Monday, June 07, 2004

11:46 pm



King Herod didn't like hearing the Magi talking about “the king of the Jews” being born. After all, Herod was the king – until death. So hearing of his replacement was a downer.

But you would think the rest of the Israelites would be thrilled to hear the Christ was at last born. They were not. Verse 3 says, “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.” This was God's greatest gift to mankind, coming through the nation of Israel, and Israelites were “disturbed: to hear of His arrival! Can you imagine prisoners in chains being “disturbed” to hear that a rescuer is coming? Not unless the captors had so brainwashed the prisoners that they didn't even see themselves as imprisoned. That's the scenario here. Jesus is coming to set people free from sin, and to many, this is an interruption!

This may be a political reaction, too. Every time some Jews tried to rebel against the occupying Roman army, the Romans clamped down harder, making life worse. So folks got nervous when they heard of yet another “leader” rising up, because leaders only make their lives worse in the long run.






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