Lord, we greet thee. Born this happy morning. Jesus, to thee be all glory given. Word of the Father, now in flesh
appearing. Thank you, John. Thank you, Robin. Now go with me to Matthew's Gospel
chapter Matthew chapter 1. This is an amazing and wondrous
story, but it's not enough just to see it as an interesting story
or be merely amazed by it. We need to enter into it. It needs to enter into us. We
need to hear and see what Mary heard and saw. We need to hear
and see what the shepherds heard and saw, what the wise men heard
and saw. Oh, this is just another religious
servant. The same thing needs to happen
to us as it happened to Mary. What I hope we'll see in this
is that who He is and why He came is
who He came for. What he did, who he is, and how
he came, and what happened, we're here because of that. As he is,
John wrote, so are we now in this world. And I'll explain
that a little more in a moment. But Matthew 1, verse 18, now
the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wife, as his mother Mary
was a spouse to Joseph. Before they came together, she
was found with the child of the Holy Ghost. What child is this? This baby, this child that was
born. Isaiah said, a child is born,
a baby was born, a human child seemingly, but a son is given. This is the eternal son. of God. This is the son of the highest
God, the only begotten son of the most high God. Verse 23 tells
us that she was a virgin. According to the scriptures,
the prophecy in Isaiah 7, behold, a virgin shall be with a child
and shall bring forth a son. And they shall call his name
Immanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. This child was
born of a virgin. This child was born without the
seed of man in him, without sin. Is that important? Everything
depends on that. You know, there are some in religion
today that don't believe that. I have in the back of my notebook,
I took a poll of clergy, and you can't believe how many don't
believe that he was born of a virgin. Then they don't know God, and
they have no hope. If Christ, if He's not God manifest
in the flesh, He's the greatest imposter who ever lived. And
it's the greatest hoax that's been ever perpetrated on the
human race and perpetuated. And He didn't save anyone. If
He wasn't God, if He isn't God, He didn't save anyone. He didn't
even save Himself. He didn't rise from the grave.
You'll find His bones somewhere over there if He's not God. And
we're fools. If we're meeting here, today
just to commemorate and remember a man, a mere man that died 2,000
years ago. We're a bunch of fools. And Paul
said, we're yet in our sins. But I'm here to tell you. I'm here to tell you. That's
what I am to do, to tell you. He is risen like the angel. This
child was the beloved Son of God, the only begotten well-beloved
Son of God. This is the Christ. This is the
King of kings and the Lord of lords from heaven. This is the
creator of all. This is the one who though assumed
the body of a little child, this is the one who made the heavens
and the earth. Amazingly, miraculously, marvelously,
mysteriously, Paul wrote, great is the mystery of godliness.
God was manifest in the flesh. That woman who held the child
was really being held by the child. The child of the woman
was really her father. Isaiah went on to say, call his
name wonderful Counselor of the mighty God, the everlasting Father. That young maid espoused to Joseph,
no really, the one in her arms is her Husband. Isn't that a mystery? Now look
at chapter 1, verse 21. This is why it came. Verse 21. The angel is declaring this,
declaring the gospel. She shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name Jesus, which means Savior. Why? For he shall save His people
from their sins. Call His name Jesus because that's
why He has come and that's what He did. If He didn't save, He
didn't live up to that name, did He? But the angel said, He
shall save His people from their sins. Call His name Jesus. It
means Savior. That's why He came. That's why
He was sent, to save. Man needs saving, doesn't he?
Men don't know it. They don't think it, do they?
They don't think it. That's why it's hard to get a
crowd to come here about the Savior. Men don't need saving. Don't think to do it. But bless
God, He causes some people, He's chosen some, to know they need
saving. And He reveals to them, like
shepherds, like the wise men, The Savior unto you is born this
day. A Savior unto you. Call His name Jesus. He shall
save. He shall save. Why did He come?
To save. Well, they said, He shall save.
Isaiah said, He shall not fail. Didn't He? He shall save. Not try to save. He shall save.
Christ came and saved all He came to save. It doesn't say
he shall attempt to save, he made an atonement. Not an attempt,
but an atonement. It doesn't say he'll offer salvation,
does it? To everyone that needs it or
wants it or accepts it. No, it says he shall save. He
said, I am come that they might have life, to give life, to give
life. Not an offer. Who shall he save?
Look at it again, verse 21. He shall save his people. From
their sin. Here you go again, preacher.
That's exactly right. This is His glory. And this is
the salvation of His people. He shall save. If I'm one of
His people, I'm going to be saved. I am saved. Just as sure as He
is a surety. Just as sure as His name is Savior.
If He came to save me, I'm saved. His people, His elect, His chosen,
given to Him by the Father in a covenant for the world. We
sang that. Oh, how few people understand what they sing. Second Adam from above. Two covenants,
one with Adam. He failed miserably and we all
fell in Adam. In Adam all died, but in Christ,
everyone in Christ, everyone found in Christ, everyone Christ
came to save will be made alive. Second Adam. Reinstate us. And he did. And he shall. He
did. From their sins. Look at verse
21. He shall save his people from
their sins. Christ came to deliver us from
the penalty of the law. Death. The soul that sinneth
must surely die. Shall surely die. Christ's soul
was made an offering for sin. If Jesus Christ died for you,
law God's law, God, you must go for it. Justice requires it. If Jesus Christ died for you,
you are justified. Right? Who shall lay anything
to charge of God's elect? Christ died. So, He came to redeem us, to
save us from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin. under
bondage, led captive by another. And Christ came to leave captivity
captive, to become His own. And He said of His people, He
said of all His people, sin shall not have dominion over you. Why? Because He does. And you're not
under the law, but under grace. Now go and learn what that means.
That'll give you peace. You're under a kind... Your old
husband's dead, and now you're married to another. and came
to deliver us from the presence of sin. Someday, He's coming
back to take us out of this present evil world to dwell with Him
forever and ever. Wherein dwelleth righteousness
and no more sin. No more sin, we'll be just like
Him and we'll see Him as He is. Now, turn to Daniel chapter 9. Daniel chapter 9. If you've never
seen this, if you don't know where it is, if you don't have
it marked, you'll want to. Daniel chapter 9. The angel declared
He shall save His people from their sin. Christ came to make
an end of transgression by Himself. It says, He shall
save, doesn't it? It doesn't say you and Him. It
doesn't say if you'll cooperate with Him. It says, He shall save His people. And in Hebrews, a summary of
the whole Old Testament begins this way, when He had by Himself
purged our sin, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on
high, by himself. That's the Christ of Scripture.
Any other is an imposter. But he came to make an end. Look
at Daniel 9. This is the prophecy of Christ's
coming, verse 27. Daniel 9, 27. Seventy weeks are
determined upon who? Thy people. and upon thy holy
city." This whole thing was predestined, predetermined, the time, in the
fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, made of woman, made
under the law to redeem them that were under the law. Who?
His people. Read on, Daniel 9, 24. It's determined, predetermined,
predestined upon thy people, thy holy city, that's the church,
to finish the transgression. to make an end of sins, to make
reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness
for them, and to seal up the vision, the prophecy, and to
anoint the Most Holy." Sounds like he did it before it was
even done. He did. I've taught you a little Latin
in the past, and in case you forgot it, I'll teach you again.
This is all the Latin you need to know. That's all you need
to know. Factum. Said, done. God said, I purposed it, I'll
bring it to pass. I've spoken it, I'll do it. This
is what it said. He declared the end from the
beginning. He shall finish the work. He came to finish it. As a 12-year-old
boy in the temple, he said to his parents, his parents said,
son, he never called her mother, he
never called him dad. He talked about his father, but
it wasn't Joseph, was it? And he said, wished ye not that
I must be about my father's business? The Father sent me on business.
The Father sent me to save my people, to save his people. As
thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give
eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. As a 12-year-old
boy, he said, I've come to do this work. Hanging on the cross,
He said, it's finished. It's finished. Brought in an
everlasting righteousness. And He made an end of sin. Isn't
that good news? That's good news. I just declared
the end from the beginning there to you. Because He's just now
being born in this story. Well, it's as good as done. Because
He's the Eternal Son. Alright? Go back to the text
in Matthew chapter 1. This is the mercy and the miracle
of His birth. But this is also the mercy and
the miracle of the new birth, the new birth, as He is. This
is why He came, who He came for, and what happened to Mary, I
want you to see. Some of you know this. I want
you to see this is what happens to every single person born of
God. Because there's such a connection
here. He's born, I'm born. As He is,
why He came. You remember the story of Isaac
being offered by Abraham up on the mountain, Mount Carmel? You
remember that? Do you remember while he was
being offered, do you know who was being born? Rebecca. His bride, while the son was
being sacrificed, the bride was being born. When Christ was slain,
out of His side flowed blood and water. Justification, sanctification,
but a whole lot more came out. His church was born. His people
were born. Born again. Born of the Spirit
of God. Born by the Word, the blood, the water. Born of God. Born of His Spirit. Look at verses
18 and 19. Now, said of Mary, his mother
was a spouse to Joseph. Before they came together, she
was found with child of the Holy Ghost. And Joseph, her husband,
being a just man, not willing to make her a public example,
was minded to put her away privately. Something miraculous happened
to Mary. It says she was found. She was found with child of the
Holy Ghost. She was found. This is not a
play on words. This is the truth. She was found. The angel came
to her. She wasn't looking. She wasn't
seeking Him. The angel came to her and found
her. Don't you love that in Isaiah
65, it says, I am sought of them that ask not for me. I am found
of them that sought me not. Like old Philip. Philip said,
we found him. Who found who, Philip? She was found with child. Where did this child come from?
It wasn't a man. It wasn't Joseph. It wasn't of
men. It was the Holy Ghost. So it
is all of those that are born of God. Born of God. It's the seed of God. It's the
incorruptible seed of God being begotten again by the Word of
Truth, the Gospel. God sends His Holy Spirit through
the Gospel. An angel was telling her all
this. An angel was sent with this news. And we're pleased,
God, by the foolishness of preaching. Preachers are even called angels.
That's not a lofty term, it just means a messenger. Don't worship
the angel, like John did on Patmos. He said, I'm one of your fellow
brethren, just a prophet. Worship Him. I'm just telling
a message. But this is what God uses, you
see. He takes the incorruptible seed, this Word, this Christ. What does He do? He puts Christ
in you. Like He did Mary. What was found
in her? She was found by God, found by
the angel, and found in her was the Son of God Himself. You know,
this is our hope of glory? Christ in you. Paul said, Will
it please God who separated me from my mother's womb and called
me by His grace to reveal His Son in me? Most every perversion
says, to me. The King James says, in me, Christ
in you the hope of glory, born of God, born of His Spirit, Christ
in you. Oh, isn't this wonderful? Are
you enjoying this? This happened to me. I believe
I'm a son of God. I believe I'm a highly favored.
Look at, keep going. It says in verse 19, her husband,
a just man, not willing to make her a public example, was minded
to put her away privately. You know what the law said about
a woman found like this? Stone her. That's what the justice
of God says, stone her. But fellas, people, fellas, beloved,
if Christ came for you, the law has no charge against you. Justice
has been satisfied. You know what the law says? Not
stone you. Highly favored. Highly favored. Luke's account
is a little more thorough account. Luke chapter 1. Go over there. Luke chapter 1. You see, you
know the Scripture says, Romans 8, Doctrine, oh my, it's glory,
glory. It says, for whom He did foreknow.
Did He foreknow Mary? Did he? Did he know her before?
Oh, he chose her before the world began. She was his chosen vessel. She was a borrowed womb, like
the tomb was borrowed, her womb was borrowed, but she was a chosen
vessel unto the Lord. Vessel to do what? To fill her
with Christ. She was foreknown, for whom He
did foreknow, He did predestinate. Was everything about Mary and
Joseph, and where they would go, and where they would live,
and everything, ordered in all things and sure, predestined?
Was her destiny determined? Everything about her, even the
hairs over her head, why? Because she had Christ in her. So it is with that. For whom
He did foreknow, He did predestinate. Whom He predestinated, He called
Mary the angel. Alright, look at it. Luke 1,
verse 26. It says, in the sixth month,
the angel Gabriel, huh? We had a Gabriel here, didn't
we? There's an angel right now preaching,
right now, today, named Gabriel. In Kingsport, what's he preaching? Not what? Scent. How shall they preach
except to be scent? He was scent. from God into a
city of Galilee and Nazareth." Now can anything good come out
of Nazareth? Oh, the gospel was sent there,
wasn't it? Christ was sent there, and so was this young maid and
her husband, future husband. So he was sent with a particular
person in mind, to a virgin, a spouse, to a man whose name
was Joseph. Now Christ's bride, aren't virgins
when He finds them, are they? No, they're like Gomer. They're
forlorn. They've sold themselves. They're
like Rahab. They're heartless. Like Mary
Magdalene. Aren't they? All of them. Every one of them.
Because He gets the greater glory for them. They're ugly. They're
not beautiful. They're ugly. But boy, He makes
them beautiful. To His glory. Through His comeliness,
you see. For His glory. The procession
in glory someday, the bride's not going to be walking down
the aisle. The bridegroom is. And all are going to be praising
Him. But it says they're all going to be presented to Him
as chaste virgins. That's what it said in the Revelation.
It says these are virgins. He's only able to present us
before His presence faultless, unblameable, unreprovable with
God's eye. There's nothing wrong with them.
They're perfect, they're pristine, they're holy. Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, His
Saviour, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of
the Holy Ghost. Oh, not unto us, not unto us. We look at it in verse 27. To a virgin of the house of David,
Joseph the house of David, Mary was too. You know the different
genealogies, one is Joseph's and one is Mary's. If you ever
wondered the seeming discrepancy, it's not. It's by design. Matthew,
Luke's account are one of Joseph, one of Mary. They're both of
the house of David. Judah. Judah. Not Levi. Judah. And so am I. So am I. Christ came from there. In verse 28, "...and an angel
came in to her and said, Hail..." Now read it carefully. "...Hail, thou that art highly
favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women."
He did not say, blessed art thou above women. Did it? Did it? No. Among women. Elizabeth was blessed. Mary was
blessed among women. Blessed art thou among women. Hail, thou art highly favored. Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he
arose from the grave, he greeted a woman. The first woman he greeted
was a former harlot named Mary. And you know what he said? Hail Mary. Mary. Mary was no more favored
than I am, than you are. Mary was highly favored of God. The margin says, if you have
a marginal reference, and this is why I like the Cambridge, King James, it says,
they are graciously accepted, or much grace. Now, false religion
says, Hail Mary, full of grace. The Bible doesn't say that. It
says of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone, we beheld His glory
as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace. And of
His fullness have all we received grace, Grace. Are you with me? We're highly favored. Mary, no
more highly favored than we are to have Christ revealed to us,
to have the gospel preached to us, to have Christ's form in
us. We've been graciously accepted. We have found grace in His eyes,
just like Noah. We've found grace to be put in
the ark, Christ Jesus. We've found grace. He says, by
grace you save, not works. Blessed any man that should boast.
By grace, you say, we've been highly favored of God. The scriptures
call the gospel a high calling, a heavenly calling. Every single
child of God chosen by God has been highly favored of God. to
have Christ revealed to them, to have Christ preached to them,
to have Christ put in them, to have the seed of God put in them
to be born of God. Oh, it doth not yet appear what
we shall be. Mary, she didn't know what was
going on, but something miraculous was happening. And soon she's
going to see glory to God. And it will appear soon what
we shall be. Graciously accepted. How are
we accepted? Was Mary accepted because of
Her good character, her moral character. No, Mary said, Mary
said, my soul rejoices in God my Savior. She said that. Mary knew she was a sinner and
she needed a Savior. And so does this sinner. And
we are accepted one way. How's that? In the Beloved. Mary was accepted because in
her was the Beloved. And nothing, listen to me, Nothing
can happen to her. All hell is after this child. Nothing can happen. Amen. That's our piece. Highly favored. Look at verse 29. She's troubled.
When she saw the angel, she was troubled at this saying. She
wondered what this was. She was troubled. She feared.
She feared. And verse 30, the angel, after
she feared, said, fear not Mary, thou hast found favor with God.
Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son
and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, shall be called
the son of the highest, not the son of Mary. Nowhere in the Bible
is he called the son of Mary. Nowhere. That's a title, son. And he's called son of the highest,
son of God. Mary's son, yes, but not the
son of Mary. He's referred to as the son of
God, the son of the highest. And the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father David and he shall reign over
the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be
no end. What did Mary hear? She heard
about a king. She heard about a Lord. She heard
about a Sovereign. And God, through the preaching
of this angel, put in her this knowledge of the Most High, the
Just One. She had the fear of God in her.
And this is what happens to all of them. For whom He did forego, He did
predestinate. All of them. And whom He did
predestinate, He called. She heard the call. She heard.
And whom He called, He justified. Faith justified. She believed, didn't she? She
believed. She feared, but she believed. She received the Word.
As many as received Him, to them gave He the right, power, the
honor to be called the sons of God, which were born. Which were born. Whom He called,
He justified. Whom He justified, He Glorified. And Mary is going to see heaven
erupt. Alright? Who did he do this for? Look at Luke chapter 2. Have you heard his voice? Have
you heard this? Do you see your calling, brethren, a lowly maid?
Now a few lowly shepherds. Look at chapter 2, verse 8. There
was in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping
watch. over their flock by night, a few lowly shepherds." Few are
chosen, aren't they? Many are called, but few are
chosen. They heard some things. When did they hear it? They were
watching over their flock by night. They were in darkness.
They were in darkness, even as others, weren't they? It was
nighttime. Everybody else was sleeping.
Scripture says, "...let us not sleep as do others." They were
in the dark, and they were watching over their flock. And then God,
look at verse 9. Lo, the angel of the Lord came
upon them. Spirit of God sent an angel of
God, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they
were afraid. They feared. Fear of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom and saving wisdom. And this is when
the Lord sends His Word in power, not in word only, but in power. And the Holy Ghost puts the fear
of God in us. And what's the message? What
did Mary hear? Of Him. What did these shepherds
hear? Of Him. It's all about Him. Those
who have been highly favored hear about Him. Him. Look at,
well, I'll read it for you. In Isaiah it says, the darkness,
if you look to the earth, nothing but trouble and darkness, dimness
and anguish. At this time, they were under
Roman rule. It was a dark place, boy. Shortly
thereafter, it's all going to be destroyed and Jerusalem's
going to be leveled by a wicked king, Nero. Oh, it's a dark place,
isn't it? Nevertheless, The people that
walked in darkness saw a great light. It says, upon them, upon
them hath the light shined. God sent His angel to these lowly
shepherds, sitting in the dark, and turned the light on. Turned the light on. Oh my! And
they said, Verse 10, fear not all who fear Him. He says, fear
not, but I bring you good tidings. The gospel is only for those
that fear the Lord. The gospel is only for those who know they
are sinners and need saving. The gospel is for those who know
He's holy and just and righteous. They were afraid. They said,
fear not, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to
all people out of every nation, every kindred, every tongue,
every people, every nation. But he said, but unto you, I've
sent to you poor shepherds. Unto you is born this day in
the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. Unto you
is sent this day. Unto you. Everyone whom God chose, they're
going to hear this message. They're going to hear this gospel
out of every kindred tongue. He has a people out of every
tribe, every kindred. They're going to hear, they're
going to see, they're going to fear, and they're going to rejoice. Look
at verse 15. It came to pass when the angels were gone away,
the shepherds said to one another, let us go, let us now go. Hurry, like the woman at the
well. Let's run to Bethlehem. Bethlehem, that's where it was
prophesied He'd be born. To see this thing which has come
to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they
came and they found the bay, And it says they rejoiced. Verse
20 says the shepherds glorified God and praised God for all the
things they'd heard and seen that was told to them. They were
sitting in the dark, minding their own business, some nobodies
from nowhere. How many shepherds were watching
how many flocks that day? And the Lord came to them. Like
those fishermen out in those boats. How many boats were there?
But the Lord came to Peter and James and John. He said, you're
highly favored. I've sent this day for you. Unto you is born. He shall save
His people from their sin. And how do you know they're His?
They feared Him. They heard His voice. They trembled. They heard the good news. And
they rejoiced. And they came and worshipped
Him. Look at it. Him. Go back to Matthew
chapter 2. This is a little better translation. Matthew chapter 2. Matthew chapter
2. Not many wise men are called,
are they? Well, here's some wise men. Matthew
chapter 2. Here's some wise men. It says
in verse 1, Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the days
of Herod the king. Behold, there came wise men from
the east to Jerusalem. Were they wise because they're
from the east? No, there's no wisdom in these. Are you kidding? I've studied that Eastern mysticism.
It's foolishness. They sit around and gaze at their
navel. There's no wisdom in that. Paul said, where is the wise?
Where is the scribe? You say, well, these were men,
descendants of Abraham, and they were wise. I'll tell you why
the Lord called them wise. Because they came seeking Jesus
Christ. That's the only reason they were wise. If they hadn't
come seeking Christ, they're fools. I don't care what they
know. I don't care what they've accomplished.
I don't care what they know in this world. The wisdom of this
world is foolishness. Who is the wisdom of God? Christ
is. You know why they're called wise
by God? They came seeking Christ. That's why. Why did they come
seeking Him? Because He sought them. He found
them. He called them. He was made unto
them wisdom. He gave them this wisdom. He
gave them this need. He gave them this hunger. He
gave them this thirst. He gave them... God, the Spirit
of God, moved upon them and said, like the shepherds. They were
in darkness of eastern... and God revealed Christ is being
born. Go seek Him. And they came. They came. Now, not many. Not
many do, do they? Not many. Not many. And they came. And they said
in verse 2, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? We've
seen his star in the Easter come to worship Him. Where is he? Matthew 2.2. Where is he? Now, have you ever thought about
this? This great star. Shown in the
heavens in the dark of night, didn't it? And these men all the way where
some say they were a thousand miles away, they saw this star,
it was so bright. And they immediately left and
followed that star right to where Christ was. They saw that star
clearly. Didn't everyone else see it? It was there, wasn't it? Why
didn't everyone else see it? Why didn't everyone else go?
Why didn't everyone else in the dark say, look, would you look
at that? What's that about? Look, it's
pointed somewhere. Let's go. Why didn't they? Why
don't they now? Because it wasn't given to them.
Their minds were blinded, wasn't it? Scriptures say that the heavens
declare His glory, the firmament showeth His handiwork, day unto
day uttereth speech. What's that? The sun comes up.
The day star. His star's still there. The day
star. The sun. Every day. There's no language where this
is not heard pointing to Him. It's even called the sign. Why
don't they come? They came to this little lowly
house, this little barn where there's just a few sheep and
a few lowly shepherds were already there. What were they doing?
Worshipping Jesus Christ. Why don't the masses come? Where
were the crowds? Where were the masses? Where
were these Pharisees that said they were looking for? Where
were they? They weren't called. It says of this day star, this
going forth is from the end of the heaven, his circuit under
the ends of it, there's nothing hid from the heat thereof, and
he's like a bridegroom, the sun is like a person. Coming out
of His chamber, rejoicing as a strong man to run a race. And it goes on, that's Psalm
19, it goes on to talk about the Word of God. The Word of
God is a light that shines in a dark place. And so are those who preach His
gospel. They're like stars that shine brightly and shine forth
the Word of God. What do they shine forth? The
light of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the gospel, they all point to Him. Why don't the masses come?
Don't need saving. Haven't been called. Are you
highly favored or what? Huh? Or what? My, my, my. Pointing to Christ. All pointing
to Christ. And they rejoiced, they came,
and here in our text, verse 9, they heard the king, they departed,
and lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them
till it came and stood over where the young child was. They saw
the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. The Spirit
of God, the Holy Spirit of God, Christ said, He'll take the things
of mine and show them unto you. Wherever the Spirit of God is,
He points men and women to Christ. Like John said, we beheld His
glory. The Spirit of God is His star. The Word is His star. Day
unto day uttered to speak. And verse 11 says, They came
into the house, and they saw the young child with Mary his
mother, and fell down and worshipped... Who? Him. They didn't worship her. It's almost like they ignored
her. They did. She's worshipping Him. Scripture says, God says, let
everything that hath breath worship Him. Not her. They fell down and worshipped
Him. Not Mary. Him. Not the manger. They didn't look around and say,
what a nice place. They saw Him. He obscured everyone
and everything else, didn't He? Him. Verse 11. They fell down
and worshipped Him, and they opened their treasures. These
were rich men, wise men. When they came to Him, they thought, now this is true
riches. Now, verse 11 says, they fell down. Where did they fall?
They fell at His feet. Fell at His feet. Psalm 2 says,
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings, We believe these wise men were
kings according to Psalm 72, but we three kings, you know.
But anyway, it says, Be wise, O ye kings, be instructed, ye
judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, rejoice
with trembling. Kiss the son. They fell at his
feet. If they kissed him, they kissed
his feet. Like another woman, we know. Kissed his feet. They
fell down at his feet and worshiped Him. And when they saw Him, in
whom is hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the
unsearchable riches of God, the unspeakable gift that is Christ
the Lord, the Savior, they presented unto Him gold and frankincense. They bought their gold. They
said, there's nothing to it, nothing to this. This is the
pearl of great pride. When they saw Him, said, this
is the pearl of great pride. We'll gladly bestow all that
we have. for this high favor that's bestowed
upon us. You know why the streets are
of gold and glory, don't you? When you're walking around in
town, do you look at the sidewalk? Do you? Nah. And we're going
to see what men and women live and die for, gold. Up there,
it's going to mean nothing to us. Nothing to us. But His Word, when God makes
His Word, like David said, better than fine gold. Like Proverbs
8 says of wisdom, He said, I make you rich. I am true riches. Gold,
better than fine gold. Riches that can't be taken away.
And you'll bestow all that you have. You'll say, this is all
a bunch of nothing. And Christ is all. And frankincense,
that was what was burned on the altar of incense before in the
Holy of Holies. When we come before God, our
prayers are through whom? To whom? For whom? Because of
whom? Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. And I thought about this. This
is wonderful. You know, Mary and Joseph were
unfairly taxed. They were sent to Bethlehem. And they made this long, arduous
journey. And I'm sure they were murmuring
and complaining about it. You think? Sure they were. She's big with child and they
have to make this trip on an ass. And it was an arduous journey. It was a tough journey and there
would be an unfair... This is not fair. It has to happen, Mary. Joseph. It's good. It's all good. It's
wonderful. Do you understand? They had to go to Bethlehem for
that child to be born. Alright? They spent all their
money getting there. They were poor people. They offered
up, when they went to the temple, two turtledoves. They were so
poor, they didn't have a lamb. Oh, they had a lamb. But they
offered up two turtledoves. What I'm trying to say is, Bonnie,
that they spent everything they had going to this place to be
unfairly taxed by this evil king, but God did it. And you know
what He did? After they bestowed all they had to have this child,
He put it, gave it back to them. Gold! In other words, all that
was spent for them to get there and have this child, He doubled
it. They went home rich and increased
with goods, but that wasn't the riches they were thinking about.
It was Christ in them with them. How about you? Frankincense and myrrh. Myrrh. That's the balm of Gilead. Myrrh. That's what they anointed
his body. He didn't need it. This baby
didn't need it. His cheeks smell like spices. And his burial, he suffered not
corruption. He didn't need that. But myrrh
is that balm of Gilead. It's the balm of Gilead. And
I remind you, it was taken from an evergreen tree, a tree that
never loses its leaf, shall not wither. And how they get this
blessed myrrh, from that tree is they don't cut off a limb.
No, no, no, no, no, no. They wound it. They cut a wound
in that tree, and out of that wound comes sap, and it's called
myrrh. And it's a sweet-smelling savor,
and if you put it on your wound, you'll be healed. Now, ain't
that wonderful? And they brought it to him, and
I'm telling you what, he is the myrrh. He is the myrrh. His precious blood shed for the
remission of our sins. What about you? Look at verse
12 in closing. And then they were warned of
God in a dream. God said to them, these men, these chosen men,
these called men, these elect men, to see Christ, to hear His
voice, to hear the gospel, to see His star, to come down, fall
before Him and worship Him and behold His glory. They said,
now you're marked men. You're hated now. Why? for Christ's sake. You're hated for Christ's sake.
But, nothing's going to happen to them either. Nothing. What about you? Are you highly
favored? Have you heard His voice? Has
He sent His angel to you? Angels we have heard on high.
Let's sing in closing number 96. As with gladness, men of
old. Number 96. Let's sing this. Brother
John, come. Number 96. Let's stand as we
sing. Number 96.