I'm told that when a great sculptor begins to hammer and chisel a block of stone – his mind's eye can see, within the stone, the finished sculpture. It's as if his chiselling, his work, is to set it free and bring it out.

It is certain that God knew from the beginning what his plan was – and how he would execute it. His great work is to rescue men and women from death and the darkness of this world. And to save them for fellowship with himself. Our readings today tell us something about that. [It would be good if you were to read the whole of Isaiah 60!] The Gospel reading especially tells us about the place in God's plan of his coming to us in Jesus Christ.

Matthew too – the author of his Gospel – had a plan and pattern for his book. Each Gospel-writer is necessarily selective, telling us only of events which contribute to his overall purpose. If we look at how Matthew begins – and ends – his Gospel – and how this passage fits in between chapters 1 & 3 – we will find it easier to take in what the Lord is saying to us, through Matthew.

You see, the trouble with these very familiar stories is that we only see them through layer upon layer of fanciful legend or sentimental embellishment. As a result, they never speak to our understanding – to bring God's light into dark places – nor address our hearts – to correct our waywardness – bring peace to our fears – or encourage us to serve the Lord with new zeal.

Jesus, God's promised King, is Lord of all

So how does Matthew begin his Gospel? By impressing upon us that JESUS is God's long-promised Messiah, God's chosen King, the fulfillment of his word to the prophets. If Jesus is all that – then chapter 2 tells us – we must be his worshippers, just as the Magi were. We must not be like Herod, or the religious leaders of that day.

Chapter 1 picks out from the genealogy of Jesus, and emphasizes, the names of Abraham and David. God promised Abraham that his seed – a word that can mean one or many – would bring blessing to all the peoples of the earth.(Gen 12:3; 22:18) And he promised David that a son of his would reign forever, (2 Sam 7:13,16; 1 Chr 17:12-14) that he would rule over all nations, and make them his inheritance. (Psa 2:8)

Matthew is telling his Jewish readers that Jesus is the Messiah – a far more wonderful Messiah than they had in mind – a Messiah for all men, for everyone. Moreover he is coming to save them from their sins, from judgement to come.

Chapter 3 tells us John the Baptist's message. It was like the message of the last prophet in the Old Testament – Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? He will be like a refiner's fire... Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness... (Malachi 3:2,3) John came with a message, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near... Get ready, for the King is coming. Get ready by turning from your sin...

If we now turn again to chapter 2 – we can see that Matthew is introducing us to Jesus – as God's King for everyone. Since he will rule over us – we ought to give him now the homage, worship and service of our lives.

Jesus contrasted with an earthly king where self is enthroned

So that we may see Jesus in the most brilliant light – Matthew sets him over against the black background of the earthly king Herod – who differs utterly from the king Jesus is to become, for Jesus always did what pleased his Father. This is no mere literary device, for Matthew is relating sober history – but contrast there must be, when God's King comes into a world where God is ignored and defied.

Between self and God there must always be conflict and hostility. And in Herod we see self enthroned. Where self is enthroned, God is de-throned, and his plans opposed, openly or by guile. Be warned – this is the true character of all human hearts, apart from God's grace.

Even when we've trusted Christ for salvation – we are still tempted not to give Jesus the throne in our lives. Or, if you would prefer a modern illustration, we are still tempted not to let Jesus sit in the driving seat of our lives, and take control.

We are to obey as Joseph obeyed God. Once he'd settled in Bethlehem, among his own kith and kin – do you think he wanted to leave for a foreign country? To get up in the middle of the night, perhaps against Mary's protests that she'd just got Jesus off to sleep, to take his family to Egypt? But God wants our entire trust and ready obedience.

Where self is enthroned – we deceive ourselves! How else can we puny men think we can overthrow God's plan or de-throne God? But that's what unbelief does to us. We become blind – and unable to recognise God's King. And when self is enthroned, others suffer – and God's world is filled with hatred and violence.

Herod is depicted entirely in character with the man recorded by secular historians. Since Matthew plainly compares Jesus to Moses (Matt 4:1; 5:1,2; 17:3; 19:8,9), and finds parallels with the Exodus from Egypt (Matt 2:15; 14:13-21; 26:17-28) – he clearly sees Herod as another Pharoah, destroying children to thwart God's plan. (Exod 1:22)

But self enthroned doesn't always lead to violence – it can also lead to indifference. Those religious leaders had no personal interest in the Magis' quest. They knew the Scriptures – but were too comfortable to face the challenge they brought. Be warned – we can know all about the contents of the Bible – but not know its Author – or experience his work in our lives! By all means, get to know your Bible – but, as you read it, ask its Author to speak to you personally through his words. And as you do so – remember he will expect you to act upon it!

As I've said – the trouble with us fallen men and women – is that our eyes wander from Jesus. We more readily stray to the Magi – to invest them with glamour, to number them, give them names and kingdoms – or we speculate about the star, to satisfy our curiosity.

But Matthew – or rather, the Lord himself – hasn't chosen to satisfy our curiosity. All the details we'd love to know – all that we crowd onto our Christmas cards, or put into our carols – he omits.

Jesus is sought by strangers moved by God's grace

He concentrates our attention on a few vital facts. That these men were strangers from the East, not Jews. But their quest was directed to a new-born King of the Jews. And the object of their journey? That they might worship him.

God – in his grace and mercy – had spoken to these men through their own astronomical studies. In those days, and in those lands, there was no distinction between astronomy and astrology. What they saw in the heavens signified what God was doing on earth. But the important thing was this – this knowledge didn't remain theoretical – it issued in action – costly action. It involved the hardship and dangers of the long journey – and the sacrifice of their wealth. Their homage wasn't just in word and gesture – it involved their money and their lives. It was true worship.

It was God who had moved them to do it. Why? So that everyone should know that Jesus is Lord of all. Not just King of the Jews – but the Saviour of the world. In fact, that's probably one reason why the religious leaders ignored for themselves the Magis' quest. They despised the outsider, and couldn't believe God, in his grace, would reveal himself and give faith to foreign astrologers.

Are we free from this same pride? We should be! We, who know that we are saved by grace alone, through no merit of our own. Yet, so easily, we look down on others. We too are racially, religiously or socially prejudiced. That notorious unbeliever – we cannot believe God could save – or would want to! Shame on us for our sinful pride! God is sovereign – he gives faith where we least expect it – and he calls us to proclaim him in every place.

The faith of the Magi – and the cost of doing God's will

These thoughts about the Magi are – I'm sure – familiar to us. But has the greatness of their faith really sunk in? As astrologers, they were convinced of the rightness of their interpretation of the star. When they arrived in Jerusalem they went on making enquiries – that is the force of the Greek – as to the whereabouts of the newborn king. So much so that the whole town was alarmed – no doubt fearing Herod's reaction – so that the news soon reached King Herod's ears.

When the Magi learned that the baby must have been born in Bethlehem (if there was one at all) – they must have had doubts about their journey. For there, in a small village, there would be no royal palace, nor evidence of royalty. What re-assurance therefore, it must have been, as they set out on their 6 mile journey, to see again their star, above the southern horizon!

But when they arrived and found a humble home of no worldly distinction – they still trusted that God had led them aright. So it was, by God's grace, that they recognised Jesus as God's King – and they prostrated themselves before this babe, and offered him their gifts. What faith in the New Testament is greater than that? None can be compared to it, apart perhaps from that of the dying thief. They trusted, despite a lack of any outward sign, that Jesus was God's King.

Matthew's message is clear: That is what we are to do – trust Jesus as our King, whatever it may cost us. And a cost arises just because Jesus is King. He is not our equal. We can only meet him on terms of complete submission.

Nelson, the great English admiral, always treated his vanquished opponents with the greatest kindness and courtesy. After one of his naval victories, the defeated admiral was brought to Nelson's flagship and onto his quarter-deck. Knowing of Nelson's reputation, and thinking to trade on it – he advanced across the deck with hand outstretched – as if to shake hands with an equal. But Nelson's hand remained at his side. Your sword first, he said, then your hand. Before we may know Christ as our friend, we must surrender ourselves fully to him as our King.

For the cost of our surrender lies in our sinful hearts, which God desires to purify – and from the world outside us, where self is enthroned and God is opposed.

When Jesus, God's King, came among us, this cost – the cost of conflict – became immediately apparent. Straightaway he is rejected by unbelief and required to flee persecution – becoming a refugee in a foreign land. Even as a baby, Jesus is identified with suffering, sinful humanity. He is Immanuel – God with us. Already the shadow of the Cross falls across his cradle. He came to die on account of our sins.

Recognise this cost, this conflict. It always centres on Jesus – who he is – what he came to do. The world denies and opposes the truth about both. Are we Jesus' loyal subjects, his disciples and his friends? Then we also will be under attack. The warfare is real – and it has its casualties. But – whatever the cost – we are called to worship – to obey and serve our King.

Matthew ends his Gospel with the King's Commission: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... (Matthew 28:18-19)

What a challenge that must have been to Jewish believers! If they hadn't taken it up – we wouldn't be here now! Is it a challenge to you and me? As the nineteenth century drew to a close, Christian university students adopted various slogans at their gatherings – like: Make Jesus King! The evangelisation of the world in this generation! Evangelise to a finish – to bring back the King!

Will we respond to our King's Commission, with all that we are? Will our service to the King influence all we do in 2006?

                                                                                              Amen.