Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 43 – Nov 1986
Where Is He?
Sermon by Rev. K. Rietveld on Matthew 2:2
Reading: Matt. 1:18-2:6, 21:1-9
Singing: PsH. 336, 36, 348, Bow. Ps. 23, 339
Beloved in the Lord Jesus,
Most people I know have always had a soft spot for royalty. Her majesty the queen has often had many people, her loyal subjects, standing for hours, waiting to get a bit of a glimpse, or catch a personal glance. People will come from all over just to catch a glimpse of her, or if they are more fortunate, to have her say hello as she walks past. More recently, Prince Charles and Lady Diana have received similar attention.
There is something special – something almost magical, if you wish, about meeting the King or Queen.
I wonder if the wise men from the east felt that ‘something special’ as they travelled towards Israel so long ago?
These men, who studied the stars, had seen a new star rise in the sky. “A king has been born…!! A very important king… and we must go to him… we must seek him, and bring him gifts, and bring him homage.”
Where is he, who has been born king of the Jews?
And so they set off on their journey, following the star… and it led them to Israel – to Judah, and to Jerusalem, the capital city.
Where is he? Where is the king? Where can we find him, for we want to worship him, and bring our gifts to him!!
News travels fast. It wasn’t too long before Herod the king heard about these men who had come into the city, asking questions. For these were not ordinary men, that’s for sure. They were well to do, and from out of town – from another country. And they were asking about the new king that had been born. Where is he?
So Herod quickly called his wise men, the teachers and the priests, the ones who were supposed to know all these things, and he asked them where the Messiah would be born.
“In Bethlehem in Judea” they replied, and so Herod called these wise men the Magi, and sent them to Bethlehem. The Scriptures had foretold that from Bethlehem would come a ruler who would be the shepherd of Israel.
“Go to Bethlehem, search there, and you will find him.”
Where is He, who was born, King of the Jews…?
HE IS IN BETHLEHEM!!
Let us hasten to greet the King, the little Baby Jesus, born a child and yet a king.
Let us hasten with the wise men to Bethlehem to meet the Son of God, at whose birth the myriads of angels formed a heavenly choir to sing of His birth. Let us hurry with the Shepherds and the wise men to bow before the crib, and pay homage to the King whose kingdom shall have no end.
Where is He, born King of the Jews? He is in Bethlehem. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the King!!!
WHERE IS HE, BORN KING OF THE JEWS?
WHAT? Are you still seeking Jesus?
Have you not found Him in Bethlehem?
Then come with me, for surely, you have heard? Surely you have seen? Come, walk with me outside the city gate, come with me up the hill, the hill of death – the place of the skull.
LOOK. LIFT UP YOUR EYES. It is the cross in the middle. Can you read that sign above it? What does it say?
THIS IS JESUS – THE KING OF THE JEWS!
And He is dead! Crucified by his own people. The King of the Jews, nailed to the cross by the Jews. He came unto His own, but His own received Him not.
Where is He, who was born King of the Jews?
HE IS ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY. Paying with His own blood the ransom for His people. Suffering the wrath of God against the sins of men.
And it’s not too late to bow down before Him, and sing: O come let us adore Him, Christ, the King.
WHERE IS HE, WHO WAS BORN KING OF THE JEWS?
WHAT? Are you still seeking Him? Did you not find Him on Calvary’s hill?
Then come with me, and look again.
The cross is now empty.
And come to the tomb, where they had laid His body. That is empty too. He is not here, He is risen!
Have you not heard? Surely, you must have!
He has been taken up into heaven to be with His Father. He has been exalted to the highest place!!
He is King indeed, and He sits on the throne in the highest heavens. King Jesus has been given all authority, in heaven and upon earth.
God has raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given in this age and the age to come. God has placed all things under His feet.
God has exalted Him to the highest place and given Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow!
Where is He, born King of the Jews?
He reigns in heaven as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Break out and sing: O COME LET US ADORE HIM
CHRIST THE KING – CHRIST THE LORD!!
WHERE IS HE, BORN KING OF THE JEWS?
WHAT? Are you still looking? Have you still not found Him?
Is that question still unanswered?
Perhaps you are still lingering at Bethlehem’s stall?
Perhaps your King is still a little child?
How many people looking for the King of the Jews, looking for Jesus, looking for the only one who in whom they can find real peace, can go no further than the crib in Bethlehem.
They share a momentary joy, as they worship with the wise men and the shepherds in singing about Christ the King, about the little babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and in a manger laid. But alas, how soon their hope and joy turns to emptiness when they leave the cradle for another year.
Dear friends, Jesus Christ is not to be found simply by remaining in Bethlehem! You cannot stand beside a little crib and worship an innocent child.
YOU MUST MOVE ON, TO THE CROSS!
For the Christ of Bethlehem is also the Christ of Calvary.
And if you really want to find Him, then you must also bow humbly and penitentially at the foot of the cross before the Redeemer of the world: before the one who came to save His people from their sins.
Are you looking for Jesus? Then you must look via the cross. But alas, how many have come from the cradle to the cross, and then can go no further? A King on a cross is foolishness to them, and their hopes and aspirations die with Jesus, and they find no King, no Saviour, no hope.
But He who would find the King must go on yet. Still further. From the cradle via the cross to the crown!
You must go to the one who was dead, but is alive forever-more to reign on the throne of David, over that never-ending kingdom.
And you must also kneel at His throne, and there bow the knee of your heart and life in submission to His Lordship.
You must enthrone Him in your heart.
Are you looking for the King? Are you looking for the Prince of Peace? Are you looking for the One who will bring meaning to your life and joy to your heart?
IN FAITH, DRAW NEAR TO BETHLEHEM’S CRADLE, AND GAZE IN AWE AT GOD’S GREATEST GIFT TO HUMANITY, AND WORSHIP THE INFANT REDEEMER.
BUT IN THAT SAME FAITH, DRAW NEAR TO CALVARY’S CROSS, AND CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED ALSO FOR YOUR SINS, THAT HE SUFFERED THERE FOR YOU.
AND STILL IN FAITH, BOW BEFORE THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, AND OFFER YOUR TOTAL BEING TO HIS SERVICE.
Then you have truly found the King.
WHERE IS HE WHO IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS??
HE DWELLS IN MY HEART AS GOD AND LORD.
COME, LET US ADORE HIM. CHRIST THE KING!!
AMEN.
Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 43 – Nov 1986
Where Is He?
Sermon by Rev. K. Rietveld on Matthew 2:2
Reading: Matt. 1:18-2:6, 21:1-9
Singing: PsH. 336, 36, 348, Bow. Ps. 23, 339
Beloved in the Lord Jesus,
Most people I know have always had a soft spot for royalty. Her majesty the queen has often had many people, her loyal subjects, standing for hours, waiting to get a bit of a glimpse, or catch a personal glance. People will come from all over just to catch a glimpse of her, or if they are more fortunate, to have her say hello as she walks past. More recently, Prince Charles and Lady Diana have received similar attention.
There is something special – something almost magical, if you wish, about meeting the King or Queen.
I wonder if the wise men from the east felt that ‘something special’ as they travelled towards Israel so long ago?
These men, who studied the stars, had seen a new star rise in the sky. “A king has been born…!! A very important king… and we must go to him… we must seek him, and bring him gifts, and bring him homage.”
Where is he, who has been born king of the Jews?
And so they set off on their journey, following the star… and it led them to Israel – to Judah, and to Jerusalem, the capital city.
Where is he? Where is the king? Where can we find him, for we want to worship him, and bring our gifts to him!!
News travels fast. It wasn’t too long before Herod the king heard about these men who had come into the city, asking questions. For these were not ordinary men, that’s for sure. They were well to do, and from out of town – from another country. And they were asking about the new king that had been born. Where is he?
So Herod quickly called his wise men, the teachers and the priests, the ones who were supposed to know all these things, and he asked them where the Messiah would be born.
“In Bethlehem in Judea” they replied, and so Herod called these wise men the Magi, and sent them to Bethlehem. The Scriptures had foretold that from Bethlehem would come a ruler who would be the shepherd of Israel.
“Go to Bethlehem, search there, and you will find him.”
Where is He, who was born, King of the Jews…?
HE IS IN BETHLEHEM!!
Let us hasten to greet the King, the little Baby Jesus, born a child and yet a king.
Let us hasten with the wise men to Bethlehem to meet the Son of God, at whose birth the myriads of angels formed a heavenly choir to sing of His birth. Let us hurry with the Shepherds and the wise men to bow before the crib, and pay homage to the King whose kingdom shall have no end.
Where is He, born King of the Jews? He is in Bethlehem. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the King!!!
WHERE IS HE, BORN KING OF THE JEWS?
WHAT? Are you still seeking Jesus?
Have you not found Him in Bethlehem?
Then come with me, for surely, you have heard? Surely you have seen? Come, walk with me outside the city gate, come with me up the hill, the hill of death – the place of the skull.
LOOK. LIFT UP YOUR EYES. It is the cross in the middle. Can you read that sign above it? What does it say?
THIS IS JESUS – THE KING OF THE JEWS!
And He is dead! Crucified by his own people. The King of the Jews, nailed to the cross by the Jews. He came unto His own, but His own received Him not.
Where is He, who was born King of the Jews?
HE IS ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY. Paying with His own blood the ransom for His people. Suffering the wrath of God against the sins of men.
And it’s not too late to bow down before Him, and sing: O come let us adore Him, Christ, the King.
WHERE IS HE, WHO WAS BORN KING OF THE JEWS?
WHAT? Are you still seeking Him? Did you not find Him on Calvary’s hill?
Then come with me, and look again.
The cross is now empty.
And come to the tomb, where they had laid His body. That is empty too. He is not here, He is risen!
Have you not heard? Surely, you must have!
He has been taken up into heaven to be with His Father. He has been exalted to the highest place!!
He is King indeed, and He sits on the throne in the highest heavens. King Jesus has been given all authority, in heaven and upon earth.
God has raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given in this age and the age to come. God has placed all things under His feet.
God has exalted Him to the highest place and given Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow!
Where is He, born King of the Jews?
He reigns in heaven as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Break out and sing: O COME LET US ADORE HIM
CHRIST THE KING – CHRIST THE LORD!!
WHERE IS HE, BORN KING OF THE JEWS?
WHAT? Are you still looking? Have you still not found Him?
Is that question still unanswered?
Perhaps you are still lingering at Bethlehem’s stall?
Perhaps your King is still a little child?
How many people looking for the King of the Jews, looking for Jesus, looking for the only one who in whom they can find real peace, can go no further than the crib in Bethlehem.
They share a momentary joy, as they worship with the wise men and the shepherds in singing about Christ the King, about the little babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and in a manger laid. But alas, how soon their hope and joy turns to emptiness when they leave the cradle for another year.
Dear friends, Jesus Christ is not to be found simply by remaining in Bethlehem! You cannot stand beside a little crib and worship an innocent child.
YOU MUST MOVE ON, TO THE CROSS!
For the Christ of Bethlehem is also the Christ of Calvary.
And if you really want to find Him, then you must also bow humbly and penitentially at the foot of the cross before the Redeemer of the world: before the one who came to save His people from their sins.
Are you looking for Jesus? Then you must look via the cross. But alas, how many have come from the cradle to the cross, and then can go no further? A King on a cross is foolishness to them, and their hopes and aspirations die with Jesus, and they find no King, no Saviour, no hope.
But He who would find the King must go on yet. Still further. From the cradle via the cross to the crown!
You must go to the one who was dead, but is alive forever-more to reign on the throne of David, over that never-ending kingdom.
And you must also kneel at His throne, and there bow the knee of your heart and life in submission to His Lordship.
You must enthrone Him in your heart.
Are you looking for the King? Are you looking for the Prince of Peace? Are you looking for the One who will bring meaning to your life and joy to your heart?
IN FAITH, DRAW NEAR TO BETHLEHEM’S CRADLE, AND GAZE IN AWE AT GOD’S GREATEST GIFT TO HUMANITY, AND WORSHIP THE INFANT REDEEMER.
BUT IN THAT SAME FAITH, DRAW NEAR TO CALVARY’S CROSS, AND CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED ALSO FOR YOUR SINS, THAT HE SUFFERED THERE FOR YOU.
AND STILL IN FAITH, BOW BEFORE THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, AND OFFER YOUR TOTAL BEING TO HIS SERVICE.
Then you have truly found the King.
WHERE IS HE WHO IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS??
HE DWELLS IN MY HEART AS GOD AND LORD.
COME, LET US ADORE HIM. CHRIST THE KING!!
AMEN.