'Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
Wrappings from papers still covered the floor
No one had touched them in the rush to the store
The children had been nestled all safe in their bed
When mom came and woke them with a pat on the head
Its time to go shopping and exchange what we got
Lets hurry now children, before full is the lot
And then with a shout and great loud commotion
The family was gone, the van now in motion
"Do you have the receipts," then mother did cry
"In my coat pocket," came the reply
The roads were all crowded but dad would get through
In search of a sale, no stop lights would do
"Where off to first" he then did inquire
Here is the list that mom did inspire
Now Target now Dillards now Broadway and Wal-mart
On Marshals on Macey's, on Mervyn's and K-mart
To all of the stores we must go in a flash
So take out your wallet and pull out the cash
As we pushed and shoved and forced our way through
My impatience for Christmas just grew and grew
The isles were packed with children and carts
Our progress became just short stops and starts
The line for exchanges was three mile long
About the same length as my tie from Hong Kong
Which was given to me by my some distant cousin
Who had brain cells I thought, not more than a dozen
Why couldn't people just give us some cash
This sweater I'm wearing is giving a rash
And who ever heard of eating fruit cake
I `m sure that those "fruits" are really just fake
Greed and desire were driving this race
to see who could spend at the fastest pace
It was video game this and dinosaur that
But all I wanted was gloves and a hat
We got what we wanted and then flew to the door
Back to the car and to the next store
It was like this all day from sunrise to set
our busiest year, I would venture to bet
This was Christmas, perhaps not at its best
Cuz a baby was born with no place to rest
But it didn't seem to matter too much on this day
Christmas was over, it wasn't here to stay
Its here once a year, for us to get gifts
And maybe occasionally our spirits it lifts
But that's all there is, it nothing much more
Than turkey and presents all bought from a store
Its sometimes more trouble than it really is worth
All this commotion over a simple birth
Lets just relax and call it vacation
There's no need to jump and shout with elation
If this story of Jesus was really true
I am sure there would be more for us here to do
Than shopping and eating and watching TV
There'd have to be more in it for me
But nevertheless I go on my way
Not thinking of such or stopping to pray
Its on to the mall `til we're out of sight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight

You know one of the things people lament the most is the passing of Christmas. The build up is great. Everyone begins to get in a mood that can become rather sentimental. Families are around, and Christmas messages are fairly simple. But once Christmas is over...well then, it is back to work, rip down the tree, kick out the in-laws, watch football, clean up the house, take back the gifts, file bankruptcy...and that sentimentality goes right out the window with the Christmas lights.

I am sure that some of you may have seen the title of this and wondered why I was going to be talking about Canadian Boxing Day--which happens to BE the DAY after Christmas. But, that isn't what we are going to look at. Please turn to Matthew 2:1-20.

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6 "`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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 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 and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 "A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more."
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."
There are usually several different ways in which to approach scriptures like this. You might examine the names and dates and all, which is interesting to be sure, but often we loose sight of what the author intends for us when we pay too much attention to the set-up for the story and the supporting characters for the message. Remember, Matthew is attempting to communicate a theological message from this account here in his Gospel. And when we looked at Matthew chapter one, that Matthew's theme is...what? Jesus Christ, King of the Jews. So we will look at these verses with that theme guiding our interpretation and understanding. We are going to examine how two different people or groups of people responded to Jesus--after his birth, and then we will ask you to decide into which group you fit.

First we have Herod.

I. The Response of King Herod
Now before we go any further, I should tell you that it would not be improper for you to boo or hiss any time that I mention Herod's name. In fact there are a few famous people from today's world that I wouldn't mind you booing and hissing at either, but for the time being lets just stick with Herod. Bad character. But, about 37BC, the Roman senate who appointed him Lord of the region, gave him the title, are you ready for this, "King of the Jews." Do you sense a conflict in the works? We are not surprised then are we that it is Matthew who includes these events in his Gospel.

Herod ruled until his death in 4BC, so we know that the birth of Jesus was somewhat before this time. Before he died however, he managed to have all three of his son's executed, for fear they would take over his throne a bit too early. He was very loyal to Rome, which made him more of an enemy to the Jews in the region, certainly not the "King of the Jews."

Matthew tells us that during his reign, Magi (traditionally Wise Men or Kings) came to Jerusalem asking where the "King of the Jews" has been born. Now obviously, the slightly suspicious Herod was a bit concerned with this news. I mean after all, wasn't he "King of the Jews."

Notice Herod's response though. Immediately he calls together the religious leaders and asks them where the Christ is to be born. Evil Herod associates the "King of the Jews" with "the Christ" or anointed one, God's chosen King, not Rome's. He is more than aware that he is not the legal heir to that title and throne. But who is? Matthew traced the entire line for us in chapter one, and it pointed to the son of Joseph. Jesus is the legal heir to the throne.

Herod is also familiar with the OT and its predictions about a coming Messiah, but he needs the assistance of the religious leaders to tell him exactly where it is prophesied he will be born. Apparently Herod believes in some prophecy, but probably because he just doesn't want to be on the wrong side if something happens. The religious leaders site Micah 5:2, which reveals Bethlehem as the place.

Now if Herod was anything, it was shrewd. So he concocted a plan, in secret we are told, because he wouldn't want anyone to think that he was nervous about some baby. He asks to speak with the Magi, and does. He asks them, trying to show a true interest so as to not arouse suspicion, about when they saw the star they had been speaking of. Then he told them to go to Bethlehem and find this child and then tell me where he is so that I may worship him as well. You can almost see Herod's Grinch like smile as he weaves his evil plan. Apparently Herod also recognized that the Magi intended to "Worship" this baby. This is an interesting word. The Greek word is "proskuneo" and basically means to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence. It most likely came from the idea of a dog licking his master's hand. So that is why I like it when Kharah, my dog, does that. It is a sign to me that I am King. It came to mean the bowing down before or the giving of respect and reverence to someone, usually a king or deity. It would be a highly unusual thing for Herod to "worship" anyone except Caesar. It was also quite unusual for these men of status, the Magi, to "worship" a baby. Matthew is telling us something is going on here.

Skipping down to verse 16 for the moment. When Herod finds out that the Magi skipped town without telling him where the baby was, he was furious. His planned had backfired. And in typical Herodian fashion, his rage erupted into murder as he ordered all the babies of Bethlehem killed. Matthew tells us that Herod told his men to kill those who were two and under, based on the time he had learned from the Magi. We can guess then, that the Magi probably had told Herod they had first seen the star under two years ago. Jesus may be two years old now, and he and his family are living in a house, so obviously time has passed.

Herod was so afraid of someone laying claim to his title and his position, that he would stop at nothing to maintain his reign. Of course shortly after these events, Herod died, and reigned no more. God had the last laugh there.

But look at how Herod responded to the birth of Jesus. He recognized that this could all be true. He recognized that scripture prophesied accurately the events. He recognized that the King of the Jews should be the Christ, God's anointed one. He recognized that this Christ was worthy of worship like any true king, even though he was a baby. And yet, what did Herod do with all this knowledge. He used it to try and destroy and wipe out anything even remotely related to Jesus. Doesn't Herod represent our present society quite well? Doesn't our world generally acknowledge that there is something to religion and all, but then seek to wipe it all out. If Herod thought that the Bible was a bunch of bunk, he wouldn't have gone to such extreme measures. If the world thinks that what we teach and talk about is so stupid and wrong, then why are they so concerned with trying to wipe it out.

I was listening to Michael Medved on the radio this past week. Michael Medved is a film critic, but also has become a bit of a social critic as well. He is a practicing Jew, but has written excellent books bashing Hollywood and our morally bankrupt society. He was talking about how the city of San Francisco recently spent millions of dollars erecting a statue in a park depicting the Aztec god of human sacrifice, but forbid Christians and Jews to erect temporary symbols at Christmas time of nativity scenes and Menorah's. Medved asked, "What is going on here?" Our world is so much like Herod, it seeks to destroy what it does not understand and fails to see. Are you part of that world? Are you a "herod" who is afraid of what you might find? Are you afraid of religion because you know that the Bible might prove to be true, and you wouldn't want to have to admit that? Is that the case? Or perhaps you are more like our second group.

II. The Response of the Magi
Just a little background on this group. First of all, they most likely weren't kings as the song says, but were rather very esteemed and learned men, highly respected in their country. Probably pastor's much like myself. Just kidding. The would have been teachers and priests and physicians and astrologers and seers. The most learned men that Persia, Arabia, and the east had to offer. Secondly, we don't know how many of them there were. Three is just a guess based on the three gifts they brought. But there could have certainly been more. Tradition even later gave them names; Larry, Moe Curly, isn't that ironic. No, actually it was Athos, Porthos, Aramis. Wait, no, no, that was the three Musketeers. Oh yeah, it really was, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. Of course that is just a tradition, and we have no way of knowing for sure, because Matthew doesn't tell us. The important thing for us to know, is that these were very intelligent and highly respected men, who knew something about or were interested in astrology.

It was this interest that had them looking into the sky to discover a special "star." Okay now here we could go on forever trying to determine what this star was and all...you know what though, for me and for Matthew, the fact that God sent this light to guide these men was a miracle and that is good enough for me. We will save the astronomy lesson for some other time. The point is that God lead them to the place where Jesus was.

As we said earlier, we are told that Jesus, now a child, not a baby, is living with his family in a house. You know, the barn and manager was quaint and all, but it just didn't have enough natural light or a disposal.

The first thing these highly esteemed men do when they see this child is bow down and "worship" him. These are some interesting men aren't they. First they travel hundreds of miles across a dessert. Then they bow down before a child. And then, Matthew tells us, they lavish upon Jesus their gifts. Now I don't know about you, but I wouldn't have minded some relatives like these guys at Christmas. They brought gifts of gold and perfume. Cool. But then there is always one in every group, one of the gifts was myrrh. Now that might sound like a pretty thing, but it is actually embalming fluid. Now there is the gift that keeps on giving. No, actually all of the three gifts were very, very expensive and highly prized and in fact they would be the kind of gifts someone would give to a king. Notice how they didn't give anything to Herod. The little two year old Jesus probably would have preferred an erector set, or a Gameboy or a Mr. Potato Head or something like that, but these gifts showed how important and special the Magi believed Jesus was. They knew he was a true King. Someone worthy of worship. These men weren't shepherds, they were highly intelligent men of honor, and yet they were kneeling before the Christ child giving to him the very best they had to offer. It is a wonderful picture isn't it.
Obviously the Magi didn't go back to Herod and betray this King. In fact God told them in a dream not to, and sent them home another way. What a story they had to tell, when they returned to their country huh?

These wise men understood who Jesus was and worshipped him, and offered him the very best the had. Is this your group? Do you recognize Christ for who he is, even though you may not see him physically? You know the Magi only got to see a 2 year old. Now if you have ever seen a two year old, your first inclination is generally not to bow down in worship is it? So these men had great faith in what they could not really see, but rather what God had revealed to them about who this child was, and what he would become--the Savior of the world, the true King of Jews. Have you accepted that fact, or are you more in line with Herod? How have you responded to Jesus?

How do you respond to him now? Especially now, the days after Christmas? Will Jesus still be a major part of your thoughts. Or is the business of the new year and all already distracting you from your relationship with Him? There actually is no better time than now, New Years Eve, to make some solid goals for the New Year. Start with your commitment. What do you give to Jesus? The very best you have to offer, like the Magi, or just what ever you can scrape up in a hurry? How far will you go for Jesus? Would you travel across a dessert? Would you give up your "valuable time" for him? Do you really worship him or just pay lip service to that idea? Ask yourself these questions first, then write down some goals for 2004. Who will you be in 2004? Herod or Magi. Phony paranoid, or wise man. How will you respond to Jesus?