A. When the Wise Men followed the special star God sent to direct them to where Jesus was born in Bethlehem, their motives were pure and simple: “…for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.”
B. They were singing: “O COME LET US ADORE HIM.” But not everyone’s motives were that pure or that simple…
I. HEROD WAS SINGING: “O COME LET US DESTROY HIM!”
Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
A. The Birth Of A King Was A Threat To His Throne:
1. But the birth of this King was to bring “peace on earth…” 2. Of course when He was rejected, His mission would change and division would replace His peaceful mission.
ILLUS.: Herod was simply continuing a long Satanic mission of attempting to destroy the “seed of the woman” which would one day destroy him.
II. PILATE WOULD SING: “O COME ALL YE HATEFUL!”
A. This Ruler Would Finish What Herod Had Attempted:
1. Pilate would join forces with all those who hated the Savior and wanted Him dead. 2. Their hateful cries of “crucify Him” would be the prelude to His death. 3. Pilate and the religious leaders who also had been threatened by Jesus arrival and His unusual teachings, would be relieved to know His body was sealed in a tomb.
ILLUS.: But God’s love for a sinful race transcended the hate of men towards His Son, so the grave could not hold Him.
III. THE SAINTS WILL SING: “O COME LET US WORSHIP THE KING!”
ILLUS.: When Jesus shows up as King, the crowd who sang “O Come Let Us Destroy Him!” and the Crowd Who sang “O Come all Ye Hateful” will join in the chorus of the saints of the ages and “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God!” Willingly or unwillingly they will sing with us and the myriad of believers who have gone before in a mighty chorus of “O COME LET US WORSHIP THE KING!”
Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
A. The Lowly Savior Will Become The King Of Kings:
1. It is true that He sits on a throne now, but that is in heaven, and the devil is running things down here and presently the “king of kings” and the “god of this world.” 2 Cor. 4:4 2. But Jesus will take the crown from the usurper’s head and not only be the King of Kings (the Head of all earthly power and rule and authority), but also something Satan Never was nor ever shall be, the Lord of Lords!
CONCL.: Today men have a choice: to worship Jesus willingly now or not; but they will worship Him later – whether they choose to do so or not!