Matthew 2: 1-12

Christmas Eve was hectic. Four year-old Chris was so excited! She could hardly contain herself. Her father worried about the bundles of presents, the plans for the rest of the family arriving, and all the details that make a father to be less than sensitive. Her mother fussed in the kitchen, the dining room, and seemed to growl over things that would not bother her on any other day. Young Chris seemed to be in the way. Finally she was hustled off to bed with, "Christmas is coming! The sooner you go to sleep, the faster it will arrive." Saying her prayers with her father, she spoke for many, "Forgive us our Christmases, as we forgive those who Christmas against us."

Epiphany Sunday. The Twelfth Day of Christmas. This day we remember wise men, who were Gentiles, came and worshiped Christ in His house (not manger). This day seems so unnecessary in America. We pack the whole birth story into one night and have done with it. Twelve days later and I’m still talking about Christmas! Yikes! It’s where we got the song. It is how gift giving started. Just like those wise men of so many years ago. Luminaries are posted outside to help the travelers find their way to the Christ child.

Maybe you are "Christmas-ed" out. Overdosed. It’s easy to know why we are tired. Instead of the Twelve Days of Christmas, we’ve replaced them with the last twelve shopping days UNTIL Christmas. Now, most of us want less stressful things.

Come close, then. Before we take the Lord’s Supper, let’s ask ourselves, "Where do I belong in this story? There are two stories going on with Herod and the magi. One of hate and one of love. These two stories do not TOUCH us, until they touch US!

Consider King Herod. He was racially Arab, religiously Jewish, culturally Greek, and politically Roman. This mix of contrasting and opposing forces created fear for his throne that bordered on madness. Madness without God turns to violence. His brother-in-law became too popular, so he had a swimming accident in two feet of water. His favorite wife had to be murdered along with three of his sons. Caesar observed, "It is safer to be Herod’s pig than to be Herod’s son. The pig had a chance."

Herod’s reaction to the Magi came naturally! When Herod the king heard this he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (v 3) Agitated, like a washing machine in mental struggle. He wanted his kingdom for himself. He had no room for God.

Know any Herod’s? They are around. Tip-offs show in conversations. They like to be the center of attention. When talking about others, seldom do they build up the character of others. Instead, they tear down to make themselves look good. Oh yes, King Herod’s are alive and well!

The (3?) magi from the East? They might have been the assistant professor, the tenured professor, and Chairman of the Department of Star Gazing. They came seeking from the OUTSIDE to honor the new king. We have seen His star and have come to worship Him. (v 2) Those magi awaken us to ask: Whose kingdom rules? The kingdom of the Herod’s of this world? Could that include me? Or, does the Kingdom of God rule?

Christ’s Kingdom invades us all. Will we welcome Christ and His Kingdom? We think we can, until a man or woman from another culture tells us what we should have known! Herod, Jerusalem, and security. Outsiders were those magi. How often do we mutter the same things? American Christianity and MY DENOMINATION too often act as though other nations just don’t have Jesus like we do.

Those magi turned the world of Herod upside down! That is the way God works. Our Lord moves OUT those who think that they are IN. And He invites IN, those who are told (by Insiders) they will always be OUT. To those who think they are high, mighty, on the UPSIDE of life, have no need of God, He brings DOWN. And, to those who know that they are DOWN, He offers His powerful hand. Taking His hand, we find ourselves RIGHT SIDE UP, UPSIDE, and standing on the Solid Rock!

INSIDE, OUTSIDE, UPSIDE DOWN! What is our Lord saying or doing to you? Herod missed his opportunity to bring glory to Israel. Instead of gifts, Herod sent soldiers. And, instead of love, he thrust the sword of hate into babies two years of age and younger who lived around Bethlehem. Herod’s of today have the same opportunity to love and worship, or hate and destroy!

"You mean I must give up my own kingdom? I worked hard to build what I have. When we pray before meals, I make everyone feel gratitude to me for providing the money for the food in the house I built!" Anyone know any modern-day Herod’s close to you?

Those magi came seeking - and they found the true King. Seeing Him, they fell down and worshiped Him. (v 11) Worshiping Him, they gave what they most valued in life: Gold for daily ministry; Frankincense for proper worship- our prayers are to be as incense before God. And Myrrh reminds us that life ends. We will die. But worshiping Him, we have life beyond this life.

"Now can we put baby Jesus in His place? You know, away until we need Him." Do that and miss life itself! Some children were presenting their Christmas pageant. A light bulb was placed in the manger. On the right cue, all the lights, except the one from the manger would be turned off. The glow would remind us of Him, the light of the world. At the right moment, the young boy on the switchboard panicked and turned off all the lights, manger light, too. Another boy shouted in alarm, "Hey, you switched off Jesus!"

Too many finish Christmas like that. Don’t "switch off" Jesus. Life is tough enough. Who can make sense of terrorism, AIDS, divorce, and senseless deaths? WITH HIM, we have hope and the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. We grow with Him as we seek Him in worship, as we follow Him in service.

Two stories: one of hate and one of love. Seek Him like Herod, our life in Christ will soon be inside out and upside down. Seek Him like the magi, our worship will find us moving from the outside on the fringes of life to inside His Kingdom...and Right Side Up!