(note: this text of this blog also appears in the December Southwood Spirit, the newsletter of Southwood Christian Church, Greenville, Texas) There are times there are stories in the Bible that I read wishing that I knew more of the story. I long to be a fly on the wall, gathering pertinent details which would further enhance the story and give greater insight. For example, as many times as I have heard the Christmas story, there are details which remain a mystery. Even though I have heard a multitude of Christmas sermons and have prepared my share as well, every once and awhile, something new catches my attention and causes me to wonder about “the story behind the story.” It happened to me recently while doing some preparation work for upcoming sermons.
The section of the story concerned the visit of the Magi to Jerusalem (now I know, they came well after the birth of Christ, but since we always shoe-horn them into Nativity scenes, I figured you would grant me a little latitude). Remember the “wise men"? They followed the star and came to Jerusalem asking Herod, “Where is one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” What follows next is the part I wish I knew more about. The Scripture goes on to say in Matthew chapter two, “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.”
I understand Herod being upset about this announcement. After all, Herod, though he was King, was merely a puppet for Rome and was, in fact, not even a Jew. I can understand that he would feel threatened by anyone who was “born” King of the Jews. It was his job security at stake and someone born to be king would obviously be a danger to his position, his comfort and his authority. We are talking about a guy who wiped out most of his immediate family because he was paranoid of the possibility that one of them might take his throne. Not exactly the most trusting of individuals.
What puzzles me is the “all Jerusalem with him” part. After all, it was not as if they did not understand who this was to be. Herod himself asked the best of the religious thinkers where the Christ (a.k.a. The Messiah) would be born and in fairly short order, they let him know that it would be in Bethlehem. So it was not a case of misunderstanding. The Messiah had been prophesied for many years. He was the hope of Israel. As a people, the Jews looked forward to the coming of the Messiah with great expectancy. Yet they were troubled along with Herod at the possibility of his arrival.
Maybe they were not prepared for the Messiah in the baby-sized package. Maybe they were so afraid of what Herod might do to him or to them. How would Rome react to Israel having an actual king on the throne rather than the more palatable Herod? No one knows. Suffice it to say, when the opportunity came to see the one all Israel had waited and longed for, the news of his arrival simply troubled them. Maybe they just weren’t ready for the Messiah.
With all the plans we have made, all the schedules we have to keep, and all that we long to accomplish in this life, it makes me wonder, “Is the world ready for the Messiah to come today?” Would the news of his coming disturb us as much today as it did the Jews then? We may have different reasons, but like Israel we have been promised that the Messiah will come. It is to be a glorious day, a day for us to celebrate, a day that is long awaited and expected by Christians. Though I cannot help but wonder, “If Jesus came this Christmas; would we rejoice or be troubled by his return?” Perhaps it might be for those different reasons than Herod or Israel, but I would guess there would be at least a few Christians worried that they hadn’t accomplished everything they wanted or gained everything that they had wanted … as though those things will matter in eternity.
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that with all the troubling thinking that was going on, it would be wrong for us to miss the example of those Magi. They had traveled a great distance (no doubt at great expense) all for the opportunity to come and worship Christ, the Savior. The signs of the times did not trouble them, but inspired them. Did they truly know the ramifications of his coming? Possibly, especially when you consider that they searched the Scriptures to find such answers. It would be good for us to do the same!
We should celebrate his birth, honor his death on the cross, praise his resurrection, and anticipate the joy of his return for indeed it is true that, “Wise Men still seek Him!” and look forward to the day of his appearing!
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