The birth story of Jesus is one of the most gripping dramas of scripture. I think that’s why we never tire of reading and hearing it. Conceived in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. Martha’s unborn child leaps in her womb upon Mary’s arrival. Mary’s son will save his people from their sin. They will call him Immanuel – God with us. His bed is a manger for there is no room in the inn. Magi from the east come to worship him. It’s a riveting story of the coming of a King sent from God. He is the announcement that God’s kingdom is near. Upon finding him, the Magi bow down and worship him and give gifts worthy of a king. And of course, then, there is the warning that Joseph needs to get his family out of Dodge because the current ruler, Herod, is threatened by talk of another king.
Herod was no dummy. Another king meant at least his replacement, and at most another kingdom. It would turn out that Jesus would mean both. And, so, Herod set out to destroy this would-be king announced by the Magi. That is what the kingdom of this world, symbolized by Herod, does when confronted with the kingdom of God. Herod wants to hold on. He will control his world at all costs. He represents the status quo. Kingdom means change and he’ll have none of that. He stands for all those who like things as they are. Good enough is preferred over God’s very best. So Herod goes to work, shrewdly conniving to find this future king. He leads the way for those who would push the kingdom of God aside. He knows that kingdom speaks of allegiance, loyalty, commitment to new ways and change of power. He leads the way for all who prefer self-service, and individualism and power over their own realm. Herod won’t just push this king aside; he will have his death.
The Magi have come to worship this king. His star has sparked their need to seek him out and pay what is due kings. They know a divine appointment is at hand. They believe the world belongs to the one who created all, and they owe their allegiance and worship to him, and him alone. They don’t stop to honor Herod, but only to see the true king who is to come. They will stop at nothing – distance or rival kings – to find the one to whom all the heavens and scripture point. The Magi lead the way for kingdom people. They know that God among us means new allegiances, new commitments, new ways of living and giving up self-rule. Find him they bow down, worship and give their gifts. Disobedient to the world’s king and allegiant to a new king, they return home by a new way.
Simplistic though this contrast may be, we too are faced with whether we will fall in with the Herod-like way and rid ourselves of the rule of Jesus, or whether we’ll seek to find the King, bow before him, worship him and give our gifts to him, and him alone.
By Randy Couchman