The 2 Kings.

Herod

How Herod exemplifies how not to respond.

When Herod calls to the Magi he asks the he would be shown the child becuase he wants to worship him.

oh how we wish that was true.

Herod understands that Jesus is a threat to him

Jesus is a threat to his empire.

Jesus is a threat to everything he has.

See Herod saw him as this issue that must be put down. There cannot be both Jesus who is born a king and Herod the Great. So, Herods idea is that he would kill the child and remain unopposed in his ideaology.

Herod in his mission fails to recceive the location of baby Jesus and decides that it best that there be no Child who could threaten him at all.

Even more we pick up the story after Herod is defeated:

Matthew 2:16 NIV

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.

Herod would rather take the lives of all infant boys then allow Jesus to remain.

Herod knows that his reign will never amount to the reign of Jesus christ. He knows that the only way he solidifies his legacy in the empire is if he is unopposed.

However Herod dies, with out the accomplishing of this mission.

Joseph takes Jesus to Egypt and hides him there, which accomplishes yet another one of the prophecies that was told about his coming.

Herod’s fear of change causes him to stumble.

Wise Men

How the Wise Men exemplify how to respond.

The wise men on the other hand

Or as this narrative in Matthew goes, the Magi

Find this astronomical phenomenon and decide to follow it. They are guided by a miraculous occurence that brings them to the child of Jesus.

They choose to leave their homes as this story uses Magi to suggest they are wisemen from a distant land.

The wise men come bearing gifts for the king, wanting to pay their respects. Choosing to worship him rather then destory him.

The wise men come to Jesus knowing that this is the son of God.

But they play this pivitoal role in this narrative as they do not allow the location of Jesus to be found. Here it is

Matthew 2:7–12 NIV

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 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.” 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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

They become warned of Herod through a dream, to leave without revaling the location of Jesus.

They turn away any types of reward, or favor from the great king Herod.

They give their riches to a child, their respects, their worship to a child.

The wise men choose to follow the star and bow down to a child.

You

Maybe you feel like a Herod but want to be a Wise Man.

How will you choose to worship Jesus?

Are you fearful of the changes he will bring in your life?

Wanting nothing to do with it,

“Yeah I have heard the prophecy, I have been told of the promise, but I am the king”.

Going to any length to make sure that your life goes on uninterupeted by the Revolution of Jesus.

Putting to death any idea of this change that he brings with him.

Or

Are you a Magi, will you worship in respects to Jesus. Looking forward to what he promises.

Evenmore we have already a connection in the promise.

We have a better understanding of the promises that the prophecy would bring of this child. We understand the full story that Jesus would go to the cross, die for our sin and rise again to conquer death.

So, we have a peice of this Christmas puzzle and all we have to do is keep ahold of the promise that Jesus will return.

Will you be a Magi in your respect to the Promise that this Kid has done great things, and still will do great things.

The choice is really up to you.