Views of Good News: Herrod

Herrod

Matthew 2:1–8 ESV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘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.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Matthew 2:3 ESV

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

The word for “fear” means to cause inward turmoil, stir up, disturb, unsettle, throw into confusion

Not everyone is ready to welcome Jesus with open arms.

The birth of Jesus doesn’t signal happiness and joy for everyone.

Herod, as well as the religious elite were worried.

They were worried for the same reason. They feared a loss of power with this “New King”.

Herod feared an uprising and a revolt. He feared that he would be viewed as weak and couldn’t control the Jews, and that he would be removed by Rome.

The Jewish Religious leaders in Jerusalem feared the loss of their status as the highest ruling class. Since there was no King of the Jews the religious leaders were the top of the food chain. They knew a new king would drastically change the system they had in place.

Both Herod and the Jews wanted to keep their position. They wanted to keep things as they are because it meant control and power.

The loss of control and power bring real fear.

If we are being honest though we fear the same thing when Jesus enters our life. We can have this uncertainty because Jesus pushed us into situations we aren’t comfortable in.