
Happy or Hateful
Christmas Mood Series
TEXT: Matthew 2:1-18
Would You Rather…If you can only pick ONE…which MOOD do you identify with right now?
Let’s read the story we’ll discuss today…
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
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.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
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.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. —Matthew 2:1-18
The story of 2
King Herod - or Herod the Great thought
Jesus was born in
Jesus gave His life and ministry as a
Jesus’
King Jesus and King Herod two kings who couldn’t have been more
To show us a
HEROD’s MOOD was HATEFUL.
Herod was HATEFUL, and sometimes…so am I and so are you, oh and:
- Selfish
- Power hungry
- Insecure
- Wanted to stay comfortable
- Deceitful
- Cruel
- Didn’t want to be inconvenienced
- Wanting to stay king…
- Would do anything not have Jesus as King
Oh, well maybe that is a WHOLE MOOD for some of us.
Contrast with the
They were searching for Jesus.
When they saw the
In other words…FINDING JESUS made them
How does finding Jesus affect you?
Happy to Find
Happy to Make the
Happy to
Happy to Present the Gifts and themselves to the King
Happy to
Because they were in tune with
So this CHRISTMAS - how are you relating? What’s your
Are you HATEFUL or are you HAPPY?