This morning we turn together to the Gospel of Matthew when we consider the very last section of chapter two, which concludes the narrative of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Since I've been called to be a minister of this church, this is the fourth Christmas that I have the privilege of celebrating and being reminded together with this congregation. And if you have been noticing, we have been going through Matthew. together through these four years. So in the first two years we covered Matthew chapter 1, we considered Jesus' genealogy and the birth narrative. Last year we considered together the visit of the Magi, and this year we conclude Matthew chapter 2 together, as we consider then the very last historical facts that surrounded the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, together as a congregation in this four-year period, we have covered Matthew chapter 1 and Matthew chapter 2. Lord willing, this morning we will conclude that then together. We cover then verses 13 through 23 of Matthew chapter 2. This is the word of the Lord, holy, inerrant, infallible, and always profitable for our souls. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, take the young child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod. that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise man, was exceedingly angry. And he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem, and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise man. Then it was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, take the young child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child's life are dead. Then he arose, took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea, instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, he shall be called a Nazarene. Thus far the reading of God's holy word. Let us pray together. Great God in heaven, we thank you for reminding us this morning of the birth and of the several tribulations that our Lord Jesus experienced right after embracing human flesh. And Lord, as we consider these tribulations this morning, we pray that you would fill our souls with joy and of comfort. May we, O Lord, as we see what our Lord Jesus in such a frail state had experienced, may we, O Lord, be assured that this is indeed the Savior that sinners need, the only one that can redeem sinners and save their souls. Be with us this morning, Lord, we pray, and give us wisdom through your Spirit. In Jesus' name, amen. It is interesting how we tend to associate Christmas with wonderful things, isn't it? When we think about Christmas, we think immediately about the smell of cinnamon and peppermint spread all over the house. The smell of delicious food cooking in the oven. We associate Christmas with seeing family and friends whom we love and whom we dearly long to gather together again with. We think about warm homes. We think about generous presents and gifts. We think about gentleness and kindness. And we are very quick to protect the season, aren't we? We are concerned that awful things will not happen during Christmas. Why? Because since we over and over again every year in this blessed cycle, we are reminded of the birth of our Savior. We don't want to associate with the season anything that is tragical or that is hurtful or that will in some sort of way ruin this season of the year. But what if we are to associate Christmas with persecution? What if we are to associate Christmas with death? What if we are to associate Christmas with fear? You see, as we turn together to this passage this morning, this is the unavoidable conclusion. that although as we come together as a people of God to be reminded of the gracious dealing of our Heavenly Fathers with sinners on earth, of this joyful occasion of the coming and the birth of our Savior, of this magnificent moment in history in which indeed God embraced unto Himself human flesh, we are also not to be deceived. We are also to understand that that was indeed also the time of tribulation. That Christmas is not devoid of difficulties. And yet, even in the midst of all these difficulties, the joy of the birth of the Savior cannot be overshadowed. None of these horrendous things that happened surrounding the birth of the Savior have the power to overshadow the glory, the beauty, the power, the delight that is reserved for those who approach this newborn King in repentance and faith. Beloved brothers and sisters, as we consider these verses this morning, let us be reminded That yes, there is pain, there is death, there is persecution, there is fear associated with the birth of the Savior. But none of these things can overshadow the glory of Messiah's birth. As we consider these verses this morning, let us have firm in our minds that nothing can destroy the joy of Messiah's birth. Christian, nothing can destroy the joy of Messiah's birth. Not even persecution, not even death, not even fear. Nothing can destroy the joy of Messiah's birth. As we look at verses 13 through 15, we notice that there is persecution during the time of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. But not even persecution can destroy the joy of Messiah's birth. If you do remember, at this point in the narrative, we have been related to, we have been informed about the glorious birth of the Messiah. The Magi have come. They have worshipped the newborn King. They brought gifts to Him, paying homage to Him, and treating Him as who He truly is, the promised Messiah, the King of the Jews. Now, the Magi depart, and we notice even before that, there is much glory revolving around the birth of the Savior. There are announcements coming from heaven. They not only followed the star that was shining bright in the sky, but there was also announcements made to both Mary and to Joseph. There is this divine demonstration of intervention in the birth of the Savior, really proving that this is not a regular baby that is being born, but indeed the divine and expected Messiah. But notice that right after that section in the narrative, We run into tragedy. For although we have this group who is worshiping and adoring the newborn king, there are those who seek to destroy him. That's exactly what the revelation that came to Joseph reveals. If you look in verse 13, notice that's exactly what says the revelation. Arise, take the young child and his mother. Flee to Egypt, for Harold will seek the young child to destroy him. Barely born and already persecuted. He had just came into this world and his life is already under threat. Now you can imagine the confusion in the mind of Joseph and Mary, can't you? You know, we are in a very privileged position because we have the whole narrative. We know the whole story. But put yourself in the shoes of Joseph and Mary at that very moment. Mary just gave birth to a baby. She has experienced the pains of labor. She is trying to take care the best way possible of that baby who sits now in a manger and doesn't even have a place where to be. And now that young lady needs to jump at the back of an animal and make a journey to a unknown land, to a place where there's no relatives, there's no friends, they have no idea where they're going to stay, because there is danger and peril. This is a Savior that was exactly the revelation that both Joseph and Mary received. He is going to save his people from their sins, but he needs, at this point, he needs help. You can understand the confusion, can't you? You can also see the frustration. For the baby was revealed to be a king and he has no power? The kings of the world are raging against him, are assaulting his life, are attempting against his very existence. Persecution has already come upon him and he can't do anything about that. You can feel the exhaustion, can't you? Just gave birth to a baby and now a new journey needs to be experienced. But not even persecution can overshadow the glory of the birth of the Savior. And to make this really clear to us, the inspired writer comes along and reminds us that along with this blessed, patient obedience that marks both Joseph and Mary, verse 14, Joseph arose, took the young child, and departed to Egypt, immediately coming to our help, coming to our aid. The inspired writer reminds us this persecution cannot destroy the joy of Messiah's birth, because all that is to fulfill one prophecy. Out of Egypt, I called my son. In other words, you see what the spirit writer is telling us, brothers and sisters. The text is telling us clearly that what the persecution that is being raged against the Lord Jesus Christ is nothing more, nothing less than God's sovereign power control over all things, using Harold to fulfill his purposes and to make in Christ promises being fulfilled. Which promise? Hosea 11 verse 1. That's exactly where this prophecy is coming from. Now, this is a very interesting prophecy. Because in its original context, Hosea 11.1 is talking particularly about a return from captivity that Israel experienced back in Moses. And you see what both Hosea and the writer of this gospel is seeing in that prophecy. Because if the Lord Jesus Christ is fulfilling that prophecy, now two things are really, really important being revealed to us here. Number one, That Jesus is God's true Israel. That Israel back in the Old Testament was never limited to a nation. That was never in the mind of God. But Israel as a nation was a representative, was a shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. This is number one. But number two, that a new exodus is beginning with Christ. You see, the same way that Israel was redeemed and exited that land of enslavement and persecution, so as the Lord Jesus Christ, through His persecution, goes to Egypt and is going to be called from there, He is telling us a new exodus is being inaugurated in this son. A new exodus in which true deliverance from true oppression is finally going to be over. The Lord Jesus is inaugurating this new exodus in which He truly saves people, not through the instrumentality of a fallible man, but through the instrumentality of God Himself incarnate, delivering His people from all their sins, from all condemnation, from all oppression. He who is experiencing oppression and persecution at His birth is experiencing so, so that we would rejoice in the new exodus that He brings unto us. Do you see, Christian? Here is how the joy of Messiah's birth cannot be destroyed, not even by persecution. Tyrants may rise. Governments may rage, persecute, destroy the Christian church. We may experience persecution in our individual lives, in different spheres of our life. But as we look at this text, we are assured that we have been given a liberator. we are assured that we have been given one who indeed free us from all enslavement, and who lead us unto the new, true, and necessary Exodus, of which the old Exodus was simply a shadow. He free us and leads us away from the wrath of God, doesn't he? It is precisely because of this newborn king that The wrath of God can now be appeased. It's only because a true human soul and a true human flesh is being embraced that sin can finally be dealt with, that we can leave and exit way far from the wrath of God. Because of this new exodus, we are free from the enslavement of sin. Precisely what Egypt is a picture always of. You see, in scripture, Egypt is always a picture of enslavement to idolatry and to sinful practices. But as in him, as in him, Hosea 11, verse 1 is finally fulfilled. We are being reminded this morning that coming of this newborn King frees you, Christian, from enslavement to sin. You are free to obey your Lord. You are free to live indeed in peace with Him. You are free to have harmony with the Holy God in heaven because of the new exodus that comes in Christ. You're free to live a new life in a new land that flows with milk and honey. Oh, persecutions of this time come. Oh, tyrants of this age, you may come, but nothing can take away the joy of Messiah's birth. A new exodus has been given us, and not even persecution, can destroy the joy of Messiah's birth. Not even persecution, not even death. Look at the text. For as we consider now verses 16 through 18, we notice that Herod, the deceiver, has been deceived. We have a madman before us. Herod is furious. The text says, Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry. And here's the irony of this text. You do remember that Herod tried to deceive the Magi, right? Do you remember that Herod says, oh, please let me know when you find this newborn king because I want to come and worship him as well. Well, right from the get go, right from the beginning, all that he wanted was to kill any attempt to dethrone him and to any assault against his power. Well, but the deceiver was deceived, as the text clearly reveals us. If we look way back a little bit in this very same narrative, we notice that they were divinely warned. Look at verse 12. The Magi, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way, reminding us again of God's sovereign control and God's providential care towards this newborn king. But the deceiver now becomes a madman. And the madman engages in a mad action. For the text tells us that he's in this desperate attempt to cling to the only thing that he has. The only thing Harold has is his throne. That's exactly what the world has. You see, that's the reason why, when we come to this season, the world focuses on what they have. If they have a feast to celebrate, that's what they cling to. If they have many family members to join together, that's what they cling to. If they have a nice warm house with a nice tree filled with presents underneath, that's what they cling to. The heralds of the present time are no different from the herald of Jesus' birth. He had to cling to, not to the newborn king. He rejects the newborn king. He is very much concerned with what the newborn king can do to his kingdom. He is going to be dethroned. He's not going to be the ruler anymore, the boss anymore. He needs to submit to the newborn king and he doesn't like it. That's the natural man. And now he needs to put the baby to death. That's exactly what we read in verse 16. He sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem, and in all its districts, from two years old and under." In this evil, wicked calculation, from the meeting that Harold had with the Magis, Up to that specific time when he issued the order, Harold made some sort of devilish calculation and he determined that every male children born not only in Bethlehem but also in the neighboring cities should be put to death. Can you imagine being a Roman soldier and executing this order? Soldiers whose swords were used to fight against other nations, swords who perhaps were still stained with the blood of other soldiers, now are being used to trespass the body of children who are guiltless of any crime. And they carry on. They carry on, and that's what the text tells us. That as desperate mothers were screaming, as they were holding in their arms the dead bodies of their children, a promise was being fulfilled. And that's why not even death, not even death can overshadow the joy of Messiah's birth. The text says, Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. Now the inspired writer is here citing Jeremiah 31 verse 15. And in its original context, Jeremiah 31 verse 15 is a reference to Israelites being taken into captivity. That's precisely why Rachel is weeping. Because the sons of Jacob, because the sons of Israel are now being taken away from the land. They're being not only killed, but they're taking captive to Babylon. Now the inspired writer looking back at Jeremiah 31 also looks at what's happening at Bethlehem and in the neighboring cities and he says that's exactly what Jeremiah was talking about. That pain is inevitable. That death is unescapable. But it is precisely when we look at the broader context of Jeremiah 31.15 that we understand why not even death can overshadow the blessedness of Messiah's joy, of Messiah's birth. For because of that historical event, because right after that moment when Israel was going to be taken into captivity, Jeremiah proceeds with his prophecy and he says, but they will come back. Rachel is crying now. Rachel is mourning now. Rachel is weeping now, but they will come back. And it's precisely in the following verses of Jeremiah 31 that we have the promise of a new covenant. You see, the same one that inaugurates a new exodus, the true exodus is the same one that inaugurates a new covenant. You see what the prophecy is here doing then for us. It's marking the time when this new relationship of God with sinners would be inaugurated. And that's why not even death can overshadow the blessedness of Messiah's birth. For even that tragedy was a stepping stone to the blessedness that would follow. Even the strategy of the assassination of little ones in Bethlehem would be the stepping stone of a new era of joy and gladness, of a new era, of a new beginning, of a new relationship that God would inaugurate with sinners in which no sacrifices would be necessary for once for all sacrifice of the cross of Calvary would finally be offered for the sins of those who believe. Well, the inspired writer therefore is telling us, dear brothers and sisters, that amid tragedy, in the midst of loss, in the midst of death, there is still shining the prophecy of a new life. The Lord of life is prophesying unto us. that those who have been waiting and expecting the one who would defeat death once for all, their time has come. Despite of the death of the children at Ramah, despite of the death of the children of Bethlehem, the Lord of life, the one who has been promised, had finally come. And therefore a new era of life, in our new era of new life, has begun. Yes, sufferings are real. Sufferings may still be present. Sufferings may still assault and assail us. And yet, in the midst of those sufferings, a Savior was given. In the midst of children dying and of mothers weeping, the promised King finally comes. And this is the King that will wipe out all tears. This is the King that once for all will defeat death. This is the King who will reconcile us once for all with God in establishing the new covenant in which believers are saved. As a commentator explains, he says, there is hope in the midst of hurt. There is life in the midst of death. And what is the hope? What is this life? The new king. Who has just born. All Christian understand this morning. Persecution cannot destroy the joy of Messiah's birth. Death. cannot destroy the joy of Messiah's birth. And not even fear, not even fear can destroy the joy of Messiah's birth. And that's what we see now as we come to this last section in this narrative. For the madman now, who did a terrible, a mad action, now is dead. And isn't that reassuring? that all tyrants, all those who persecute Christ and his people, will ultimately meet their final destination. Harold may do whatever he wants to do with his power and authority while he is alive, but he does not control his own life. He does not control the duration of his life, and after his death, He will have to give an account. Verse 19 tells us, now Herod was dead. That's the end of all the enemies of Christ. That's the end of all those who raise up against the newborn king. They will die. Not only physically, but spiritually. Herod was dead, and behold, an angel now comes to the Lord, and once again we see, we witness this divine intervention surrounding the birth of the Savior. Arise, says the vision, take the young man, take the young child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child's life are dead. The tyrant is gone. Divine intervention continues to offer protection, continues to offer guidance. Joseph and Mary are reassured that this is indeed the promised one of God. But as we look at verse 22, we notice that their return to their land is not a comfortable one. It is surrounded by fear. And you know fear, don't you? You know how fear freezes us. You know how fear impedes us to make rational decisions. You understand how fear assaults our faith. But the text tells us that fear came upon them. Verse 22, but when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Now when Herod died, his kingdom was divided into three different sections. One section was designated to Archelaus, the section of Judea and Samaria and other neighboring areas. And Archelaus was just as a tyrant as his deceased father. Antipas inherited Galilee and Perea and the neighboring area. And Antipas was not as crazy, if you will, as Archelos, but he was also not a fine ruler. Etyria and its neighboring region was given to Philip. And that was precisely one of the regions where the Lord Jesus frequently sought refuge, sought rest, because of Antipas and Archelos. You see, The main perpetrator was dead, but his inheritance was still alive. And despite of the protection and guidance that came directly from heaven to Joseph, fear was still upon him. Fear affecting his judgment. making him even more needy of divine guidance. And that's exactly what he receives. At the end of verse 22, we notice, and being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. He go into the region of Antipas and he settled in his own native town of Nazareth. But you see, not even fear can overshadow Messiah's birth. Not even fear. Because even that which was decided because of fear, says the text, was decided that it might be fulfilled what is spoken by the prophets, that he shall be called a Nazarene. Now here we have a problem because this is one of those favorite spots for the unbeliever. The unbeliever loves this verse because it will come to us and say, well, where, what is the prophet who says those words? Find me in the word of God, where is that written? That he was going to be a Nazarene? You can't find it. And you know, in a sense that is true. Those specific set of words we cannot find in any prophecy, but is that exactly what Matthew is trying to connect here? Is Matthew trying to tell us that we are going to find that citation in any of the prophets? Or is Matthew trying to tell us that the description that was given regarding the Messiah as a sufferer, as a despised one, as a rejected one, as a Nazarene, would be now finally fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ? Whereas as we look and we pay attention to verse 23, that's precisely what Matthew is doing. Matthew is not quoting scripture. Matthew is telling us what the prophets taught about the Messiah. Matthew is giving us, in a nutshell, the essence of Isaiah 53. that the Messiah would be despised, that the Messiah would be rejected, that the Messiah would be acquainted with grief, that the Messiah would understand what sorrow is, that He would have no esteem, that no one would nurture esteem towards Him. That was precisely embedded in the concept of a Nazarene. And you know that because of John 1, verse 46. Don't you remember the question? Can anything good come out of Nazareth? You see, Nazareth was one of the worst places for one to live at a time. One of the smallest villages, no resources, a place considered as nothing. And that's precisely where the king of the universe is going to dwell. so that everything that is considered by man would be made nothing, and that which is despised by man would be glorified for the glory of God. The final settlement, therefore, fulfills the prophecy regarding the Messiah. The final prophecy tells us who He's going to be. To be a Nazarene is to have this adjective that describes a despised one, One who is rejected and considered as nothing. And that all took place in the midst of fear. Let us be reminded this morning that not even fear, not even persecution, not even death can overshadow and destroy the joy of Messiah's birth. The coming of the kingdom secure us that He is who He says He is. Do you see that Christian? Perhaps you sit here this morning and we are assaulted by the fear of being deceived. Is Christianity true? Is this the true Messiah? wasn't exactly the Lord Jesus Christ who warned us about the temptation of the last days, when we, His apostles, His disciples, would feel His absence, and some would say, Lo, He is there! Lo, He is here! And He says, Do not go there. Fear not. For when I come, you will see my return, undoubtedly, unquestionably. But fear not, because I am He. who was promised. Wasn't that exactly the fear of John the Baptist? Did he not send some of his disciples asking the Lord Jesus, are you the one promised or should we wait for another one? Was he not reassured? The gospel is being preached to those who are in need. The blind are seeing, the lame are being healed. Let us therefore be assured this morning that we have no fear. The promised one has come and his name is Jesus of Nazareth. The promised one that will save us from our sins has indeed come. The prophecies have been fulfilled. There's no room for fear. For the birth of Messiah fills us with assurance. Let us have no fear of being rejected. Even us. Even you. Yes, your Savior knows your life. He knows your thoughts. He knows how sinful, how frail, how needy you are. And it's precisely Christian. It is precisely that when you look at Him, there is no space and room for fear. For He who came in the midst of fear, To be rejected as a Nazarene came so that you would not be rejected before the Heavenly Father. He came so that acceptance would be brought unto sinners. He came so that those who confess His name and profess indeed faith in Him would be fully accepted and fully received. He's coming free us from all fear of worldliness. from the fear of being contaminated by this world, of being separated from the holiness of the Father. He who came in the midst of fear removes from us all fear and grants us all security, for He is the One who was promised. Would you notice the necessary implication? Do you understand the necessary implication that is all embedded with Messiah's birth? You see, if persecution cannot overshadow the joy of Messiah's birth, if death cannot overshadow the joy of Messiah's birth, if fear cannot overshadow the joy of Messiah's birth, we are also to understand that apart from Messiah's birth, persecution, fear, and death ultimately will assault you. You see, that's precisely the content of the birth of Messiahs that is hated and rejected even now. To the point that saying to someone Merry Christmas can steer up a discussion or perhaps even a physical fight in the grocery store line. Because the Messiah demands submission. The Messiah's demand, acknowledgement. The Messiah demands repentance. The coming of the Savior is a joy to those who receive Him. The coming of the Savior is a joy to those who submit to Him. Yes, death is abolished in Him for those who approach Him in faith. Yes, persecutions are waived for those who come to Him, indeed in repentance, but for those who reject Him. Oh, persecution comes, and not by the hands of Herod, not by the hands of a worldly tyrant, but persecution comes by the hands of a holy God. who will not be satisfied until his justice is fully. Let us not forget that. Apart from Cain, apart from the newborn king, there is persecution. Apart from him, death will reign, for that's the wage of sin. Apart from him, fear will take over the hearts of those who insist in living in sin. for the threat of a holy God coming to judge them, who always hound them until the grave. Let us make no mistake. Nothing can destroy the joy of Messiah's birth, not even persecution, not even death, not even fear. But for all those who reject Messiah's death, persecution, and fear, who terrorized them until He returns. Let us pray together. Great God in heaven, we thank You for the clarity of Your Word and for reminding us this morning that nothing can overshadow the joy of Messiah's birth. Father, we rejoice in granting us indeed freedom and a new exodus through Him for delivering us from our captivity once for all through His sacrifice Father, we rejoice in the destruction of death. We rejoice in knowing that the Lord of life was born, even in the context of death, that a new covenant in him, in his blood, was inaugurated so that who are dead can be made alive again. Father, we rejoice that no fear more exists for those who rejoice in the birth of Messiah. for reconciliation has been granted unto them. For the true one in whom all prophecies are fulfilled have finally come. And Father, we pray for those who still are in rejection and rebellion. We pray that it would be merciful with them. And that you would, O Lord, according to your will, bring them unto repentance. That they would confess their sin. and that they would, O Lord, cling to the newborn King. In Jesus' name, Lord, we pray.