Matthew 2
Last week we started looking at the visit of wise men from an eastern country. They had seen a star signifying the birth of the king of the Jews. Following the star to Jerusalem they had enquired at King Herod's palace where he was and been directed to Bethlehem. After finding Jesus they worshipped and gave precious gifts to him before travelling back home.
We noticed how the wise men had first looked for Jesus at the palace, and related it to how we may first look to things in our surrounding world to satisfy our own longings for all that Jesus is - peace, love, joy.
But today I want to continue in noticing how when the wise men asked at the palace for the whereabouts of the king of the Jews, King Herod, and all Jerusalem were 'troubled' (verse 3). In contrast, when the wise men left the palace and saw the star again, they 'rejoiced with exceeding great joy' (verse 10).
We already mentioned last week how King Herod was a cruel, suspicious man, suspecting and murdering even his own wife and sons for fear they would usurp him from his throne. So, to him the birth of a King of the Jews - of whom there had not been a king for many years - was a distinct troubling threat.
But Jerusalem was also troubled. This has always puzzled me! I couldn't understand why, having found the prophecy that the Messiah would be born at Bethlehem, the religious leaders and people of Jerusalem weren't all rejoicing and rushing to Bethlehem to find him.
I now wonder if part of Jerusalem's trouble was because of great fear of what King Herod might do - how his cruel rage might affect them all, and whether it might also bring down the wrath of the Romans on them all - the Romans having ultimate power over them.
How does reading these words apply to us today?
Two things come to mind:
Firstly, in our own lives, how do we react when God brings about unexpected events that are perhaps troubling and opposite to what we want?
Events may occur that bring us great disappointment that a path we had thought we were in has been stopped or threatened. We may feel that all our plans or position are going to be upset.
Are we like King Herod who started scheming a way to stop this threat to his throne?
In secretly asking the wise men how long ago they had first seen the star he was calculating in his mind how old the child might be. He then tried to deceive the wise men into coming back and telling him where they had found him. When he realised that they weren't going to he was furious, and ordered all the baby boys of up to 2 years old in Bethlehem and the surrounding districts to be killed.
What cruelty! And as we know, his schemes were all for nothing because God was taking care of his Son.
How disappointments and the thwarting of our will can bring up our rebellious flesh! How we can fight and talk against it! Angry words may be said, grumblings, murmurings, all of which are actually speaking against God who has allowed or ordered it.
What continued grace we need to humble ourselves and bow before God's sovereign will, believing and trusting that his ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9), that he will perfect the things which are appointed for us (Psalm 138:8), that all things work together for good to them that love him and are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28), and may be for the furtherance of the gospel (Philippians 1: 12).
What a contrast we then see in the wise men! They had eagerly come all this way to worship the new king. They had brought gifts in anticipation. When they re-saw the star they rejoiced with 'exceeding great joy'. This brings me to the second point:
This chapter illustrates the reception of mankind to Jesus's first coming. We see the contrast between troubled minds and rejoicing hearts.
What do you and I really think about Jesus' coming to earth?
Does it trouble us that God considers us sinners in need of saving? Does it challenge us that we might be living our lives how we want them regardless of God?
Perhaps we refuse to acknowledge that there is a God or that he has any right over us - this Christmas 'story' is just a fable, and any notion that it really happened is something we don't want to think about.
Alternatively perhaps we think that maybe it did happen, but if so, surely that means that all is well, Jesus died for us, so we can all go to heaven - we can do what we like in our life - Jesus has taken care that all will be forgiven!
If you have stumbled across this blog or have never really had Christian teaching from the Bible I must tell you that it says we need to ask God for forgiveness for our sins - a forgiveness he only gives because of Jesus, and we need to repent and turn from our normal way of living to a way that follows God's ways.
God will give this true repentance, and help you to walk in ways that honour him if you ask him with all your heart - He will forgive you if you confess your sins believing that Jesus came to die for sinners - and this real confession and belief he will also give to those who ask him.
Remember, although he is a holy perfect God who hates sin he is also a God of such love and compassion that he gave his Son Jesus to bear the sins of his people.
And lastly, what about the Biblical promise that Jesus will be coming a second time - do we believe it? Does this trouble us, fill us with fear, or even anger? Or do we dismiss it as hardly likely?
I recently heard a minister speaking as unbelievers might speak of Jesus' second coming, imitating the sneering tone of unbelief they might use.
It sounded so real that for a couple of seconds complete dismay, sadness and a feeling that my rock and security was being taken away, filled my heart - was this hope all for nothing!? Are we waiting in vain? Are we not going to see our beloved Saviour?
It showed me how we long to see him - do you know this? Do you sometimes feel lonely in your desire and longing to see him and know more of his presence?
Well, may the Lord work in each of our hearts that we might rejoice for what his sovereign will ordains in our lives, rejoice because he came to earth as a man to save sinners, and rejoice because he is coming again. May we be prepared for it.
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