Worship the King of Kings
Matthew 1:20 – 2:11
It is Christmas time! Ironically, Christmas can be the best of times or the worst of times. Many acknowledge that Jesus is the reason for the season, but they realize also that Santa is king at the mall. For some, Christmas used to be a time of family joy and togetherness. But now because of a death or broken relationship, it is more of a painful memory. We need to remember that Christmas is a time when many unsaved people may be open to hear the gospel and respond in faith to Jesus Christ. As Christians, we may have unique opportunities at Christmas to testify about the Savior. Let us consider three important truths about the Christmas message so that all can worship Jesus as King of Kings.
First, Jesus was sent to save (Matthew 1:20-23). An angel appeared to Joseph, instructing him to take the virgin Mary as his wife even though she was with child conceived by the Holy Spirit. The angel instructed Joseph that he was to name the Child “Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” In fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus was uniquely born to save people from their sins. We can receive God’s salvation, including forgiveness of our sins, by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.
Second, Jesus was born to rule (Matthew 2:1-6). When wise men from the east appeared in Jerusalem in search of a newborn king, they met with Herod. Consulting with Jewish religious leaders about the Messiah’s expected birthplace, Herod was directed to Bethlehem since the prophet Micah spoke of a ruler who would be born in Bethlehem. Because Jesus is God’s Messiah, we are to submit to His rule and follow His leadership throughout our lives.
Finally, Jesus is worthy of worship (Matthew 2:7-11). Upon finding the child Jesus in Bethlehem, the wise men knelt and worshiped Him, presenting Him with gifts befitting royalty. We can testify that Jesus is the King of Kings and our Savior by sincerely worshiping Him.
These three truths provide the foundation of the Christmas message. We fall short of God’s standards and therefore need a Savior to deal with our sins. Only as we turn from our sin and place our faith in Jesus can we know Him as Savior and Lord. Then we can truly worship the King of Kings! By celebrating this real meaning of Christmas, we lay a foundation for introducing our Lord to others who are in need of the Savior.
Larry McDonald– Lessons by Larry McDonald, dean of North Greenville University’s Graduate School of Christian Ministry and professor of Christian spirituality. He holds a Ph.D. from Southeastern Seminary and a D.Min. from Reformed Theological Seminary.