Unto Us: The Gift of Joy (Matthew 2:1-12)

Because he's not just the king of our obligation or our behavior. He's the king of our heart. That's what he desires to be. The king of hearts. He is the king of relationship. That's the reason why we're in this situation that we're in, guys. The reason why he has not come back and set up his kingdom in its full consummation. The reason why heaven has not fully infiltrated this fallen world is because he still has lost children he wants back in his lap. And he desires us at a heart level, not just an obligation level. [00:03:49] (38 seconds)  #kingOfHearts

True joy, guys, is different from happiness. Again, happiness depends on what happens to you and around you. But joy transcends your circumstance. True joy produces strength and hope, even in the difficulty, like light in the darkness. Guys, this is what Christmas is about. True joy allows you to face trouble and trial and sadness and pain with hope. Because this isn't all there is. And Jesus is with you in and through it all. He is Emmanuel, which means God with us. That's a joy that can never be taken. That is everlasting joy. And it doesn't just begin one day when you die. It begins now, like light in the dark. [00:07:14] (53 seconds)  #joyBeyondCircumstance

You guys know that creation is groaning for deliverance? Creation. Things are not as it should be. We need to understand creation is groaning and it's groaning for a deliverer and Christ is that deliverer. And that is what this story is about. That's what that star was representing, the star of Bethlehem that we're about to read about. Creation has been roaring and these magi have been listening. And now they show up in Jerusalem and they're seeking to worship the lion of Judah himself. [00:11:58] (34 seconds)  #creationSeeksDeliverer

And so whether you're a Christian already or not yet, God is calling us all this Christmas to take a beat, to take a breath, to lean into his divine interruption, to recalibrate around what matters most this Christmas. And what matters most is Jesus Christ. What matters most is what's most important. Not always what's most fun. Not always what most is comfortable, but what's most important. What matters most and what matters most, again, is Jesus Christ. And I'm not talking about just the idea of him. I'm talking about the real living presence of the king of kings, even his Holy Spirit in our midst to prioritize and recalibrate our lives around his presence and his purpose. [00:14:42] (48 seconds)  #recalibrateForChrist

You see, hear this. Herod knows about these prophecies. Notice this. Herod knows about these prophecies. He even calls on these biblical experts who pull out this Old Testament book of Micah and read this prophecy. So here, this is really important. Herod knows and believes that these prophecies about the coming Messiah are true. That's really interesting. The catch is, he just doesn't want him to come. He believes that these prophecies about him coming are real. He just doesn't want them to be real. Herod's so consumed by his own power and control, by his own agenda, that he has no room in his heart for Christ. [00:18:17] (43 seconds)  #knowDontWantMessiah

Even now, it makes my stomach sick. And I'm telling you, I've had this conversation with so many people over the years. I just don't want him to be. He was articulating the state of the majority of our society who have no room in their heart for Christ the King. And so they suppress the truth. That's what's happening. [00:22:58] (25 seconds)  #noRoomForChrist

Now I want you to notice that Herod never moves an inch toward Bethlehem. Not an inch. Bethlehem was only five miles from Jerusalem. He doesn't send anybody with them, nothing. For him, this whole Jesus thing, this whole Messiah thing is an inconvenience, but not for these magi. They've traveled the known world through deserts and wilderness, all to seek the presence of the king. He's their priority. Everything else is totally overshadowed by their desire for him. [00:25:48] (36 seconds)  #magiJourneyForKing

And then when we do that, he fills us up with his Holy Spirit from the inside out and he begins to transform us and change our very affections and our desires and to fill us up with a faith and a hope and a joy and a love that is everlasting. And he says, you're not necessarily perfect, but you are now perfectly loved and I've set you apart and I'm saying this one is mine. And now we're not just holding on to him, he's holding on to us. Amen? This is the gospel. [00:33:51] (34 seconds)  #perfectlyLovedInChrist