To Read: Matthew 2:3-6
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Herod is troubled by the news of the wise men; visitors from so far away mean that this king to be born is going to be very powerful. Jerusalem is troubled by the unsettled nature of King Herod, and for good reason. Herod the Great was famous for his ruthlessness, and even had his own sons killed for fear that they were coming after his kingship. One famous historian, writing in the 5th century AD, remarked that Caesar Augustus had said it is “better to be a pig in Herod’s kingdom than his son.” This is because Herod, much like Pontius Pilate later, would allow for Jewish culture to thrive in Jerusalem in order that he might gain in popularity amongst his subjects. But when it came to threats against him, he would become paranoid and act out recklessly, as will be the case here.
But notice how people in Jerusalem are putting all the pieces together, that this child to be born must be the promised Messiah, the Christ. And the Scribes and chief priests give him this information: that he would be born in Bethlehem, a prophesy from Micah 5:2. Bethlehem was a tiny town not far from Jerusalem – not a prominent place to be born by any means – and yet, it is the birthplace of King David – and as this king like David would have an eternal throne (2 Sam. 7), it is fitting that he’d be born in this same place. It is also vital that the king not be born in Jerusalem, but as he would identify with us in our weakness, and come not as a powerful political ruler, but as a Suffering Servant (Is. 53), then of course he’d born in the least spectacular town.
This ruler will be a shepherd, as David was a shepherd – but he’d be a very different kind of shepherd. As in Isaiah 53, it is said that all of us like “sheep have gone astray,” then we need that Good Shepherd to bring us back into the fold. He would not lead animals on a hillside, but every person who would say to him, “guide me.” We are a people together who need to say to him “The Lord is my shepherd” (Ps. 23), he is the one who allows me to lie down in safety, in green pastures, for nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Rom. 8). Be aware of the Good Shepherd this Christmas, and ask him to guide you – not only in your hearts, but through his Word.
Song to Sing: Angels We Have Heard on High
Check out Phil Wickham’s version of this classic – it’s marvelous.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, guide us and direct us. Help us not to seek our own path, but to fully trust in you and your word. You have given us everything we need for salvation and for living in the world. We thank you for being a light in the darkness – a perfect source of hope even on the darkest of nights. Help us to sing to you with joy, to praise you with thanksgiving, and to repent when we have failed you in thought, word, or deed. In your holy name. Amen.
Echoes of Eden: Football! Sports are great because they show us something about glory – how working together using our various skills and strengths can provide victory and joy. We overcome obstacles, we get a taste of what we were made for in sports – eternal glory. So enjoy these little glimpses along the way!