Responses to Christ: Faith, Worship, and Rejection
Summary
Responding to Christ at Christmas is a profound journey that invites us to reflect on the various responses to Jesus' birth as depicted in Matthew 1:18 through 2:18. This passage is rich with wonder, mystery, and surprise, much like the Christmas season itself. The narrative challenges us to consider how we respond to Christ amidst the festivities and traditions of Christmas.
Joseph's response to the news of Mary's pregnancy is a testament to faith and submission. Despite the disruption to his life plans, Joseph embraces God's redemption plan, trusting in the angel's message that Jesus would save people from their sins. His obedience and willingness to protect Mary and raise Jesus as his own child exemplify a faith that aligns with God's greater purpose, reminding us to trust in God's plan even when it disrupts our own.
The wise men, on the other hand, respond with worship. Their journey to find Jesus reflects a deep desire to honor and adore the Savior King. They recognize Jesus as the King of Kings, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which symbolize his kingship, priestly role, and eventual sacrifice. Their devotion challenges us to prioritize worship and offer our best to Christ, even at the cost of personal comfort and convenience.
In stark contrast, Herod and the Pharisees respond with rejection and hostility. Herod sees Jesus as a threat and plots to eliminate him, while the Pharisees, despite knowing the scriptures, show indifference toward their Messiah. Their responses highlight the danger of rejecting the gospel message, whether through active rebellion or passive indifference. This rejection opens the door to God's judgment, urging us to examine areas in our lives where we might be resisting Christ's authority.
Christmas is a time to reflect on these responses and consider our own. Are we like Joseph, responding with faith and obedience? Like the wise men, worshipping with joy and devotion? Or do we find ourselves indifferent or hostile, like Herod and the Pharisees? The birth of Christ invites us to come home to God, to surrender our plans, and to trust in His love and salvation.
Key Takeaways:
- Joseph's Faithful Response: Joseph's life was disrupted by the news of Mary's pregnancy, yet he responded with faith and obedience to God's plan. This teaches us to trust in God's greater purpose, even when it challenges our own plans and expectations. [05:10]
- Worship of the Wise Men: The wise men traveled far to worship Jesus, recognizing Him as the King of Kings. Their sacrificial worship challenges us to prioritize Christ above our own comfort and to offer our best in devotion to Him. [13:15]
- Herod's Hostility and Rejection: Herod's response to Jesus was one of hostility and rejection, seeing Him as a threat. This reflects the danger of rejecting Christ's authority in our lives, which can lead to separation from God. [16:46]
- Indifference of the Pharisees: Despite knowing the scriptures, the Pharisees showed indifference to Jesus. This warns us against becoming complacent in our faith and failing to let the gospel transform our lives. [18:00]
- Invitation to Come Home: Christmas invites us to come home to God, to surrender our plans, and to trust in His love and salvation. It is a time to reflect on our response to Christ and to allow His light to shine in our lives. [23:59]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:22] - Christmas Surprises
- [03:32] - Different Responses to Christmas
- [05:10] - Joseph's Faithful Response
- [06:09] - God's Redemption Plan
- [13:15] - Worship of the Wise Men
- [14:02] - Gifts of the Wise Men
- [15:10] - Prioritizing Worship
- [16:46] - Herod's Hostility
- [17:17] - Herod's Rejection
- [18:00] - Indifference of the Pharisees
- [19:54] - Danger of Rejection
- [20:26] - Surrendering to Christ
- [23:59] - Invitation to Come Home
- [26:46] - Driving Home for Christmas
- [28:05] - Responding to Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Responding to Christ at Christmas
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 1:18-2:18
- Isaiah 7:14
- Hosea 11:4
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Observation Questions:
1. How did Joseph initially respond to the news of Mary's pregnancy, and what changed his mind? (Matthew 1:18-25) [05:10]
2. What gifts did the wise men bring to Jesus, and what do these gifts symbolize? (Matthew 2:11) [14:02]
3. How did Herod and the Pharisees react to the news of Jesus' birth, and what does this reveal about their attitudes? (Matthew 2:3-8, 16-18) [16:46]
4. What does the phrase "God with us" mean in the context of Jesus' birth, and how is it significant? (Matthew 1:23) [06:09]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Joseph's willingness to trust God's plan, despite personal disruption, teach about faith and obedience? [06:09]
2. How does the journey and worship of the wise men challenge contemporary believers in their approach to worship and sacrifice? [15:10]
3. In what ways do Herod's hostility and the Pharisees' indifference serve as warnings against rejecting Christ's authority in our lives? [19:54]
4. How does the concept of "coming home" to God during Christmas resonate with the themes of love and redemption in the sermon? [23:59]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your plans were disrupted. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Joseph's example of faith and obedience? [06:09]
2. The wise men prioritized worship over personal comfort. What is one way you can prioritize worship in your life this Christmas season? [15:10]
3. Are there areas in your life where you might be resisting Christ's authority, similar to Herod or the Pharisees? How can you address this resistance? [19:54]
4. Christmas is a time to "come home" to God. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God during this season? [23:59]
5. Consider the gifts you can offer to Christ this Christmas. What talents or resources can you use to serve others and honor God? [15:53]
6. How can you ensure that the gospel message remains transformative in your life, rather than becoming something familiar and indifferent? [20:26]
7. Reflect on the idea of God's love drawing us back to Him. How can you allow this love to guide your actions and decisions in the coming year? [24:36]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Disruptive Plans
Joseph's response to the news of Mary's pregnancy is a profound example of faith and submission. Despite the unexpected disruption to his life plans, Joseph chooses to embrace God's redemption plan, trusting in the angel's message that Jesus would save people from their sins. His obedience and willingness to protect Mary and raise Jesus as his own child exemplify a faith that aligns with God's greater purpose. This narrative challenges us to trust in God's plan, even when it disrupts our own, and to remain faithful in the face of uncertainty. Joseph's story reminds us that God's plans, though sometimes disruptive, are always for our ultimate good and His glory. [05:10]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Think of a time when your plans were disrupted. How can you trust in God's greater purpose in that situation today?
Day 2: Sacrificial Worship and Devotion
The wise men traveled a great distance to worship Jesus, recognizing Him as the King of Kings. Their journey reflects a deep desire to honor and adore the Savior King, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which symbolize His kingship, priestly role, and eventual sacrifice. Their devotion challenges us to prioritize worship and offer our best to Christ, even at the cost of personal comfort and convenience. The wise men's example encourages us to examine our own lives and consider how we can offer our best to Jesus, making Him the center of our worship and devotion. [13:15]
Psalm 96:8-9 (ESV): "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can prioritize worship over personal comfort today?
Day 3: The Danger of Rejecting Christ's Authority
Herod's response to Jesus was one of hostility and rejection, seeing Him as a threat to his own power. This reflects the danger of rejecting Christ's authority in our lives, which can lead to separation from God. Herod's actions serve as a warning against the consequences of rejecting the gospel message, whether through active rebellion or passive indifference. This narrative urges us to examine areas in our lives where we might be resisting Christ's authority and to surrender those areas to Him, allowing His love and grace to transform us. [16:46]
Hebrews 3:12-13 (ESV): "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you might be resisting Christ's authority. How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?
Day 4: Avoiding Complacency in Faith
Despite knowing the scriptures, the Pharisees showed indifference to Jesus, highlighting the danger of becoming complacent in our faith. Their response warns us against failing to let the gospel transform our lives and encourages us to remain vigilant in our spiritual journey. The Pharisees' indifference serves as a reminder to actively engage with our faith, seeking to grow and deepen our relationship with Christ. This narrative challenges us to examine our hearts and ensure that we are not merely going through the motions but are truly living out the gospel in our daily lives. [18:00]
James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."
Reflection: How can you actively engage with your faith today to avoid complacency and ensure the gospel is transforming your life?
Day 5: Coming Home to God's Love and Salvation
Christmas invites us to come home to God, to surrender our plans, and to trust in His love and salvation. It is a time to reflect on our response to Christ and to allow His light to shine in our lives. The birth of Christ is an invitation to experience the fullness of God's love and grace, to let go of our own agendas, and to embrace His perfect plan for our lives. This season challenges us to examine our hearts and consider how we can draw closer to God, allowing His presence to guide and transform us. [23:59]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: What is one way you can surrender your plans to God today and trust in His love and salvation?
Quotes
"Joseph's life was disturbed. All of a sudden, the news of the pregnancy, this really challenged his understanding, Joseph's understanding of his life and the new life and all the plans that he had with Mary, they were all disrupted. We read that in verses 18 and 19. Everything was disrupted. But this is exactly where God wanted him. This is exactly what God's redemption plan was. The angel came and declared that Jesus would be the savior who will save people from their sins." [00:05:34]
"This birth was the fulfillment of the prophecy this was the promise of the salvation of mankind and again we've had it read this morning through emmanuel god with us you know you could just split those three words up very easily and just first of all god the the one the one that bees you know we are we are human beings but he is the one that just bees we he lives in and of himself you could take the second word with the fact that he would come and be with us what an extraordinary thing to step into this world to join us in the suffering that we go through and then that word us the togetherness the community god with us." [00:06:13]
"You see the faithful response of joseph here he obeys the lord joseph steps into the unfolding grace and the gospel story by protecting mary and then by raising this child as his own it's an amazing thing that joseph does look at verses 24 and 25 then joseph's being raised from sleep that as the angel of the lord had told him and he took him him uh took her as his wife and he knew her not until she had brought forth the child and the son and his name was jesus." [00:07:22]
"Joseph protected mary and he also raised jesus as his child and it was because of this faith that trust in him was not lost and he was able to bring forth the child and the son and his name was christ means that we have that plan of salvation you know if you think about it this this begins with the birth of jesus but it oddly reaches its pinnacle at his death and then at his resurrection his victorious resurrection so this faith in christ it leads to submission to god's plan it at some point in our life we have to get to that point but then it also means there's going to be an active clear response we're going to respond to christ and his salvation and we're going to respond to christ and his salvation work which we know to be at the cross." [00:08:34]
"The wise men travelled from far. Travelled. They sacrificed much to honour the Lord Jesus. Showing their devotion. Of his kingship. You know it blesses my heart. Having the champion sister Pfizer. To travel down from Valley Clare. To sacrifice. And show their devotion. You know again that should challenge us. Even this morning all of us. Do you and I prioritise. Worshipping Christ." [00:14:27]
"Do we put him above our own comfort. And our own convenience. You know would we say that you and I. Are offering our best to the Lord Jesus. Do we offer our time and our talents. Here it says they offered their treasures. We even just reflect just in. Also as a challenge this morning. What acts of devotion. Did we do for the Lord in 2014. 2014." [00:14:56]
"Herod sees Jesus as a threat. Herod sees Jesus as someone that he needs to violently remove. He opposes him greatly and he plots to kill him. And if you notice in the Nativity story, Herod is always left out. Herod is always left out because he's a nasty piece of work. Herod is never in that little manger scene that you get as well. But he's a big part of the story." [00:16:57]
"Herod came to them to find out where he would be born. And they weren't even looking for him. These were the super, super religious people. The Pharisees knew the scriptures, but yet they failed to act. Showed indifference toward even their own Messiah. Their own Savior. It's almost shocking. Look at chapter 2, verses 4 to 6. And when he had gathered the chief priests and the scribes together. This is Herod. He gets all the cleverest religious people he can find." [00:18:18]
"Whether it's rebellion by Herod or passive indifference by the Pharisees, the truth is, if we reject Christ, that rejection, that rejection opens up the door to the judgment of God. And it opens it very wide. That's because this is the reason for the season. So let's challenge that. Let's think about that this morning now. Is there an area of your life where you and I are resisting Christ's authority?" [00:19:56]
"Christmas is the time to allow Christ to have authority and to surrender your life. Let him have control. Let him have control. That was the title of our message this morning. Responding to Christ at Christmas. And just a quick recap. What happened? Joseph. Joseph's faith led to the salvation of not just of Joseph and Mary, but of all mankind, the offer of all mankind. It was his faith. The wise men, their worship flowed from the joy of the Lord." [00:20:46]
"How does the Lord God Almighty, how does he bring you home? He brings you home by love. In that great carol it says, God's pure love. God's deep love, God's compassion, he says, will bring you home. He'll bring you home not by force, but by love. And I'll show you another verse. This is Hosea 11 verse 4. The context here is the children of Israel, remember God's people." [00:23:59]
"He says, I drew them with the cords of men, with the bands of love. In other words, what he's saying there, he's saying, look, they rejected me. They had apathy. They had no interest in me. But he said, you know what I'll do? I'll do like what mankind does. I'll harness them. He says, I won't harness them like a horse. I won't put reins on them. I'll draw them with my love. What an amazing verse." [00:24:36]
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