One True King

What a contrast between Herod the Great and Jesus the One True King. Herod was a madman who slaughtered the remnants of the previous dynasty and arbitrarily executed many of his officials. He murdered his wife, mother-in-law, and three of his sons. However, the most terrible act came the day he ordered all the babies two years and younger killed in Bethlehem. When Herod heard from the wise men that the King of the Jews had been born in Bethlehem and that this fulfilled the prophecy of Micah, he was troubled (Matt 2:3). He felt threatened by a baby. His egotistical and warped mind demanded that he remove that threat. No matter how many Herods try to remove God’s appointed King, Jesus, they will never be successful. David describes God’s reaction: The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” (Ps 2:4-6)

The Apostle Peter described Jesus in these words, “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:22-23). What a description of Jesus! Who could do that? Only the one true King!

There were mixed reactions to the newborn King. Herod was hostile, and the religious leaders were indifferent, but the wise men who came following a star worshipped him. We can respond to Jesus with indifference, hostility, or worship. Matthew writes this about their response, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh” (Matt 2:11).

What an infamous scene. The One True King is born in a stable, a manager for a bed. His first guests are poor shepherds, and then a few months later, these strange astrologers arrive from the east. They followed a star from a faraway place and came bearing gifts; with those gifts, they worshiped the King.

We all have a choice to make. It may not be that first Christmas, but Christ is still born in every heart that accepts and worships him. Will you be indifferent or hostile, or worship him like the wise men did long ago and receive him as the true King?

God Chose Humble vs. Proud

Proverbs says that God does not have the time of day for the proud and arrogant, but he is ready to show grace to the humble (Prov 3:34). That was demonstrated in the Christmas story. When you think of Christmas, do you think of the nativity scene in Bethlehem? Even though we are 2000 years removed from that stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born, the Christmas story is still a story of beauty and wonder. The narrative of Christ's birth is so riveting because it is fixed in history with an actual place and real characters.

When God sent his mighty angel Gabriel to deliver the message of the coming Messiah, he did not go to the proud of Jerusalem but instead to the humble of Galilee. A similar thing happened in the life of Abraham Lincoln. As his second term approached, a letter from an eight-year-old girl arrived suggesting he grow a beard because it would help him get re-elected. Rather than being offended, Lincoln answered her letter personally and thanked her for her suggestion. He told her, that should his campaign ever come to her town, he would like to meet her. The adults in the city were excited to hear about the possibility of the president’s visit, and they prepared for it with enthusiasm.

When Lincoln’s campaign did travel in the direction of the town, a strange thing happened. The train broke down just shy of reaching the town, so the president went on foot to find the little girl. The town was practically empty because everyone was at the station waiting to see Mr. Lincoln, except the little girl. When Lincoln introduced himself at the door, the maid was speechless, but the little girl and her playmate welcomed him in as if they were expecting him. He drank pretend tea and had an excellent visit with them. Lincoln’s campaign train went right through the town without stopping! It went right past all the waiting politicians and local dignitaries and all the hype. For Lincoln had just come to visit with and say thank you to an eight-year-old girl.[i]

The angel Gabriel, who brought the exclusive announcement of the Savior's birth, ignored Judea and came to Nazareth, a town not even named in the entire Old Testament.  Gabriel entered the humble home of Mary who was only an ordinary teenager with no significance to her life—that is to the world, but not to God. She had been chosen for a special calling from God, and that was to be the mother of our savior.

The Lord comes to needy people, those who realize that without him they cannot make it. Mary knew she needed God, and God saw her heart. That is why he ignored the big shots in Jerusalem and sent Gabriel to this hole-in-the-wall place.

The angel told Mary that she would become pregnant and give birth to a son. Her conception would be supernatural, and the child would be great—he would be the Son of God. Gabriel told her to name him Jesus, and he will sit on David’s throne forever (Luke 1:28-32). What an incredible message the angel delivered! Mary readily accepted the message and asked that everything happen as the angel had said (Luke 1:38). What faith! What acceptance! What humility! No wonder God overlooked the proud and sought out the humble to deliver the Christmas message. He still does that today too!

---

[i] Conrad Hyers, And God Created Laughter, Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1987).