

But Herod, always the cunning and deceitful schemer, hid his true intentions behind a fake smile. He lied to the Wisemen, saying, “I want to go worship him too!” In reality, Herod’s plan was to find Jesus and kill Him, eliminating any threat to his throne.

Herod pretended to want to worship Jesus, but his true motive was to eliminate a threat to his power. Sadly, some people today also fake their worship of Jesus. They may say they worship Him, and they might even think they do, but their actions reveal a different motive. Instead of surrendering to Jesus, they try to use Him—to control, manipulate, or get something they want. That’s not true worship.

False worship is self-centered. It focuses on what we can gain, how we can benefit, or how Jesus fits into our plans. It seeks to control rather than submit.

True worship is God-centered. It’s about honoring Jesus for who He is—our Savior, our King, and our Lord. True worship surrenders everything to Him with humility, love, and devotion.  I often see people treating Jesus as little more than a good luck charm…

So, what about you? Is your worship real? Are you approaching Jesus with a heart that seeks to honor Him, or are you trying to fit Him into your own plans?  What is your true attitude in worship?

The Wisemen’s Gifts
The Wisemen followed the star to Bethlehem, where they found Mary and the baby, Jesus. The Bible says they bowed down, worshipped Him, and opened their treasure chests to present Him with gifts.

The New Living Translation (NLT) uses the phrase “treasure chest,” which is an interesting way to describe it. My mom recently told me that one of her most cherished possessions is a wooden chest her dad built. Inside, she keeps precious keepsakes like photos, newspaper clippings, baby shoes, and other mementos. These items aren’t worth much money, but they are treasures to her. In that sense, her chest really is a treasure chest.

The Wisemen also brought treasure chests, but theirs held the most valuable things they had—gifts they wanted to give to the newborn King.  They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When we worship, we’re called to give Christ our very best. So, what’s in your treasure chest that you want to offer to Jesus? Is it your time, your talents, or your resources? What will you give to honor the King?

Gold
The Wisemen brought gold as a gift for Jesus because it symbolized royalty and honor. Gold was and is a precious and rare metal, often associated with kings and their wealth. By offering gold, the Wisemen were declaring that Jesus was no ordinary child—He was the King of the Jews, the long-awaited Messiah.  Indeed, He was Lord of all.  Remember, the Wisemen were not from Israel.  They had no obligation to give tribute to a king of Israel.  Their visit and gifts signified they recognized Jesus as Lord of all the earth.  He was the King of kings!

But gold wasn’t just a symbol of Jesus’ kingship; it was also a practical gift. It could have provided Mary and Joseph with the resources they needed to flee to Egypt when Herod sought to kill Jesus. This shows us that God’s provision is not only symbolic but also practical, meeting needs in real and tangible ways.

The gift of gold reminds us to honor Jesus as our King. Just as the Wisemen gave their best to Jesus, we are called to offer Him our very best—our time, talents, and treasures—as an act of worship and recognition of His rule in our lives.

Frankincense
The Wisemen brought frankincense as a gift for Jesus, a choice rich with spiritual meaning. Frankincense was a valuable resin often used in temple worship as part of the incense burned before God. It symbolized prayer, worship, and the divine presence of God.

By offering frankincense, the Wisemen were acknowledging Jesus not just as a King, but as divine. This gift pointed to His role as the Great High Priest, the one who would bridge the gap between God and humanity. It reminds us that Jesus is worthy of our worship, for He is God in the flesh, come to dwell among us.

The gift of frankincense challenges us to reflect on our worship. Are we offering our lives as a fragrant offering to Him? Just as the Wisemen bowed before Jesus with their gifts, we are invited to bow before Him in awe and worship, honoring Him as our Savior and Lord.

Myrrh
The Wisemen brought myrrh as a gift for Jesus, and it carried deep symbolism. Myrrh was a valuable resin used in perfumes, anointing oils, and burial preparations. By offering myrrh, the Wisemen pointed to Jesus’ future mission as the Savior who would suffer and die for the sins of the world.

Myrrh’s connection to burial foreshadowed the sacrifice Jesus would make on the cross. Even as a child, this gift recognized His ultimate purpose: to save humanity through His death and resurrection. It reminds us that Jesus was born not just to live among us but to give His life for us.

The gift of myrrh challenges us to consider how we honor Jesus’ sacrifice. Are we willing to give Him our whole lives in response to the love and grace He has shown us? Just as the Wisemen offered myrrh, we are called to offer ourselves completely to the One who gave everything for us.

What Can You Bring the King?
The Wisemen brought their best gifts to Jesus—gold for a King, frankincense for the Divine, and myrrh for the Savior who would sacrifice Himself for the world. Their offerings weren’t just valuable treasures; they were acts of worship, symbols of their devotion and recognition of who Jesus is.

So, what about us? What gifts are we bringing to Jesus? True worship isn’t about fancy presents or extravagant gestures. It’s about offering Jesus the best of who we are—our time, our talents, our resources, and most importantly, our hearts. Every day, in the way we live, speak, and serve, we have the chance to offer gifts to Jesus that honor Him as our King, Savior, and Lord.

As we prepare for Christmas, I challenge you to reflect on what you are giving to Jesus. Are you holding back, or are you giving Him your best? Think about how you can offer your time in prayer and worship, your talents to serve others, and your resources to build His Kingdom.

The Wisemen traveled far and gave generously to worship Jesus.  What will you bring to Him today?

Song - “The Little Drummer Boy”
Come they told me, parrrumpapumpum, 
a new born King to see, parrrumpapumpum.
Our finest gifts we bring, parrrumpapumpum,
to lay before the King, parrrumpapumpum, rumpapumpum, rumpapumpum.
So to honor Him, parrrumpapumpum, when we come.
Little Baby, parrrumpapumpum,
I am a poor boy too, parrrumpapumpum,
I have no gift to bring, parrrumpapumpum,
that’s fit to give a King, parrrumpapumpum, rumpapumpum, rumpapumpum.
Shall I play for you, parrrumpapumpum, on my drum.
Mary nodded yes, parrrumpapumpum. 

The ox and lamb kept time, parrrumpapumpum.
I played my drum for him, parrrumpapumpum.
I played my best for him, parrrumpapumpum, rumpapumpum, rumpapumpum.
Then he smiled at me, parrrumpapum pum—me and my drum.

Seeking the King | A Sermon on Matthew 2:1-6

Introduction
Last Sunday, I challenged you to come to the church once a week during Advent and spend some time praying in the newly renovated prayer room.  Have you been doing it?  This is a great challenge to help us draw closer to Christ during Advent.

There are four Sundays in Advent–the four Sundays just prior to Christmas.  Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation for Christmas.  But Advent is a dual purpose season, because it recognizes that just as Jesus came and was born as an infant in a manger, He will come again as a king in the clouds on the day of judgment.  So, we are preparing for Christmas, but we are also preparing for the second coming of Christ.

Perhaps this adds a little incentive to your preparations this Christmas.  Yes, there are presents to buy, decorations to put out, and all kinds of things to prepare for in this busy holiday season.  However, the most important thing we need to be ready for is when Jesus returns.  And I can assure you, Jesus will come for you in your lifetime.  Either he will come in the clouds to bring His Kingdom to all the earth on the last day, or He will come for you personally when you take your last breath.  Either way, you will meet Him face to face.  Will you be ready?

For Advent this year, the Lord led me to study the story of the Wisemen who came from the east.

Matthew 2:1-6
¹ 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.’”

“Where is the newborn king?”
In ancient times, it was common to keep track of the years by relating them to the reigns of different kings.  That’s why Matthew starts out this chapter by saying Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod.  Matthew wrote these words decades after King Herod was dead and gone, but everyone could remember his ruthless reign.

King Herod was known for being ruthless and paranoid, willing to do anything to keep his throne. He even executed members of his own family, including his wife and her two sons, as well as his own son. When Herod felt his authority was challenged, he acted without mercy. He had Israel’s high priest assassinated and ordered the execution of 46 members of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin. Herod ruled with an iron fist and made it clear that no one could stand in his way.

It was during King Herod’s ruthless reign that the Wisemen showed up in Jerusalem seeking a new King: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

They were talking about Jesus, who is a special kind of King.  Jesus is the kind of King heralded in the Heavens; a brand-new star was added to the sky as a sign of His birth!  And His coming is so profound, Magi traveled thousands of miles from Persia to worship Him!  Jesus is the kind of King Herod could never be.  No matter how merciless and violent Herod was, no one would voluntarily travel from a thousand miles away to adore him.

Who or what is the “king” in your life right now? Are there things like success, fear, or the need for control that you’re holding onto so tightly that they influence your decisions, just like Herod clung to his throne? This Advent season, God might be challenging you to take a closer look at your life and think about the things you’re allowing to rule your heart. Are they drawing you closer to Him, or are they keeping you from fully trusting His plan?

“King Herod was deeply disturbed…”
Verse 3 says, “King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.” Knowing how paranoid Herod was and how far he would go to hold onto power, imagine how upset he must have been when strangers arrived asking about a “new” king. The people in Jerusalem, who were already used to tiptoeing around Herod’s temper, were likely terrified. They must have been panicking, wondering how this shocking news would shake up their lives and what Herod might do in response.

When Jesus comes into your life, it may shake some things up. It changes your values. It changes the way you think, the way you act, and the way you see the world. Suddenly, the things that once seemed so important—like power, wealth, or popularity—don’t hold the same value anymore. Instead, you begin to align your heart with God’s priorities: love, mercy, humility, and faithfulness. But this transformation isn’t always easy. It can create an inner conflict as your old ways of thinking and living clash with the new life Christ is calling you to.

This change can also cause tension with family and friends and a worldly community around you who don’t share your faith or who still follow the "old rulers" of this world, like selfish ambition or materialism. They may not understand your new priorities or why you no longer chase the same goals. Just as Jesus' arrival disturbed King Herod and the people of Jerusalem, your decision to follow Jesus might disturb the people around you. But don’t let that discourage you. God’s ways are always better, and as you walk with Him, you’ll find peace, purpose, and the strength to endure. Transformation is never easy, but the joy of living in Christ’s light is worth every challenge.

“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.”

This prophecy from Micah was written about 700 years before Jesus was born. At the time, the powerful leaders in Jerusalem didn’t know or expect the Messiah would come from a small town like Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a humble, unimportant village—certainly not the kind of place where anyone would think a king would be born. But God chose it as the birthplace of the greatest ruler in history, showing us that He doesn’t use worldly standards like wealth, power, or status to measure greatness. Instead, God works through the small, the humble, and the overlooked to do extraordinary things.  Do you ever feel small or humble or overwhelemed?

You might feel small, unimportant, or unworthy, but God has a purpose for your life. Just as He chose Bethlehem to bring forth the Savior, He can use your unique story, your gifts, and even your struggles to accomplish His plans. The ruler born in Bethlehem wasn’t just a king—He was also a shepherd, leading and caring for His people with love. Will you trust Him to lead you and allow Him to work through your life in ways greater than you can imagine?

Closing
As we reflect on the story of the Wise Men and their journey to seek the newborn King, we are reminded that following Jesus often requires us to let go of the things that rule our lives. The Wise Men left the comfort of their homes, traveled great distances, and endured hardships, all to worship the true King. Their journey challenges us to ask: are we willing to set aside our own ambitions, our fears, or our distractions to seek Jesus fully?

Jesus came to offer us something far greater than the world’s fleeting treasures. But this journey often shakes us, transforms us, and challenges our relationships and priorities. Yet, the rewards are eternal—peace, purpose, and an eternal relationship with the King who lovingly shepherds His people. Will you seek Him today and let Him be the ruler of your heart and life?

I invite you to take a moment of silence to reflect on what you need to surrender to Jesus today. Take 60 seconds to ask Him to reveal anything holding you back from fully following Him.  Then, we will close with a responsive reading.

A Prayer of Surrender
Leader: Lord, we come before You, recognizing that You are the true King of our lives.
People: We surrender to You, Lord. Be the ruler of our hearts.

Leader: Forgive us for the times we have held onto fear, control, or selfish ambition.
People: We release these things to You, trusting in Your perfect plan.

Leader: Help us to let go of the things that keep us from fully following You.
People: Teach us to seek You with our whole hearts.

Leader: When the journey is hard and the path is unclear, give us the courage to follow You.
People: Strengthen our faith and lead us in Your ways.

Leader: You are our Shepherd, guiding us with love and care.
People: We trust You to lead us, even when it’s hard to see the way.

Leader: Today, we surrender our lives to You. Shape us into who You’ve called us to be.
People: We are Yours, Lord. Use us for Your glory.

Leader: Let our lives reflect Your light, drawing others to know and worship You.
People: We surrender to You, Lord, our King and Shepherd. Amen.