Worship the Lord needs the Holy Spirit

 Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

“‘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.Micah 5:2,4

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Men from the East (Persia, Babylonia, or Arabia) come to pay homage to the infant King. They are astrologers. Studying the stars and their meanings are what makes them 'wise'. And they have no doubt that the new star means the birth of the promised King in Judah (It is a tradition that identifies the Mage as three kings and attaches specific meaning to their presents - gold for a king; incense for God; myrrh for a mortal man.) 

Their news is not welcome at the palace. Herod the Great, king of the Jews from 37-4BC, was murderously jealous of all rivals. 'Herod was suspicious of anyone whom he thought could try to take the throne away from him. One-time friends, servants, countless enemies, priests, nobles, and all who crossed him in some way were killed. 

Why?

Foreign Magi came to worship Jesus, which means Jesus not only king of Juda but also king of the world.

When we struggle to follow the star, follow the word of the Lord, we will find the truth, the salvation, the Messiah.

The guidance of the star is the Holy Spirit.

Gold: faith, frankincense: perfume of Jesus. myrrh: healing or suffering.
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耶路撒冷的人聽到耶穌誕生的反應。

1)東方博士：東方的智慧的人，透過星象知道耶穌降生。明顯的星星在引導他們。這會星星是神的奇蹟。神透過文化知識宗教帶領外邦人來認識耶穌。從遙遠的地方來是很辛苦的，沒有任何祈求，只是要送禮物給耶穌，猶太人的王。大部份人來到神面前多是有所求。我們是否願意付上代價來見耶穌，不會嫌教會遠，不會嫌時間忙。付上代價、禮物、路上的辛苦。

2)西律王與耶路撒冷的人：都心裏不安。西律不願退位，耶路撒冷人不想改變，放下放下思考價值觀。很多觀念想法，神要我們放下。

3)最熟悉神的話語的人，講完後就消失了。他們就像機器一樣，沒有感覺，沒有不安，如Google查資料的反應。應該耶穌誕生對他們很重要，不料竟只是舊約中的一筆資料。我們今天許多老基督徒，教會的用語、活動非常熟悉，對於經文也非常熟悉。但是這個有什麼好處呢?聽到耶穌降生，覺得不稀罕，以為自己老資格了。但願我們充滿好奇心。願我們像初信者被神的道吸引。

-------------感謝神將感動我的靈，在今天主日早晨的敬拜服事中感動弟兄姊妹。--------

How?

Jesus is the king of all human beings. Worship the Lord needs the Holy Spirit.