You are listening to Radical with David Platt , a weekly podcast with sermons and messages from pastor , author and teacher David Platt . We've gathered together tonight to celebrate history . We're not retelling a fairy tale with fictional characters a real baby who was born in a real town , about 6,000 miles away from here , at a real point in history that divided history into two eras . And it not only divides history but divides humanity into two groups . I'll put this up here on the screen . You think about that last song we sang All Hail King Jesus , nate mentioned . We're singing truths that have been sung for 2,000 years , ever since Jesus was born . Think about humanity . It's been divided ever since that day into two groups One , those who revere Jesus as king of their lives and those who reject Jesus as king of their lives . All of humanity , including everybody in this room , everybody listening online , all of us fall into one of these two groups , and there's no riding the fence here . No matter who you are , no matter where you come from , no matter how old , young you may be , no matter what you have done or not done at this moment , you either revere Jesus as king of your life or reject Jesus as king of your life . So , if I could , I'd like to ask you a question , obviously not to answer out loud , but I do want to encourage you to answer this question quietly and personally and honestly , meaning not just in your head or even just in your heart , but look at your life and answer the question which of these two groups am I in ?
Speaker 1And I'm guessing there are some , maybe many , who would say and I'm guessing there are some , maybe many , who would say yeah , honestly , I've never revered Jesus as king of my life . And if that's you , again , I'm sincerely really glad you're here . I don't believe it's an accident you're here and I want to invite you to consider the possibility , just the possibility , of changing your posture toward Jesus on this Christmas Eve . Others of you might say you know I've revered Jesus as king of my life at different points in the past , but if I'm honest , I'm not living like Jesus is the king of my life in the present . I'm doing things my own way . I'm not looking to Jesus each day as my king . The reality is , I feel pretty distant from Jesus and if that's you , I believe God's brought you here to bring you back to knowing and enjoying Jesus as the king of your life . And then some of you might say without reservation or hesitation yes , I'm living with reverence for Jesus as my king , and if that's you , I hope I trust that will only deepen in the next few minutes .
Speaker 1Regardless of who you are , I want you to just think with me for a moment about the first people on this planet to call Jesus king , because they weren't the people you would expect . We know them as the wise men , but we have a few misconceptions about them that we probably need to clear up . Wise men , but we have a few misconceptions about them that we probably need to clear up First . We often talk about or picture how many of them in the Christmas story Three , but the Bible never tells us there were three of them . We know they brought three gifts to Jesus . We're never told there were only three people . For all we know it could have been three or 17 , or 25 ? We don't know .
Speaker 1In addition , we sing songs like the first Noel to talk about these wise men looking up and seeing a star shining in the east , beyond them , far . The problem is they were actually in the east and they saw a star shining in the west . They saw a star shining east of them and traveled in that direction , they would have messed up the whole story . So we don't want the wise men going the wrong way , so just be careful when you get to that line in that song . And finally , a note on timing . These wise men traveled a long way to get to Jesus . Some estimate hundreds , if not up to a thousand miles . And they were not doing it on United Airlines , which means they got to Jesus a long time after the shepherds who saw Jesus on the night he was born . By the time the wise men got there , joseph and Mary had likely settled into a home . Jesus was probably months old . So check your nativity scenes that you have set up in your homes , where we usually have the wise men around the manger with the shepherds . It's not true . So just go home tonight , take the wise men kids , put them on the other side of the room . It's going to be a little while before they make it . Maybe just actually just wait and pull them out in late spring , early summer . It'll be a little more accurate that way . But when these wise men do finally arrive , it is an astounding scene . Listen to this story of the first people to call Jesus king , starting in Matthew , chapter 2 , verse 1 . After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king , behold Now , these guys were not your ordinary fellows .
Speaker 1They almost certainly had a high position wherever they came from . It was evident in the wealth they brought with them . They likely didn't travel alone , likely traveled with a caravan , had a high position wherever they came from . It was evident in the wealth they brought with them . They likely didn't travel alone . Likely traveled with a caravan , possibly even with soldiers to protect them , which is part of why their presence in Jerusalem later in this passage is so obvious . When they arrived there , you know what's interesting .
Speaker 1A few days ago , I was praying specifically for the Parsi people of Iran and India . There's about 150,000 in this people group . They're one of the oldest surviving Zoroastrian people groups . They worship Ahura Mazda , which they believe is the creator God , and as I read about them , I learned that Persian kings like Cyrus and Darius were likely believers in Ahura Mazda as well as these wise men . It's pretty amazing to think about this people group that exists today as descendants from these men who traveled to Jerusalem to see Jesus 2,000 years ago . So let's keep reading their story .
Speaker 1When Herod the king heard this , this story about these wise men following a star to worship the king of the Jews . He was troubled Remember that word , troubled , and all Jerusalem with him , and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people . He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born , and they told him in Bethlehem of Judea , for so it is written by the prophet . And you , o Bethlehem , in the land of Judah , are by no means least among the rulers of Judah , for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people , israel .
Speaker 1Let's pause here . Did you know ? This is a quote from the Old Testament , here written by the prophet Micah , micah , chapter 5 , verse 2 . Did you know that this is one of 300 specific prophecies , predictions , references to the coming of Jesus that we read in the Old Testament ? Think about that for a minute . Over a thousand years spanning the history of the Old Testament , 300 specific prophecies , predictions , promises that were fulfilled in detail in the life , promises , and they were fulfilled in detail in the life , death and resurrection of Jesus . Mathematicians say the probability of one man fulfilling 10 of those prophecies is about one in 100 billion . Jesus fulfilled all 300 of them . This is no coincidence .
Speaker 1Now some have asked is this made up Like ? Did New Testament writers like Matthew just change the facts about Jesus to fit Old Testament prophecies ? But the reality is these books were written and circulated right after Jesus' death . People easily could have said hey , matthew , you know that wasn't true . Historically , all this fulfillment was verifiable . Others have asked well , is it manipulated ? Some claim Jesus just arranged the details of his life so that he would fulfill certain things he'd read in the Old Testament . But let's just think about that In just the first two chapters of Matthew think about this one in Micah , chapter 5 , that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem .
Speaker 1I'm not thinking Jesus was in Mary's womb saying hurry up , we gotta get there before this happens . Before this , in Matthew , chapter one , isaiah 7 , 14 , prophesied that a virgin would give birth . Well , that was obviously not something in that sense as a baby that Jesus was controlling . Later in the chapter Matthew quotes from Hosea , chapter 11 , verse 1 , about how Jesus , as a baby , would have to flee to Egypt with his family . I'm pretty sure as a parent , I'll just say my two-year-old is not making the decisions on where we move or how we travel Like . Jesus was following the leadership of Joseph and Mary in that decision .
Speaker 1In fact , this whole story about a star appearing to appoint leaders from the east to a king was promised in one of the earliest parts of the Bible , numbers , chapter 24 . And then later , in Isaiah , chapter 60 , we see a promise that a light will shine and people will come from the nations to worship , specifically bringing gold and frankincense . This is no accident . Every detail here , and it's not made up or manipulated . This is God saying to us as clearly as possible . Jesus is the one who , through different people over the course of centuries , I promised would come . So the story continues . Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared , and he sent them to Bethlehem saying go and search diligently for the child , and when you've found him , bring me word that I too may come and worship him . Now we'll pause there , because King Herod had no intention whatsoever of worshiping Jesus , or anybody else for that matter .
Speaker 1King Herod believed he was the king of the Jews . He'd been given control of Judea around 40 BC and his title was king of the Jews . He'd been given control of Judea around 40 BC and his title was king of the Jews . He was a bloodthirsty tyrant of a king . Whenever he suspected anybody was plotting to overtake his rule , he would have them killed , even to the point of murdering his wives and his sons at various times when he didn't trust them . This is why he was so remember the word troubled by this news , because he was the king . And all Jerusalem , it says , was troubled with him , likely because they didn't know what Herod was going to do . And if you know the rest of the story in Matthew , chapter 2 , and what he does to baby boys all throughout the city , they had good reason to be concerned about what Herod might do . So Matthew continues After listening to the king , they went on their way and behold the star that they had seen when it rose , went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was .
Speaker 1This is actually the first time that we see the star move , literally , supernaturally , leading them to Bethlehem , god arranging the constellations to lead these men to the place where Jesus is . We can only imagine what this looked like , like you don't normally picture okay , now I'm right under this star , but it was clear to these wise men who studied the stars they were in the right place and they were giddy . Listen to what Matthew says . When they saw the star , they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy . Don't you love that ? That's like quadruple joy Rejoiced exceedingly with great joy . And then watch this . Going to the house , they saw the child with Mary , his mother , and they fell down and worshiped him . That's shocking .
Speaker 1Prominent , high-ranking , influential , powerful men from nations beyond Israel bowing down and worshiping a Jewish baby . You bow down when you're in the presence of someone who is far superior to you and you bow down . You're saying I am low , you are high , and that's what these prominent men are saying . And then , opening their treasures , they offered him gifts , gifts gold and frankincense and myrrh , just like Isaiah 60 had said . Gold , a picture of royalty fit for a king . Frankincense an offering given to deity . In the over 100 times we see frankincense mentioned in the Old Testament , it's almost always referring to offerings to God himself . And then myrrh this is an interesting one , a perfume that was often used to prepare a body for burial . It's an interesting baby gift . Ladies , take that to the next baby shower you attend . Pull out a perfume used for burial .
Speaker 1There's so much more going on here than even these wise men realize , because they don't know that this baby boy , this king God in the flesh , will one day be hoisted onto a cross , where he will be offered wine mixed with myrrh to dull the pain , which , by the way , he will refuse . They don't know that once this baby dies , a man named Joseph of Arimathea will use myrrh to prepare his body for burial . Don't miss the point here , friends . This baby all sinned against God .
Speaker 1It looks different in every one of our lives , it's played out in every one of our stories , but we have all turned aside from God and his ways to ourselves and our own ways , and as a result of our sin , we are separated from God . And if we die in this state of separation from God , we will spend eternity in judgment due our sin . But God loves us so much that he has not left you and me in this state . God has come to us in the person of Jesus , who lived a life of no sin , which means he did not deserve to die . But the whole reason he came ? He chose to die on a cross . Why ? To pay the price for our sins . He died the death we deserve to die .
Speaker 1And then the good news doesn't stop there , because he didn't stay dead for long Three days later , he rose from the grave in victory over sin and death , so that anyone , anywhere , no matter who you are , no matter what you have done , if you will turn from your sin and yourself and trust in Jesus as the Savior and King , who died on the cross for your sins , rose from the dead so that you could have life , god will forgive you of all your sin and restore you to relationship with him now and forever . This is what the Bible calls the gospel , the good news , and it is the greatest news in the world , and it leads every single person , within the sound of my voice , to a choice , within the sound of my voice , to a choice Will you revere Jesus as king or are you going to reject Jesus as king ? I want to urge you , on this Christmas Eve , not to reject him . I urge you to not , as Herod did , to live as king over your own life . Do not choose to live in opposition to the only king who can give you life .
As I stand before you right now , I have two people really close to me who are suffering with terminal diseases . I went to visit one of them a couple of weeks ago . He's in the hospital this Christmas , the other I'm going to visit , lord willing , later this week . He's about to receive hospice care at home and I'm guessing I'm not the only one in this room who's feeling the weight of this fallen world on this Christmas Eve .
Speaker 1So how do you rejoice exceedingly with great joy in this world of sin and sorrow and suffering and death ? Here's how . And death ? Here's how ? You know and you trust in the king who came 2,000 years ago to conquer sin and death . And you know and you trust in the king who's coming back one day to usher in a kingdom where people from every nation , tribe , people and language will bow around his throne and on that day there will be no more hospitals and no more hospice and no more cancer and no more tumors , no more sickness , no more disorder , no more disease . On that day there will be no more sin , no more strife , no more war , no more sorrow , no more suffering and no more death . For all who know and trust in Jesus , the King , you can rejoice exceedingly with great joy today , because you know that one day he will wipe every tear from our eyes and God will be with us . And we will be with God forever , free from all the effects of sin and death in this fallen world . This is the hope for all who revere Jesus as King , who revere Jesus as King . So what is keeping you from revering Him as King ?
Speaker 1I want to lead us into a time of prayer and I want to offer two specific invitations to all of us . The first invitation is for some of you to say in this moment , for the first time , I choose to truly revere Jesus as king of my life , as some of you up until this point have rejected Jesus as king of your life for a variety of different reasons . Others of you may have given lip service to Jesus as king . Maybe you've gone to church , maybe you've even called yourself a Christian , but , truth be told , you've not truly , authentically , personally worshipped and submitted to jesus as the king of your life in such a way that , if you were to stand before god right now , it would be clear like jesus is not reigning in your heart as the king over your life .
Speaker 1And when we pray in a moment , I'm going to invite you to say to Jesus on this Christmas Eve , what better time to say I want to revere you as king of my life from this point forward , not only Christmas Eve . What a time , what more urgent time is there ? Not one of us is guaranteed tomorrow . What are you gonna be glad ? Five minutes in eternity into eternity that you held onto that kept you from revering the one who could give you eternal life .
Speaker 1And then the second invitation I wanna offer is for others of you to say in this moment for the first time in a while , I choose to return to Jesus as my king . Like there are some of you here who , at a point in your past , made the choice to revere jesus as your king . But over time and for a variety of reasons , you've become distant from him and , truth be told , your life hasn't necessarily looked like you're worshiping and trusting and following . Jesus is king of your life . And if that's you , I wanna invite you to return to Jesus in this moment , to turn from sin in your life , to turn from yourself , from living your own way , and to say Jesus , I wanna return to you as the king of my life .
Tonight , oh , I want to urge every single person within the sound of my voice don't be herod in this story . Don't choose to let the pride of herod be the mark of your life . I'm king , I do things my way . Don't do that before the God who loves you so much . He's made a way for you to have life with Him , now and forever , through Jesus , the King . We hope you've enjoyed this week's episode of Radical with David Platt . For more resources from David Platt , we invite you to visit Radicalnet .