Hope and the Scandal of Politics

Please turn to the book of Matthew, chapter 2 verse 1.

See if you can fill in the blank: perhaps the biggest and most controversial area to discuss in a conversation today with anyone is ____________ (what)

A. politics

B. politics

C. politics

Politics!

And we are in our Christmas series in Matthew and Luke called SCANDALOUS HOPE.

in the list of some of our country’s greatest scandals, we read of things like Watergate, Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, Iran-Contra (took place during Reagan’s term).

my goal is not to focus on any of those OUT THERE—but to put a spotlight with today’s Christmas text with how you and I think about power and politics IN HERE.

with how we think about the kingdom of man vs. the kingdom of God.

most of us can’t have much effect in big, national scandals, but there we can make a difference with God’s help in how you and I use power everyday, with how we think about politics and discuss it, with the priority we place on it vs. the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

In a podcast called Reconstructing Faith, LISTEN TO THIS STAT -

back in 1960, only 5% of Republicans and 4% of Democrats said they would be displeased if their child married someone from the other major party. more than 50 years later—50% of R and 1/3 of Democrats said they would be somewhat or very unhappy if this happened. news report from 2018.

the Public Religion Research Institute, Americans are more likely to be unhappy if their kid marries someone from a different political party than if they marry someone from outside their religion. (say it again) political affiliation matters more than religion.

“Politics has overtaken religion as the primary shaper of identity.” — Trevin Wax Reconstructing Faith Episode #7

“Politics doesn’t just supersede religion; it is religion.” — Trevin Wax Reconstructing Faith Episode #7

some of you recognize this in our culture, and some of you are as frustrated as I am with the discourse over it.

some of us are blind to it, unaware—like a fish in water who says “what’s water?”

this focus on politics... is a more of a scandal of the heart—that we can put so much hope and passion in earthly politics rather than God’s kingdom—Jesus and the Gospel.

and...

I actually believe this passage in Matthew. helps us begin the conversation today and contains a horrible scandal and challenges the scandal of our hearts and politics.

Let me read it

Matthew 2:1–23 (NIV)

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem (these are the wise men we depict in our Nativity scenes)

2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. (when the king ain’t happy, nobody’s happy!)

4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.

5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (that’s the book of Micah)

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” (now my translation adds in the Greek— “Liar, Liar, pants on fire...”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

11 On coming to the house (based on that word—it is possible that Jesus is 1 or 2 years old), 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, frankincense and myrrh. (btw—we often think there are 3 wise men because of 3 gifts—but the text doesn’t say)

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,

15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (from Hosea)

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,

23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

so how do we have hope in the midst of a world of politics. how are we to think and wrestle with politics.

BECAUSE...This passage brings up a ruler-King Herod (aka Herod the Great from history). He was named King of the territory of Judea by the Roman Senate. He was wealthy, gifted, shrewd politically, known for his great famine relief projects and building efforts. but he loved power... He was a violent ruler, even for his time. He killed many members of his court, and even his own family to make sure he stayed in power. b/c he was not a 100% royal line—many Jews didn’t think he should be in office. so he was especially paranoid, violent.

he learns of the star—from the magi or wise men—it was thought that a new bright light in the sky was the birth of a new king.

and so these magi—really astronomers and astrologers who served in faraway courts from other lands like Persia. asked about the King of the Jews.

and when you are the king, it’s disturbing to learn there is a new king—who may have more right to the throne than you do.

so he inquires—learns it’s in Bethlehem—sends the wise men on their way. they find the child and worship the child. they do not tell Herod—b/c God works in a dream

and Herod responds furiously ordering the death of baby boys 2 and under—probably 20 - 30 boys died during that time.

Jesus, Joseph and Mary are on the run fleeing— (btw—Jesus knows what it is like to be a refugee) to Egypt—and then back to finally Nazareth.

Not really a clean-cut, silent peaceful passage.

It’s not sanitized.

and it confronts us with some realities of politics.

how are we to think about politics and power amidst this sad story...

Hope and the Scandal of Politics:

God’s kingdom includes all kinds of people (man’s kingdom often doesn’t!)

think about this…when we think of our kingdoms on earth politically—around the world, various countries and kingdoms, often their citizens are made up predominantly of one ethnicity or a couple of them. Where are you from? “I am from Haiti. I am from Japan. I am from Bulgaria.” and politics works—part of the goal at its best is to protect the citizens of that country, provide for them, have human flourishing.

but think about the kingdom of God—it is not confined to one ethnicity or tribe or tongue, or nation (we saw that in Revelation); it’s multi-cultural; multi-ethnic. it transcends all the boundaries that our human kingdom put up.

and this passage shows that—how? you have these magi, specialists in interpreting dreams, astrology, magic, books thought to contain mysterious reference to the future. and they are not from Israel. They are not Jewish—remember the Gospel of Matthew was written to the Jews, and they are presented in a more positive light certainly than Herod with his Jewish background;

they are presented more positively than the chief priests and the teachers of the law (they knew that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem but didn’t do anything about it)

it’s only the magi who actually follow the start and go and worship King Jesus with significant gifts!

Matthew is telling us that God’s kingdom is not just for the Jews, his chosen people, but the Gentiles. even pagan, foreign astrologers—who may be from Babylon or Persia—2 of the nations that hurt and destroyed Israel in their past.

it’s worth remembering this incredible news---that God’s beautiful kingdom includes such a diversity of people—available to all through faith in Jesus.

so back to politics—WHY DOES THIS MATTER—our political views are drawn—lines, and you have to have them—US VS. THEM—but this first point challenges us—is it possible that those with different political views (not just talking about in America) but around the world will be in God’s kingdom? Is it possible that God’s kingdom is available for others, too, WHO MAY NOT LOOK LIKE YOU, THINK LIKE YOU, EVEN POLITICALLY?

because if they respond like these magi—worshipping Jesus—putting him #1 by faith. it certainly will be.

and so a challenge here—don’t let your politics define the ultimate boundary lines of how you view people. do you really believe that God’s kingdom is open to everyone by faith in Christ—that Christ came for all?

God’s kingdom will always win vs. man’s kingdom

you could add some fine print---even when it doesn’t feel that way; certainly it didn’t feel that way with Herod ordering the brutal murder of those little boys. I can’t imagine what those families and those rural towns and villages went through. just brutal. Horrible.

or it feels like it is lost in the short-term - with Jesus and Joseph and Mary fleeing for their lives to Egypt

and then coming back and settling down in a town they weren’t planning on in Nazareth.

but despite the chaos of this passage. did you notice how these events fulfilled Scripture?

Matthew 2:6 NIV

6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:15 NIV

15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Matthew 2:17–18 NIV

17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew sees this horrible event, similar to what happened in the OT—when the mothers of Israel back then mourned over their sons going into exile in Babylon.

despite the crazy chaos — God is in control.

and this doesn’t give easy answers—it brings up a lot of questions that we have wrestled with on Wednesday nights recently…if God is in control—why does He do it this way? why did He allow it or somehow prophesy it?

these are tough questions…and worth wrestling with....

I don’t have space for these (would be happy to talk later)

but Matthew is reminding us that even if it feels like man’s kingdom is winning…God’s kingdom is still in control. you may feel this in America. You may feel this if you are from another country, fleeing for your life. There are lots of places in the world that feel this today that man’s government is winning and not God’s. but in this passage… it’s Herod who would die....eventually all Herods would die...

and its Jesus and his family would settle down so Jesus could fulfill the mission God the Father sent Him to. (and Jesus’ kingdom that lasts)

don’t put your ultimate hope in short-term politics—put it in God’s kingdom.

God’s kingdom is always a threat to man’s kingdom (including our own!)

this is where it gets personal--we may think we are not like Herod— “I would never do that.” maybe not.

but—the idea that following Jesus is about making him your king—is disturbing. we get just as disturbed as Herod does when he learns there is a new king. there can only be one king of your life — you or God.

and we know that “we don’t like being told what to do.” and the Bible reminds us of that.

Romans 8:7–8 NIV

7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

at the core of our heart is this idea that “no one is going to tell me what to do.”

as one pastor says “There is a little king Herod that wants to rule and that is threatened by anything that may compromise its (Power) and (control).”

even the best of us—are like this.

even those who are naturally religious.

One writer reminds us that even those of us who naturally seek God, may seem more spiritually wired—we...

don’t always pursue God for Himself—but for the benefits—the prosperity, the blessing, the answer my prayer God.

we don’t always pursue God for who He is in Scripture—a God who will not leave the guilty unpunished—incredibly holy, yet incredibly merciful and abounding in love—BOTH!

Romans describes us enemies of God. even religious people—sometimes we do things for God so we can tame him and put him in our box—or in our debt.

where is the king—that is one of the most disturbing questions. Christmas forces us to ask that question—who is my king?

and the Bible is clear that:

we have to come to grips with this reality—that we fall way short of God’s standard

that we need a Savior—King Jesus to come and rescue us not from politics out there (although He will someday) but from the personal politics we have in our own heart to be king

that we need to take up our cross and deny ourselves and follow Him and let him rule.

the good news is if God could lead these foreigners to Himself and show them His light—He can do it with you

and the good news if that if God comes on the throne of your heart…the hope you put in politics is broken. I am not saying politics is unimportant—it is important in our world—but it’s not ultimate. when Jesus rules and reigns in your heart, it makes all the difference.

God’s kingdom has the best king vs. man’s kingdom.

while we all shudder at what King Herod did—lies, deceit, murder. I actually believe we often get duped by political leaders like King Herod—no not the murders—but we like leaders like Him who act decisively, who are shrewd leaders—they are our picture of what a real political leader or just a leader looks like.

but the picture of King Jesus here and in Scripture is way different than Herod.

one writer says: Jesus doesn’t behave like a king the world expects. He did not have any academic credentials. He had no social status. When Joseph brought the family back, he settled as far from the centers of royal power as he could. He went to Nazareth (Matthew 2:22–23). So Jesus was not merely born in a manger, he grew up a Nazarene. What did that mean? You get a hint in John 1, where Nathaniel learns that Jesus is from Nazareth and is appalled. He exclaims, “Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46). Everyone in Judea looked down upon anyone from the backwater of Nazareth and Galilee. Yet as the text shows us, God arranged things so that was exactly where the Messiah of the world grew up.

Keller, Timothy. Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ (p. 74). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

the kind of leader Jesus is one who relates to:

the poor—being in a poor family, homeless—he had no place to lay his head

to refugees—he and his family had to flee for their lives to Egypt. if you have had to relocate like our brothers and sisters from Ukraine—Jesus knows what that is like. He was a refugee

God often works this way in Scripture—He doesn’t choose the mighty Babylons or the Egyptians or Romans as his people—but the Israelites.

He doesn’t use Goliath, but a little shepherd boy named David.

one writer says: In ancient times, when the oldest son always got all the wealth and the second or younger sons had no social status, how does God work? Through Abel, not Cain. Through Isaac, not Ishmael. Through Jacob, not Esau. Through Ephraim, not Manasseh. Through David, not his older brothers. At a time when women were valued for their beauty and fertility, God chooses old Sarah, not young Hagar. He chooses Leah, not Rachel—unattractive Leah, whom Jacob doesn’t love. He chooses Rebekah, who can’t have children; Hannah, who can’t have children; Samson’s mother, who can’t have children; Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, who can’t have children. Why? Over and over and over again God says, “I will choose Nazareth, not Jerusalem. I will choose the girl nobody wants. I will choose the boy everybody has forgotten.”

Keller, Timothy. Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ (p. 76). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Jesus did this—and the Bible teaches us to remind us that our entrance into His kingdom is not about power, or working hard enough to be a part of it—no—it’s about admitting our need for Him. it’s about weakness. only those who admit their need come to faith in Christ and enter Christ’s kingdom. by grace through faith.

Jesus’ disciples constantly wanted him to take power—but Jesus said I have to come to serve and give my life.

and at the peak of Jesus’ life—his throne he reigned from was a cross, dying for our sin in our place. unlike Herod—he did not kill anyone—he let himself be killed for a purpose--bearing all of sins’ consequences. so that if we believe, we are reconciled to this king—so we can be ready for when he comes a 2nd time to put everything right.

this king is available to all by faith—no matter what you have done—you can be forgiven. Jesus turns all of our politics upside down.

and now you and I are called to serve, to wash each other’s feet, to humble ourselves and die to ourselves....and serve in love like Jesus. not to grab on to power—but to serve and love like Jesus.

and he invites us to allow Him to rule our lives—so that politics takes its proper place—it’s important but not ultimately important. There’s a better king and kingdom coming. a king who will rule forever. let’s pray.

It’s not the Jewish leaders who respond positively to King Jesus coming, but the pagan Gentiles (Herod, the religious leaders, etc.)

Jesus is not just the Messiah to the Jews but to all

King Herod kills all the baby boys 2 and under (scandal!)—all the forces of evil are coming upon Jesus and humanity, but God is still fulfilling Scripture

where Israel failed—Jesus did not (he is the true Israel)

the Gentile magi are fulfilling Isaiah 60:3

Isaiah 60:3 NIV

3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.