00:00King of the Jews
00:06There are many stories of kings both in the Bible and in the secular world.
00:12Some were bad kings and others were good.
00:15However, none of them can compare to Jesus Christ, our King.
00:19None were as great as Jesus Christ.
00:22None were as gracious.
00:24None were as loving and sacrificial.
00:27None have more authority.
00:29Jesus is the King of Kings.
00:31There are two times in Jesus' life when he is specifically referred to as the King of the Jews.
00:37First, we see it in Matthew 2.
00:40Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King,
00:45Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
00:48Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?
00:51For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.
00:56The wise men traveled to Bethlehem.
00:59When they had come to the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell to the ground and worshipped him.
01:06The other time Jesus is referred to as the King of the Jews was during his trial while standing before Pilate.
01:13Later, after asking the crowd if they would like to release Jesus, the King of the Jews, the crowd of Jews cried out to crucify him instead.
01:31John 19 says Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd and said, Behold, your King.
01:38So they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him.
01:43Pilate asked, Shall I crucify your King?
01:46The chief priests answered, We have no King but Caesar.
01:51Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews, was received two different ways.
01:55The wise men had an attitude of worship.
01:58They knew the King, the one who had been prophesied to be, a ruler in Israel, who would sit at the right hand of God and rule over the earth had been born.
02:08They traveled a long journey, followed his star, and were so determined that even King Herod's request in Matthew 2 verse 7 did not distract them.
02:19Once in Christ's presence, they fell to the ground and worshipped him.
02:23The wise men did all that out of faith.
02:26Jesus was only a child at that point.
02:28He had not disclosed who he is, he had not started his ministry, he had not himself done any miracles, and yet the wise men, who were Gentiles, believed and worshipped him.
02:42On the other hand, his own people rejected him.
02:45John 1 verse 11 tells us, He came to his own, and those who were his own did not receive him.
02:52These people had more reasons than the wise men to believe Jesus was their King.
02:57They had spent time with Jesus.
03:00Jesus had been ministering to them.
03:03He had preached and shared God's love with them.
03:06He had done many miracles, and yet they were the ones who shouted,
03:10Crucify him!
03:12There were two very different responses to the same King.
03:15One group worshipped him, and the other rejected him.
03:19As we celebrate this Christmas season, let's follow the wise men's example.
03:24The wise men
03:25Believed God's word, they believed the child, Jesus, was who the Bible said he was.
03:31They were not distracted by circumstances, but they were focused on Jesus Christ.
03:37They worshipped him with joy.
03:39Let us approach this Christmas with an attitude of worship.
03:43Most of us already know who Jesus Christ is and what he has done for us.
03:48He is not just the King of the Jews, he is King of kings.
03:52He did not come just to save the Jews, but he came to save us all from sin.
03:58His birth was the beginning of his earthly mission to redeem all those who accept him as King.
04:05Worship him for what he has done, for what he is doing, and for what he will continue to do.
04:11If you have not made the decision to truly accept him as your King and Savior, today is the day.
04:18Accept him as King and Lord over your life.
04:22Let Jesus Christ be your reason for the season.
04:25Prayer
04:26Father God, thank you for your love and grace.
04:30Thank you that you sent us your Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us and to be our King.
04:36Help us to have an attitude of worship, to always put you first, and to always be mindful of your presence in our lives.
04:44Forgive us and guide us to worship you in spirit and in truth.
04:49In Jesus' name, Amen.
04:50Amen.
