The wise men from the East traveled many miles for one purpose: To worship the new King of the Jews. But why? Some people worship God for what for what He has done in the past. Others worship Him because of what He will do in the future. Both are legitimate. But the Magi worshiped Jesus, not for what He had done or would do, but simply for who He was.

That is one reason Jesus was born: To dethrone wicked rulers when He returns to judge the living and the dead.

The eternal Son of God became a man, the God-Man, Jesus, for a particular purpose: To save His people from their sins.

Jesus is not just a man, but also God. We know this for several reasons.

Now that He has died, risen, and ascended to the Father’s right hand, just how does Jesus “save His people from their sins”? He has completed the work of redemption and made it possible for us to be reconciled with God. But how do people now come into the blessings Jesus has obtained for His followers?

How can we be saved? Throughout his Gospel, Matthew tells us what Jesus said about this.

In what ways did Jesus save His people?

Jesus was not born primarily to deliver us from sickness, poverty, pain, confusion, and conflict. Followers of Christ are not exempt from the troubles of daily life.

The wise men from the East traveled hundreds – perhaps thousands – of miles in order to worship Jesus, whom they knew only to be the King of the Jews. “Worship” can take many forms.

Even before His birth, the angel proclaims Jesus as the Great Companion.

The rest of Matthew’s Gospel documents the evidence for the full deity of Jesus.

Although the angel’s words to Joseph show that He is God, they also point to His humanity. In every way, Jesus was a true man.

Revive me, O LORD, according to your promise, and by Your word. Open my eyes to behold wonderful things in Your word. Enlighten the eyes of my heart, that I may know You.

A real man is a learner, a keeper, and a teacher. He humbly learns the word of God. Admitting his ignorance, he opens his eyes, ears, and mind to constant instruction in the things of God as revealed in the Bible.

A real man relies on the power of Jesus, who alone exercised perfect self-mastery.

A real man is a holy man.

A real man is just.

A real man will have a realistic mind. He will nourish his mind on the word of God.

A leader must be blameless. The three qualities we examine today contribute to the definition of blamelessness.