The Star of Christmas - Seek the Star

by Pastor Peter Lim

Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”


Big idea:
God wants us to encounter and experience Christ for ourselves

How do we experience Christ and not just know about him?

1. The star
- Is this star a planet, a nova, a super nova etc?
- Best to describe as supernatural occurrence because it rose and stays at a location
- what is the significance of this star?
- in ancient, people see special star as birth of royal family
- the star did not point to king Herod family
- instead it led wise men to real STAR

# The star led the wise men to the real STAR of Christmas

2. The scribes
Matthew 2:3-6
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’[a]”


- king Herod was troubled
- he was well known to be paranoid
- he wanted to kill jesus
- the city of Jerusalem was troubled with king Herod as well
- commentators said that to portray Jerusalem as opposition and rejection to the Messiah
- the scribes were experts in Jewish law, most of them were teachers
Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”


- the scribes were able to identify the relevant verse and prophecy that points to the event
- yet they were so close yet so far
- however the scribes did not join the wise men in search of the baby

# When the scribes knew where the Messiah would be born they did not bother to join the wise men in their quest. The scribes took Jesus for granted

This is different between knowledge and insight

You can know about Christ but did not encounter Him

God could have used us mightily, oh taste and see... In the end we must taste God ourselves

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.


# Act on our knowledge about God and experience HIM personally

3. The shepherds
Luke 2:8-9
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.


- shepherd's were peasant located in humility
- yet God chose to give first hand info about His son in a farm to the shepherds

# The glory of God would now occupy the most unexpected of places and reveal itself to the most unexpected of individual

Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.


The shepherds were filled with awe and fear but angels assured them to have no fear

The good news is for all people. To be preached in all nations and all people

Luke 2:11-12
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”


In contrast to the knowledge of the scribes, the shepherds have the privilege of receiving this revelation

Revelation
# Jesus is the saviour, the Messiah, Lord and King

Luke 2:13-14
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”


Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”


Joy, revelation and peace are just some of God's attributes

However, It's about experiencing God's glory, his beauty for ourselves personally

# It is pleasurable and wonderful just to know Him to enjoy His beauty and presence

Luke 2:15-18
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.


# The shepherds don't have much to gain materially but their lives were changed and transformed. They simply share

# The shepherds were the first evangelists.

A. SEEK the star of Christmas (He's not just the theory, take it as truth, obey and live it out despite the grief, challenges, choose to experience God instead of the gift and benefits)

B. BE a star at Christmas (be a light to point people to Jesus)