Delivered January 6, 2008
by Pastor Eric Henderson
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened (disturbed), and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet;‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
He grew to be a man. As an adult king, Jesus decided to follow the instructions of God and help create a kingdom. One of the first things Jesus did was ask some workers and business owners to follow him. So they decided to leave behind their families, jobs, businesses and follow king Jesus even though they were uncertain what all that would involve.
One thing they learned early on was that the kingdom Jesus created was different than the one old king Herod created. Jesus was king, but he served others, healed people, helped the poor people, had no army, or body guards, lived in many places not in a mansion, was loved by many common people, but didn't ask them to make him king, like others did. When push came to shove, Jesus let himself be crucified. He acted more like a lamb that gets killed than a king that protects himself. Strange way to be king.
Where is the child born king?
He conquered sin and death by acting like a lamb, but then rose from the dead and ascended to heaven as a victor. But the disciples were not left alone. He dwelt among them as the Holy Spirit which gave them a new boldness to do what king Jesus had asked-go everywhere and make disciples, baptize, teach and proclaim Jesus as king. Even though the disciples suffered because their highest loyalty was to Jesus the risen king. they refused to stop talking about Jesus as king.
Where is the child born king?
(Rev. 1) John had a vision of seven lamp stands which were groups of people that believed in Jesus. There among the lamp stands was someone like a son of man with white hair and eyes like blazing fire and a long white robe. It must be King Jesus among the lamp stands. Jesus now resides among those who bow down in worship and obey king Jesus.
Where is the child born king?
Another part of John's vision was seeing a lamb in heaven with thousands of people and angels bowing down all around the throne singing
"Worthy is the lamb who was slain, to receive power and wisdom and strength and glory and praise!" (Rev. 5)
Many of those gathered around the heavenly throne had decided to follow king Jesus. For the next 200-300 years if someone said yes to Jesus they said no to Roman gods, no to being in the Roman military and often became martyrs.
Jesus the king dwells among his servants and beyond them. Where is the child born king?
About 300 years after Herod Jesus was dwelling among the churches scattered throughout a region ruled by the Roman emperor Constantine. He was absolute master of the empire and desired to rebuild a New Rome to be called Constantinople. Constantine claimed to have a conversion and become a Christian. But did not undergo the usual long process of instruction to help understand Jesus as king and the kingdom of God, nor was he baptized. He decided how to worship and what to do as a Christian and called himself the bishops of bishops-or leader of the church leaders. Persecution ended, Constantine helped the church create certain doctrines and strongly influenced worship. Now worship was held in ornate buildings, not homes. The leaders wore ornate robes and sat in special chairs and the buildings began to look more like palaces. People became less active in worship.
Where is the child born king?
During the next 1200 years many were convinced that king Jesus was pleased to dwell in the lavish building with richly robed priests who spoke the mass in a language many didn't understand and took communion for them and baptized their babies. Bishops and other leaders of the church became some of the most worldly powerful men in Europe. Those baptized by the church were now the favored ones of the empire and being a Christian was the attractive thing to do. Christianity was used by countless leaders to attempt to unify people and increase wealth and power. Instead of being killed for naming Jesus king, those who called themselves followers of Jesus killed those who did not name Jesus king. Crusades brutalized people and the name of Christ.
Where is the child born king?
An increasing number of priests and monks began reading the Bible and questioning where king Jesus was residing and how they were supposed to live as subjects of king Jesus.
Peter Waldo decided that truly following Jesus meant he needed to sell his property and be poor as Jesus was poor. Those who joined him started a reform movement known as the Waldensians. They loved the Scriptures and attempted to practice it.
John Wyclif and John Hus challenged the teachings of the church and encouraged people to read the Bible and let that be a major authority in their life. In 1519 the church leader Zwingli made the statement, "Never will the world be a friend to Christ." As other students of the Bible baptized each other as adults upon confession of faith, and began living as Jesus had lived, persecution of those who gave Jesus their highest allegiance again became common.
To find rest from the persecution Mennonites migrated to the US and Canada. But declaring Jesus king and following his ways sometimes created problems with the leaders of the new countries. At the beginning of WWI, Noah Shrock and other Mennonite, Brethren and Amish young men were required to register for military service in the US. They objected to serving and chose not to report for training drills. That resulted in the windows of their barracks being nailed open in cold weather and not fed for three days.
Where is the child born king?
At the beginning of the year 2008, we're setting aside a time to consider our loyalties, our priorities, our loves and who or what will rule our life.
Herod chose to place the kingdom of Rome and the quest for power as his highest loyalty. So he attempted to destroy any threats to self or Rome.
The wise men chose to search, worship, and give gifts to this newborn king, even though they didn't fully know what Jesus as king would mean.
How will we respond to this child born king?
Many of us have dedicated our gifts, our talents, and our time to serving Christ Jesus and the church. We have joined others searching for Jesus and have worshipped. We've shown our love and loyalty to Christ, to one another and our neighbors.
1) If Jesus is king of our lives, I believe we will regularly say, "Jesus, you are my master, I am your servant. My time, talents, and treasures are for your use. I will live according to your will and ways not mine."
We are drawn to make Jesus king, because Jesus has shown how much he loves us by giving his life for us and by touching our spirits with his spirit.
2) If Jesus is king of our lives, we will study and practice the ways of Jesus. We will study Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and do what Jesus did and taught.
We are drawn to study and practice the ways of king Jesus because his ways give life abundantly now and forever.
3) We join others who are seeking to live as servants of Jesus. We are drawn to join others who are seeking to lives as servants of Jesus because we need to love of Jesus that dwells within others who have said yes to Jesus as king of their lives.
Today we celebrate king Jesus' gift of his body for our healing and wholeness by eating this bread. By drinking this juice, we celebrate king Jesus' amazing gift of his blood for our reconciliation with God.
After we receive Jesus gift to us, we will be asked to make a covenant with Jesus, this child born king, and his body the church. We are being asked to commit ourselves to Jesus and the church. Let us consider carefully what our loyalties, our priorities, and our loves will be at the beginning of this new year.
If you have questions or comments about saying yes to king Jesus, please contact me by phone at 506-756-2442 or email me at ehenderson@nb.aibn.com. I'd be glad to hear from you. Eric
Petitcodiac Mennonite Church