The Arrival of the King

We are in today.

The kingdom and her King have arrived. Will you join us in the kingdom life? Will you follow our King?

Our King is unlike any other. He is unique in every way. You see our King is God in the flesh. He was born of a woman, but was a divine work of God the Holy Spirit, which enabled Him to remain God, but also allowed Him to be human. In Jesus God is touchable.

John 1:14 NKJV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:

If you long for a god who can be touched and felt you will find you answer in Jesus. He has made God tangible. He came and suffered with us and suffered for us.

You long for a god who can be touched and felt you will find you answer in Jesus. He has made God tangible. He came and suffered with us and suffered for us.

Mark

Mark 10:12 AV

And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Mark 10:45 NKJV

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:6–8 NKJV

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Hebrews 4:15 NKJV

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Philippians 2:6-

Hebrews 4:

Will you follow Him? Through his words of introduction Matthew has clearly pointed out that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the rightful decedent of David by both adopted father and mother. In Him are the promises made to the family tree of Abraham, Judah, and David fulfilled.

Will you follow Him? Through his words of introduction Matthew has clearly pointed out that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the rightful decedent of David by both adopted father and mother. In Him are the promises made to family trees of Abraham, Judah, and David fulfilled.

Now with many kings or leaders in history you will find those who accept them and those who reject them. Thanks to Robert I learned of one such individual in Australian history, Sir John Monash.

John 1:29 NKJV

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:30 AV

This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

With many kings or leaders in history you will find those who accept them and those who reject them.

From details I read on Wikipedia, Sir John Monash was an Australian civil engineer and successful military commander in the First World War. He is regarded as one of the best Australian generals and most famous of commanders in Australian.

It was during the Gallipoli campaign that Monash began to become a well-known name. Through his independent decision-making and organisation his brigade was able to initially successfully defend their position between Pope’s Hill and Courtney’s Post. By July 1915, Monash would be appointed brigadier general, and even then there were some who did not accept him spreading rumors of him being a “German spy”, due to him being of Jewish Prussian decent.

Monash would go on to lead the Australian Corps on the western front of Europe as lieutenant general. The higher he rose in rank the more his abilities flourished. John Monash was an incredible leader. Yet because of his Prussian descent he was not accepted by some individuals. These individuals went so far as to try and have him removed from his post by spreading lies and rumors.

Yet because of his Prussian descent he was not accepted by

He would overcome these attacks, and earning the respect of his fellow officers, the British Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of France, Winston Churchill, and King George V, who would award him a Knight Grand Cross.

This was the case when the King of kings arrived. Some accepted Him while others rejected Him. Our challenge to us today is which one are we? Are we accepting Him or are we rejecting Him? As we look into we begin with observing,

It is believed that this disdain because of his lineage, Jewish Prussian decent.

Sir John Monash was a man who was accepted by some, but rejected by others.

Sir Monash has had a museum in France and a University in New South Wales that bare his name, yet it still seems this honour which is rightfully his still seems to lack support by the powers who be to which former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer wonders why. Commenting how there is no valid reason why this promotion should not be allowed.

I will say that, Monash would overcome these attacks, and earning respect of his fellow officers, the British Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of France, Winston Churchill, and King George V, who would award him a Knight Grand Cross.

In a similar fashion this was the case when the King of kings arrived. Some accepted Him while others rejected Him. Our challenge to us today is which one will we be? Will we be ones who accept Him or ones who reject Him? As we look into we begin with observing,

The wise men accepted Jesus as King for...

Matthew 2:1–2 NKJV

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, 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.”

We are not explicitly told how many men were in this company of wise men or “magi”. Traditionally it has been accepted that there were three due to the three gifts that were given to Jesus, but whether there were three or twenty does not matter. What matters is that they were there seeking after the King.

Though it is not explicitly stated, I believe these men must have been students of Daniel. They, along with their predecessors, kept careful track of the dates and various events prophesied by Daniel in his calendar of “seventy weeks”. Daniel reveals that within this time frame, there would be a decree to rebuild Jerusalem, the Messiah would present Himself to Jerusalem, the Messiah would be killed, and Jerusalem would be destroyed.

Daniel 9:24 NKJV

“Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.

Daniel 9:24a NKJV

“Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.

Daniel 9:24 AV

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

The term translated as “weeks” is understood in the Hebrew and Aramaic contexts as something that is in a series of “sevens” (so seven days, seven years, and so on). It is therefore concluded that the “seventy weeks” means 70 years times seven years. The prophetic 70 times 7, or 490 years.

AV

The term translated as “weeks” is understood in the Hebrew and Aramaic contexts as something that is in a series of “sevens” (so seven days, seven years, and so on). It is therefore concluded that the “seventy weeks” means 70 years times seven years. The prophetic 70 times 7, or 490 years. This order of wise men, if you want to call them such, began the countdown at the time prophesied by Daniel, the rebuilding of Jerusalem under the direction of Nehemiah and decree of Artaxerxes.

AV

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Nehemiah 2:5 NKJV

And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

From the rebuilding of Jerusalem this order of wise men began to count, and watch for the sign that the King was here. They must have been surprised to see how literal of a sign it was.

The term translated as “weeks” is understood in the Hebrew and Aramaic contexts as something that is in a series of “sevens” (so seven days, seven years, and so on). It is therefore concluded that the “seventy weeks” means 70 years times seven years. The prophetic 70 times 7, or 490 years. This order of wise men, if you want to call them such, began the countdown at the time prophesied by Daniel, the rebuilding of Jerusalem under the direction of Nehemiah and decree of Artaxerxes.

AV

From that time they then counted the “seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” (that is seven years times seven years plus 62 years times seven years or 483 years), which gave them the approximate date of when the Messiah would present Himself to Jerusalem. Concluding the Messiah would be grown when He presented Himself to Jerusalem, they drew the conclusion that the time of the Messiah’s arrival on earth was getting close. They simply needed to be watching for the sign, and quite the literal sign it was.

AV

And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.

Numbers 24:17 NKJV

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.

From that time they then counted the “seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” (that is seven years times seven years plus 62 years times seven years or 483 years), which gave them the approximant date of when the Messiah would present Himself to Jerusalem. Concluding the Messiah would be grown when He presented Himself to Jerusalem, they drew the conclusion that the time of the Messiah’s arrival on earth was getting close. They simply needed to be watching for the sign, and quite the literal sign it was.

AV

The sign for the “Star of Jacob”, was a star. An actual light declared the arrival of the True Light. And so these respected learned, and accomplished men of the east embarked on a journey of a lifetime, following what some may have concluded as just an astronomical anomaly, to find and present themselves to the Messiah sent from God. They, Gentiles mind you, accepted Him and therefore sought after Him, and once they found Him, because they accept Him,

AV

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

The sign for the “Star of Jacob”, was a star. An actual light declared the arrival of the True Light. And so these respected learned, and accomplished men of the east embarked on a journey of a lifetime, following what some may have concluded as just an astronomical anomaly, to find and present themselves to the Messiah sent from God.

The wise men accepted Jesus as King for

Matthew 2:9–11 NKJV

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

Now I know many of our manger scenes give us the allusion that the magi were at the stable, yet the wording used within God’s Word tells us otherwise. These men arrived more than likely several months to a couple years after the birth, for even though Joseph and Mary were still in Jerusalem, they were in a house not a stable and Jesus is referred to not as “the baby” (as seen in Luke) but as “the young child”.

Matthew 9:

Now with that side note out of the way, the wise men accepted Jesus as King and therefore sought after Him, and when they found Him they worshiped Him.

This term translated as “worship” is a compound word that carries the idea of “to make obeisance, or do reverence to”. It combines the word that means “towards” with the word that means “to kiss”.

Matthew 4:10 NKJV

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

The English word “worship” is rooted in the Old English words that means “giving worthiness or an acknowledgement of worth”.

The magi acknowledge Jesus worth, not simply by bowing down to Him (and this concept of bowing down in the context is understood as basically lying prostrate on ground), but also by their gifts presented to Jesus. These men were affluent individuals and present this young child with the best they had to offer. If they were diligent students of God’s Word they more than likely understood the significance of these gifts.

Gold, points to His royalty. Gold was a precious medal, and something usually found in the possession of the elite.

Micah 5:2 NKJV

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Frankincense, points to His divinity. Frankincense is obtain by the arduous process of cutting into the bark of a Boswellia tree and extracting the gum. It is a precious and very fragrant oil. It was used regularly as the incense offering to before God.

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Exodus 30:8 NKJV

And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.

Isaiah

Leviticus 16:12 AV

And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:

Myrrh, points to His sufferings. Like frankincense, myrrh comes from the difficult and slow process of extracting gum from Commiphora trees. It was regularly used for embalming.

Myrrh, points to His sufferings.

Isaiah 53:4–5 NKJV

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:

Their acceptance of Jesus as King drove them to seek Him out, “Where is He?” but also led them to worship Him, for they knew He was worthy of such honour. He is King, He is God, and He suffered for us. Yet we find that their acceptance of Jesus led these wise men, along with Joseph and Mary, to do one more thing.

Yet we find that their acceptance of Jesus led these wise menalong with Joseph and Mary to o

Matthew 2:12–15 NKJV

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Matthew

Now I must say this is a beautiful picture of Christ’s humanity, and how He willingly made Himself subject to the order of human life.

Luke 2:51 NKJV

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

Luke 2:51

Jesus, God in the flesh, had to depend upon others for help and protection. This was not something He had to do, for I believe He was fully aware of what was going on around Him and who threatened Him and had all-power to remove those threats if He chose, yet He fully submitted Himself to the frailties of earthly life including the helplessness of a baby.

That said, the King was under threat, and His faithful band of subjects, though asked by another authority to rat him out, chose to go home another way and also smuggled Him out of the country. This was not a safe thing to do nor necessarily a logical thing to do, but a higher authority called upon them to do such a thing.

Acts 5:29 AV

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:28–29 NKJV

saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Those who accepted the King sought after Him, worshiped Him, and protected Him. But now as we continue to explore we can’t help but see the contrasting viewpoint or

Now as we continue to explore we can’t help but see

records for us the attitude of the Jewish leadership and King Herod. They rejected Him and therefore

Matthew 2:3 NKJV

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

Herod was not a legitimate Jewish king. He was actually a descendant of Esau making him an Edomite, not a Israelite; therefore, most Jews saw him as an impostor and despised him, despite all he did for them (one of which was rebuilding their temple). The only reason he is called keing was because of the Roman senate and Mark Antony. He longed for power, loyalty, and to be accepted as king. So when the wise men broke the news of one who was the rightful king, this reality did not set so well. Herod was afraid.

If Herod had accepted the King, accept Jesus’ rightful place, there would have been no reason for him to be afraid. Herod would have recognised his place as the one keeping the seat warm, but because he rejected Jesus, Herod put himself in direct opposition to the rule of Jesus making him feel threatened.

There were enough wise men to trouble the city.

1 John 4:18 NKJV

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Their rejection of the King lead them to fear, but also, because the rejected Him

Matthew 2:4–6 NKJV

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

It was no secret where Christ would be born. They had the record right in front of them. There is also evidence found in the writings of Josephus, other men of the Middle East and Greece, and even the Roman poet Virgil that there was a general expectation of some type of Messianic announcement. The general population was living with the expectation that God was going to send a person to deliver them from themselves.

Yet when this announcement finally came, what was the response of the Jewish leadership, the ones responsible for the spiritual oversight of the people of Israel, the ones who were supposed to be students of the Word? Do we find them following the magi in their pursuit? No. They answered their question, but did not follow. They ignored the King, because they rejected Him as would be seen 33 years or so later.

It was no secret where Christ would be born. They had the record right in front of them why did they not pursue Him.

John 19:15 NKJV

But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Warren Wiersbe writes,

The magi were seeking the King; Herod was opposing the King; and the Jewish priests were ignoring the King. These priests knew the Scriptures and pointed others to the Saviour, but they would not go to worship Him themselves! They quoted but did not obey it. They were five miles (or 8 km) from the very Son of God, yet they did not go to see Him! The Gentiles sought and found Him, but the Jews did not. [Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 14–15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 14–15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: The King’s Birth (Matthew 1–2)

The magi were seeking the King; Herod was opposing the King; and the Jewish priests were ignoring the King. These priests knew the Scriptures and pointed others to the Saviour, but they would not go to worship Him themselves! They quoted Micah 5:2 but did not obey it. They were five miles from the very Son of God, yet they did not go to see Him! The Gentiles sought and found Him, but the Jews did not.

But their rejection is truly revealed in their actions.

There were enough wise men to trouble the city.

At first glance it would appear that maybe

Matthew 2:7–8 NKJV

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

At first glance it would appear that maybe Herod was making the right choice, and not letting his fear and pride to rule his life. Yet all would become clear when he found out the wise men would not return.

Matthew 2:16–18 NKJV

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”

History shows Herod did not take even perceived threats lying down. This was a man who, in an effort to squash family rivalries, had his wife and children killed along with his wife’s family which included her grandfather. It is no wonder that all Jerusalem felt Herod’s anxiety over the news of a rightful Jewish king.

Herod did not take perceived threats lying down.

It is no wonder that all Jerusalem felt Herod’s anxiety over the news of a rightful Jewish king. To squash family rivalries Herod had his and extended family put to death.

At the time of the arrival of the wise men Herod had already rewritten his will several times and was now in the grips of a fatal illness. The legacy he wanted was threatened, and he would not accept anyone else messing with his plans. We find Herod going on the offensive with one of the most gruesome atrocities ever recorded in history. The slaughtering of children from the age of 2 years old and down, not just in Bethlehem, but the whole region surrounding Bethlehem.

not just in Bethlehem

The chief priests desire to destroy Jesus would come out later.

Word Pictures in the New Testament Matthew 2:3

He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him (ἐταραχθη και πασα Ἰεροσολυμα μετʼ αὐτου [etarachthē kai pāsa Ierosoluma met’ autou]). Those familiar with the story of Herod the Great in Josephus can well understand the meaning of these words. Herod in his rage over his family rivalries and jealousies put to death the two sons of Mariamne (Aristobulus and Alexander), Mariamne herself, and Antipater, another son and once his heir, besides the brother and mother of Mariamne (Aristobulus, Alexandra) and her grandfather John Hyrcanus. He had made will after will and was now in a fatal illness and fury over the question of the Magi. He showed his excitement and the whole city was upset because the people knew only too well what he could do when in a rage over the disturbance of his plans. “The foreigner and usurper feared a rival, and the tyrant feared the rival would be welcome” (Bruce). Herod was a hated Idumaean.

The desire to destroy Jesus would come out later in the lives of the religious leaders who rejected Him.

Mark 11:18 NKJV

And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.

Once again, here is our challenge, who are we? Are we ones who are accepting the King or are we ones who are rejecting the King?

Are you afraid of the future? Are you choosing your path over His? Are you trying to squash His authority in your life or in the lives others?

Or are you seeking after Him?

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Worshiping Him?

Revelation

Revelation 4:10 NKJV

the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

Protecting and Defending Him?

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

My we be ones who accept Him.

All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him

In His presence daily live.

The Arrival of the King

Introduction

Those Who Accepted Him

They Sought for Him (vs. 1-2)

They Worshiped Him (vs. 9-11)

They Protected Him (vs. 12-15)

Those Who Rejected Him

They were Afraid of Him (vs. 3)

They Ignored Him (vs. 4-6)

They Sought to Destroy Him (vs. 7-8; 16-18)

Conclusion

The Arrival of the King

Introduction

Those Who Accepted Him

They Sought for Him (vs. 1-2)

They Worshiped Him (vs. 9-11)

They Protected Him (vs. 12-15)

Those Who Rejected Him

They were Afraid of Him (vs. 3)

They Ignored Him (vs. 4-6)

​

They Sought to Destroy Him (vs. 7-8; 16-18)

Conclusion