The document discusses the birth of Jesus Christ and the visit of the Wise Men, as described in Matthew 2. It then discusses Psalm 72, which envisions a king who rules with justice, defending the afflicted and needy. It notes how America was founded with the promise of justice and equality but only allowed landowning white men to vote initially. It calls for introspection on challenges around race, gender, and economics, and examining how Native Americans have been mistreated. It quotes the racist rhetoric used to justify imprisoning Japanese Americans during WWII. The document advocates studying, voting, praying, and acting to further King Jesus' vision of justice.

1. OUR KING HAS COME!
C H R I S T M A S S U N D A Y 2 0 1 7

2. Matthew 2:1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. This happened
while Herod was king of Judea. After Jesus’ birth, Wise Men from the
east came to Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the child who has been
born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose. Now we have
come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard about it, he was very upset. Everyone in
Jerusalem was troubled too. 4 So Herod called together all the chief
priests of the people. He also called the teachers of the law. He asked
them where the Messiah was going to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in
Judea,” they replied.

3. Matthew 2:5 “This is what the prophet has written. He said,
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are certainly not the least
important among the towns of Judah. A ruler will come out of you. He
will rule my people Israel like a shepherd.’ ” (Micah 5:2)
7 Then Herod secretly called for the Wise Men. He found out from
them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to
Bethlehem. He said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as
you find him, report it to me. Then I can go and worship him too.”

4. Matthew 2:9 After the Wise Men had
listened to the king, they went on their
way. The star they had seen when it rose
went ahead of them. It finally stopped over
the place where the child was. 10 When
they saw the star, they were filled with joy.
11 The Wise Men went to the house. There
they saw the child with his mother Mary.
They bowed down and worshiped him.
Then they opened their treasures. They
gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12
But God warned them in a dream not to go
back to Herod. So they returned to their
country on a different road.

5. “ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
ATLANTIC JUST NOW WE ARE
LIVING WITH THE SURPRISING
RESULTS OF DEMOCRACY, AND
THIS IS A GREAT MOMENT TO
REFLECT ON GOD’S VISION FOR
HUMAN GOVERNMENT, AND
INDEED GOD’S VISION FOR A
HEALTHY HUMAN SOCIETY.”
Retired Anglican Bishop and New Testament Scholar

6. PSALM 72
a vision of a world in which justice is done,
especially for the powerless, by those with power
“Loving v. Virginia” (1967)

7. PSALM 72: DESCRIPTIVE EXCERPTS
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son
with your righteousness. 2 May he judge your people in
righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and
save the children of the needy; may he crush the
oppressor.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute
to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. 11
May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

8. PSALM 72: DESCRIPTIVE EXCERPTS
12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have
no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and
save the needy from death.14 He will rescue them from
oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the
sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will
call him blessed. 18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds. 19 Praise be to his glorious
name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

9. “PSALM 72 HOLDS OUT FOR
US A VISION OF A WORLD
AFLAME WITH GLORY; A
WORLD IN WHICH JUSTICE
IS DONE, ESPECIALLY FOR
THE POOR AND FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE NOBODY TO
SPEAK FOR THEM…”

10. “…THIS IS A VISION OF A KING TO
WHOM THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
COME BEARING GIFTS BECAUSE HE
IS DOING WHAT THEY KNOW THEY
OUGHT TO BE DOING, NAMELY
DELIVERING THE NEEDY WHEN THEY
CALL OUT, HAVING PITY ON THE
WEAK AND POOR, RESCUING THE
HELPLESS FROM THE GREEDY, THE
OPPRESSIVE AND THE VIOLENT.”

11. “…THIS IS A VISION OF A KING TO
WHOM THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
COME BEARING GIFTS BECAUSE HE
IS DOING WHAT THEY KNOW THEY
OUGHT TO BE DOING, NAMELY
DELIVERING THE NEEDY WHEN THEY
CALL OUT, HAVING PITY ON THE
WEAK AND POOR, RESCUING THE
HELPLESS FROM THE GREEDY, THE
OPPRESSIVE AND THE VIOLENT.”

13. ç
In spite of how America was
birthed with this inspiring
promise, only 8% of the
population were eligible to
vote in the very first election
for President.
Only land-owning males with
roots in western Europe.

14. -Rev. Joshua DuBois
Former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
“We are a country that has deep
challenges related to race, gender and
economics. While things have certainly
gotten better over time we have not
done a lot of introspection about our
character—thus, we see the spasms
and backlashes that have occurred and
will occur as we grow and change.”

15. Politicians—most who see themselves as ones whom the Almighty has entrusted to govern this country
—have routinely sinned against the human beings who were here centuries before Europeans arrived.

16. How does King Jesus view Native Americans today? How does King Jesus expect American politicians
and others with power and influence to rescue the helpless from the greedy?
Crude oil spills in the last 5 years

18. “THE JAPANESE RACE IS AN ENEMY
RACE AND WHILE MANY SECOND AND
THIRD GENERATION JAPANESE BORN
ON AMERICAN SOIL, POSSESSED OF
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP, HAVE
BECOME ‘AMERICANIZED,’ THE
RACIAL STRAINS ARE UNDILUTED…
General John L. DeWitt, head of the U.S. Army’s Western Defense Command

19. “…IT, THEREFORE, FOLLOWS THAT
ALONG THE VITAL PACIFIC COAST OVER
112,000 POTENTIAL ENEMIES, OF
JAPANESE EXTRACTION, ARE AT LARGE
TODAY. THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT
THESE ARE ORGANIZED AND READY
FOR CONCERTED ACTION AT A
FAVORABLE OPPORTUNITY…”
General John L. DeWitt, head of the U.S. Army’s Western Defense Command

20. “…THE VERY FACT THAT NO
SABOTAGE HAS TAKEN PLACE
TO DATE IS A DISTURBING AND
CONFIRMING INDICATION THAT
SUCH ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.”
General John L. DeWitt, head of the U.S. Army’s Western Defense Command

21. Psalm 72:1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your
righteousness. 2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.

22. 4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children
of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.

23. 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba
and Seba present him gifts. 11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

24. 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.

25. 14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious
is their blood in his sight.

26. STUDY VOTE PRAY HOLD
OUR KING HAS COME!
ACT

27. Psalm 72:18 Give praise to the Lord God, the God of Israel.
Only he can do wonderful things. 19 Give praise to his glorious
name forever. May his glory fill the whole earth.
Amen and Amen

28. For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6