Matthew 1:9
"After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
"Where the child was"
They followed the star to a house, not a manger or animal pen. They worshipped the young child. And they opened up their gifts (treasures) for the young child. They sought the king, the Messiah king, they followed the prophetic star, and they worshipped him. This approach and response to the prophecies is a completely different response than what King Herod had. Herod was deeply disturbed by the news from the wise men, and he set out to deceive them. His response is to lie and make plans for murder. These three wise men, three kings, respond quite a bit differently than the King over Israel. And it's interesting to note that from the very beginning of the advent of Jesus, Son of God and Mary, there has been no middle ground given. People either love and worship him or hate him and want to destroy him. He's either the royal Messiah, worthy of worship, or mocked and despised completely. No middle ground.
Why do you think that is?
I'll tell you what I think is really at play in all this sociopolitical intrigue that impacted the life and times of Jesus. I think the root of the hatred is something more than just a selfish desire to have the position, authority and power that is associated with the Holy One of God. I think these men of status and self-righteousness hate the nature of Jesus' kingship, which is defined by the word of God from the prophet Micah quoted in Matthew 2:6
"And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah...He will be “the shepherd of my people Israel.”
They despise the fact that this Messiah is depicted as a shepherd, and not a stern wicked ruler like them. They know their own hearts and minds. They know how they govern. They know the evils they have committed. And it burns them to no end to think about the Shepherd King. He is the gentle and loving Ruler of his people, who, like a shepherd, saves his people from destruction, and they HATE that.
They hate it because they can't do it themselves. The contrast with Herod, and even later on with the Chief Priests and Pharisees, could not be more pronounced. King Jesus, the shepherd king, gives his life for the sake of the people he rules; and meanwhile Herod takes the lives of his own people for his own sake.
This contrast has really existed from the beginning. This first century moment in time in Bethlehem is the culmination of a play that has been playing out since the beginning of time. And before really. This conflict is the battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. A conflict that exists within the hearts and minds of every person. This passage in time, in this passage of the gospel, challenges every one of us to reflect upon our own response to the kingdom of God.
We can get into deep thoughts about the star, and Herod, and the age of Jesus when the wise men showed up at his house (probably two years old), but none of that matters in the grand scheme of things. But what really matters is this spiritual battle for the minds and hearts of all mankind. This passage challenges us to reflect upon the character of our own lives. Rather than dig deep into how the wise men got to where they are, we should think about what we would or wouldn't have done in their place.
Who would we better reflect?
Herod or the wise men?
Who do you see in yourself?
I'm laser focused on this question because shortly that choice is coming up. In just a turn of the page we are all given a choice, no middle ground offered.
John the Baptist is coming:
Matthew 3:2
and he is saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”
And just in case you're one of those who say, "I follow Jesus, not John the Baptist", then hold on a second, because Jesus is coming and he's got a message for you.
Matthew 4:17
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
We are all guilty of our own compromises. Some are compliant, some are complacent, some are complicit, but all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And all must repent.
So where does your loyalty lie?
Are you like the wise men whose response is entirely appropriate for men who have committed themselves to true discipleship; or are you deceiving yourself and others, like Herod did, in order to have things go your own way? Do you desire power and self-rule, or are you worshipping the King of the universe and following his ordered and orchestrated rule over all mankind?
Militant self-rule verses rejoicing in the royal kingdom of the Messiah.
Which will it be?
No middle ground.
One day everyone stands before the king and gives an account for all they've done. And many HATE that. Many people hate Christians and their God, Jesus, the righteous king to whom every knee must bow. And they HATE that you can’t have it both ways. Truth is, they love the idea of Jesus, but they're unwilling to let Jesus change them. They choose to follow a lie and the word of God is not in them. They fall victim to the deception of sin. Their hearts grow hard and cold. And ultimately they rebel against the kingdom of God. It happens EVERY TIME.
Unless...
Unless we, the church, are working together to make disciples and encourage faith.
Hebrews 3:12-15
"Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start."
As it is said:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
Can you hear Him?