Matthew reminds us that Jesus did not enter the world with sparkling lights and soothing carols.
• Jesus along with his family begins his life as a refugee in need of asylum.
• King Herod was part of the backdrop of this first Christmas play, together with the singing angels, the happy shepherds and the worshipful wise men.
Herod represents a part of reality - the dark side of the Christmas story.
• Jesus enters a world of real sorrow and pain, people living in fear and oppression.
• He was born an outcast, a homeless person, and a refugee.
It helps to put things in perspective. Christmas is not all bright and cheery.
• Like the first Christmas, there will still be those today who live in loneliness and brokenness. Not knowing the message of God’s love and hope.
• Christmas parties and shopping are alien to them. They are buried under the stresses of life.
Herod was given the chance to hear God’s message, but he was too bent on evil to see the light.
• He would have been among the first converts had he humbled himself and considered God’s Word.
• He was among the first few to know the news. Having heard it from the Magi (v.3), he has the privilege of consulting the chief priests and the teachers of the law (v.4).
• But he did not give it a second thought. He then called the Magi secretly (v.7) and got more information about the mysterious star. But that didn’t change his heart.
Mistake 1:
Herod was too bent on doing his own will. He was determined to reject God’s message.
• It’s easy to see his foolishness on hindsight. Many are doing that today.
• They are bent on having it their own way and reject what God has been saying.
It is not a lack of knowledge; it is a lack of the will.
• It is not a lack of advice; he has the group of chief priests and teachers of the law, plus the Magi from the East. It is a problem of the heart.
• It is not a lack of a chance; God has given him the opportunity and time to ponder.
When you are bent on staying on the dark side, God will let you.
• God respect your choice. If you seek Him, you will surely find Him.
• But if you choose to harden your heart, no amount of light will be able to shine through.
• We want to humble ourselves and heed God’s voice. He is not hard to find.
John says, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:19-20)
Herod says, “Find him and tell me, so I too may go and worship Him.”
• That’s the bait. Worshipping Him was the last thing in his mind.
• The Magi failed to return. Herod gave the cruel order that all boys, in Bethlehem and the vicinity, aged 2 years or under to be killed.
• He was paranoid. Just a child but it caused a panic reaction.
• This is consistent with Herod. History tells us he ordered the execution of three of his own sons and one of his wives. Someone said it’s better to be Herod’s pig then Herod’s sons in those days. He left instructions for one member of every family to be killed, so that at the time of his burial the nation might mourn.
This is how dark man’s heart can become. This is how dark the world can be.
• Like what we saw in Mumbai. Innocent lives can be killed without remorse.
• It is not a lack of knowledge, a lack of advice; it is a matter of the heart.
• Be receptive to correction. Don’t think that you are always right.
• Ponder God’s Word. Trust what He says. Soften your heart and listen to His voice.
• Don’t be too quick to throw the word out of the window when someone says something we do not like to hear. That may be God’s warning for you.
• Pray that we will not be so bent on our own way that we lose sight of what God is saying.
Mistake 2:
Herod was so wrapped up in himself that nobody else matters.
• That’s the danger when you are too wrapped up in yourself – you can’t see the light.
• When you are too focused on yourself, you lost sense of the reality, and of the truth.
Herod looked into the mirror and saw a king with power, prestige, and wealth.
• He saw a king who wore designer robes and a crown, who has authority above all else. He answers to no one. And no one can be above him.
• He wanted to cling to all that he has – power, prestige and wealth. When he heard that a king had been born, even though that new king was a helpless baby, he felt threatened.
• He was absorbed by the things he has.
Don’t be too wrapped up in yourself – what you have or how people see you.
• Everything you have today comes from God, as a result of God’s blessing.
• Be contented with what God has given you. The portion God has given you is the RIGHT portion.
• Your worth is not determined by your status, your job, your wealth or your intelligence (or lack of it).
• Rest in the assurance that your worth is settled in God’s eyes. God is the only true Judge of your worth, and He sent Jesus to die for you!
Actually, the truth is, there will probably be someone who has a little more than what you have, who is a little wiser, a little sharper, a little richer, a little better looking than you are.
• And there is nothing wrong with that. It is the Lord who gives and the Lord who takes away.
• Be contented with who you are in Christ, and what God has given you.
• Things don’t give you your worth; God gives it!
• Don’t cling on to what you have. Let God give them to you.
Mistake 3:
Herod’s philosophy of life is to exercise power and control.
You see TWO kings here – King Herod, and the King of the Jews.
• One exercises power and control. He gets his way by using his authority and rights.
• He uses them to rule over others, manipulate lives, control situations and to stay in charge.
• We see many such leaders – recently in the news in Thailand, in Taiwan – when you lead only with your self-interest at heart that will be your downfall.
We see the other King, lying in a manger.
• Jesus came with love, not to be served but to serve, and He changed the world.
• What kind of a power influence do you want to be? What kind of life do you want to live?
We see the many powers at play in Jesus’ time.
• The power of King Herod, backed by the Roman Empire, the Roman soldiers come with swords, spears and armour.
• We see also the authority of the religious leaders, the Pharisees and scribes, backed by the Law.
• And then we see Jesus. He came not to rule but to serve. He came to love. And that changed us. Love exerts a greater influence in our heart than anything else.
Live your life that way. Love people. Nurse the wounded. Give to the poor.
• We are called to serve as He has served, to love as He has loved.
• You won’t be wrong. Your life will be well-lived. People will remember you.
Conclusion:
But no matter how dark it is, we see the light of God shining.
• We see in this passage - a star guided the seeking Magi to the right place, a dream guided them away from evil Herod, an angel asked Joseph and Mary to escape to Egypt. The Lord watches over His own, until the danger is over with the death of Herod.
• No matter how dark your world has become, the light of God is shining.
• Train your eyes to see it in faith. Follow His leading, it is always right.
• God knows the direction you need to take, and the time you need to return.
There is a bright side to this dark world - Jesus has provided that.
• He says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
• In the midst of a cold and dark world, we see the shepherds rejoicing, the angels singing, and the wise men bringing gifts.
• We can sing, rejoice and give thanks. The light still shines today.
• It may be cold and dark, but our God still guides and protects. Let us inspire HOPE.
Jesus entered a world of sin and oppression at Christmas time.
• Today, this has not change. It is still a world filled with suffering and mourning.
• But the light has come. Let us inspire HOPE everywhere we go.
We see Jesus coming into the midst of people who are oppressed, in fear and sorrow.
• Let us do the same today. Let them know Christmas is here.
• Those in darkness can now see the light. Will you be the light for them?
• Let us meet them where they are and lift them up.
