SERMON NOTES

December has a strange way of distracting us. Homes are decorated, meals are planned, calendars fill up, and the year is rushed to the finish line. In the process, it is easy to scroll past the miracle, rush past the wonder, and celebrate the season while missing the Saviour.

Scripture does not invite us to glance at Jesus—it calls us to behold Him. To behold means to stop, fix our eyes, and refuse to rush past what heaven is revealing. Jesus is not only a baby in a manger or a familiar Christmas story. He is a King who disrupts everything.

This message calls us to lift our eyes, open our hearts, and behold the King.

Scripture Reading

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1–2 (NLT)

The King You Didn’t Expect

The wise men did not stumble into Bethlehem by accident. They were searching. They followed a star, allowing themselves to be guided by something they could not fully control, understand, or explain. In doing so, they left comfort, familiarity, and what made sense to pursue what God was revealing.

Notably, they were not looking for a sign or a baby. They asked, “Where is the King?” This reveals an important truth: God reveals Himself to hearts that are willing to move.

However, there was tension in their journey. They expected royalty but encountered vulnerability. They expected power but found humility. God’s greatest revelations often arrive in unexpected forms. Faith is not formed in what feels logical, but in what requires surrender.

Jesus did not arrive in a palace or on a throne. There was no royal announcement. He came as a baby, in a borrowed space, lying in a feeding trough. God’s greatest authority was wrapped in humility.

Often, what we pray for arrives in packaging we do not expect. Like an important message that lands in a spam folder, the content is the same, but the presentation is different. If we are not careful, we can miss what God is doing simply because it does not look the way we imagined.

Scripture reminds us: “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’” Isaiah 55:8

If Jesus arrived exactly as we expected, we might admire Him—but never submit to Him. A real King does not simply inspire admiration; He demands surrender.

The King Who Threatens False Thrones

"King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem." Matthew 2:3 (NLT)

Herod was not disturbed because Jesus had an army or political power. He was disturbed because real authority exposes insecurity. Herod held a worldly title, but Jesus carried Kingdom truth. Whenever truth enters the room, false authority is revealed.

Jesus does not compete with our thrones—He exposes them. His presence reveals what has truly been ruling our hearts. Often, people are comfortable with Jesus as an advisor but resistant to Him as King. Advice feels safe; authority demands change.

Jesus Himself said: “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom… My Kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36

When Jesus reigns, we do not lose control—we lose the illusion of control. Once a false throne is exposed, there are only two options: defend it or surrender it. Herod chose to protect his crown. The wise men chose to lay theirs down.

The King Who Is Worth the Cost

"They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

Matthew 2:11 (NLT)

The wise men did not bring leftovers; they brought sacrifice. Worship always costs something—time, pride, comfort, and convenience. If worship is changing you, it will cost you.

Worship is not about personal preference or emotional experience. It is rooted in the worth of the One being worshiped. Jesus is not worshiped because He makes us feel good, but because He is King.

In the Christmas story, people responded differently to the same King. Herod resisted. The religious leaders ignored Him. The wise men worshiped. The issue was never who Jesus was, but how people chose to respond.

Conclusion

The question is not who Jesus is—the question is who He is to you. You cannot behold a King and remain unchanged. This December, do more than celebrate His birth. Submit to His reign. Lay down every false crown. Bow your heart, and behold the King.