“All Are Welcome”

Scripture: Revelation 22:12-17; Matthew 2:1-12

Today we begin a new series of messages. During discussions at one of our Worship Team meetings, the topic of Christian symbols and their significance in faith came up. Some very interesting thoughts were shared, along with ideas regarding some specific symbols. As I did some research on items that represent our faith, I discovered even more ideas for the series. Some of the symbols that I have chosen will be familiar, while others may be strange to you.

I have already found scripture that points toward half of the list, which is a great start, and I fully believe that the rest will all fall into place. Each will reveal certain aspects of our faith, and some will bring totally new thoughts into the light of Christ. Today, we begin with a symbol that is actually a combination of signs, but one that has been part of the Christian faith for many years.

Today’s symbol is “The Alpha and the Omega” – the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet.

Read Revelation 22:12-17

This Sunday is also Epiphany – the day that is celebrated as the day of God’s revealing to the Gentile world through the arrival of the Magi. But before we open their story, we begin by asking – “why would God want to mix outsiders in with his “chosen” people.”
The first clue is contained in these first two verses – “My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” Jesus, and he alone, has authority over the reward of heaven. Not only is he the one who offers the reward of salvation, but he is the one who has the final say as to who is rewarded and who isn’t. It has nothing to do with who we are in a human sense, it has nothing to do with how wonderful we are in a worldly sense, it has nothing to do with how much good we have done – it’s about who and what we are in Jesus Christ. Earthly standards no longer apply, and Jesus will do what God has planned since before time began.

And the second clue is in the personal description that he offers – he is the beginning and the end of all that is. Jesus was involved in the Creation, and he will be there when all that we know comes to a screeching halt! This means that before anyone ever existed, and before anyone thought that they had exclusive hold on God’s grace, and after all the world’s authority has vanished from reality, God has already made, and will continue to be making, all the decisions of what life is all about. And for some reason, we continue to think that we are in the know!

Bottom line, God’s plan of salvation never has been, and never will be bound by human standards of conduct. Eternal life will be granted according to the Lord’s wisdom. Period.

As this passage continues, we read that “those who wash their robes” will have access to the tree of life. But the question is what are we to “wash” our robes in? Obviously, it doesn’t mean soap and hot water (!), as that would imply that it is all about our doing. The truth of the matter is that these words are telling us that it is faith in the sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary that washes us clean of the dirt, of the sin of this world – in other words, it is about being “washed in the blood” of Jesus. And this is the only key to the gates of heaven.

And those who will be left outside of those gates? Those who have never come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ – those who are still trusting in their own interpretation of what is worthy and what falls short. But the invitation is still offered to the entire world, whether it is accepted or not.

Jesus, the Root of Jesse, the offspring of David, is the lineage that qualifies him to be the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1-5), and in that, he has the authority to invite whoever he wishes to join him in this new life. But we also see that even though the offer is made, we still have to make the effort to move toward the Lord, and it will never be the other way around. We need to recognize our need of Christ’s refreshment (to satisfy our “thirst”), and even though the gift of new life is right there in front of us, we have to freely, at our own initiative, accept the gift. Ours must be the first step, and then the grace of God will carry us the rest of the way to eternity.

The only way is through the way of the great Alpha and Omega.

Read Matthew 2:1-4

This brings us to the visit that the Magi paid to Jesus at his birth. The Christmas Carol would tell us that they were “3 kings from the orient”, but the truth is that we only know that they were wise intellectuals (the actual number is unknown – we only know that there were three distinct gifts that were presented to the Christ Child), and they were from the east. They would have been gentiles, and as far as the Hebrew people were concerned, these men would have been unworthy to come into the presence of Messiah. And yet, these foreigners and the unclean shepherds were the ones who came to rejoice over the birth of the Christ.

As a matter of fact, the star that they followed allowed them to make a stop with King Herod who, apparently, didn’t have a clue as to this holy birth. His trust had no faith, and it wasn’t even grounded in the law – it was based in his own security and authority and what he could do to preserve it (much like many of our politicians today!) He was even unaware of Micah’s prophecy (Micah 5:2), that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and he only learned of it through his court advisors.

Read Matthew 2:5-8

But Herod still needed to know if these words had actually come to pass. He knew that the Magi had more information about this birth than he did, so he planned to use their knowledge to his gain. And his gain would be the elimination of this threat to his throne! Remember that the Magi had asked for his assistance in locating the actual place, and that they had described the Child as the “King of the Jews”. If that didn’t terrify Herod, nothing would!

But notice that his first question to these visitors wasn’t where is this new “King” – it was “when did you first see the star”! Herod knew that he was going to have to sort out this child from all the others in the area, so he wanted to figure out just how old he might be. He was beginning to form a plan in his mind on how he was going to rid himself of this irritation.

And he sent them out believing that the king wanted to come and worship this new King, too, but his heart was in a totally different place. His only plan was to destroy this false pretender to his authority and throne. He had no intention of showing any allegiance and praise to this baby – the only ones who he was willing to work with were the Roman occupation forces who oppressed his nation, and even that violated the laws of Israel.

Herod didn’t believe. He never would believe. He only believed in himself and his personal prestige and authority.

Read Matthew 2:9-12

Isn’t it interesting that the star that led them to Israel and Jerusalem, initially failed to finish the trip. If it could lead them to the manger now, why not before? It seems that Herod had to know that there was “a new King in town”, and it would be the Magi’s assignment to make the announcement.

But the star picks right up where it had left them, and carries them directly to the Lord’s side. And they praise God’s great gift to earth, and honor him as the King they knew him to be, with their own gifts – gifts that reflected the very nature of the Baby. They brought gold – a royal gift; they brought frankincense – a priestly incense for the High Priest of creation; and they brought Myrrh – a gift used for embalming the dead.
The Kingly and High Priest of earth, who would die to preserve his Kingdom for all time and for all people, was lying right in front of them. To say that these wise men rejoiced at being in the presence of the Christ, is possibly the greatest understatement of all time. And Herod, the king of Israel, who should have been there with them, rejoicing just as they were, missed it all.

But the Lord’s providence didn’t end here for the out-of-towners. God was continuing to keep these faithful worshippers safe by warning them to go directly back to their own countries, without letting Herod know where the Christ was. And the king of Israel lost out a second time.

God is truly Alpha and Omega. There is nothing that he doesn’t know, there is nothing that he cannot do, there is no one who he would exclude from knowing his glory, and there is no one who he would not want to spend eternity with – as long as he is shown the honor that is due him, and is acknowledged for who he truly is - Lord and King of their life. God is all things for our life, and he is our beginning and our end – not just as Alpha and Omega of creation, but truly that very thing that brings immortality to our soul.