THE TRUE KING CONFIRMED

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 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.

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

“‘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.’”

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.”

Matthew 2:2-8

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In yesterday’s message, we were introduced to the Magi, wise men who had traveled from the east towards Jerusalem in search of one who was predicted to be born King of the Jews, a child who was so divine that a distant star lit the way to where He was. The scriptures told us that these men journeyed so to worship this newborn King and for them, it only seemed logical to search for royalty in Israel’s most holy city.

There was only one problem, one the wise men were probably unaware of.

For the Jews already had a king appointed over them, a Roman ruler named Herod, who the scriptures tell us was left disturbed when the wise men made an inquiry about where they could find the King of the Jews. Anyone who knew anything about Herod would know that this wasn’t a good thing for he had a reputation of killing anyone who posed a threat to his authority and tried to get in the way of his selfish ambitions. This included his wife, three sons, and many of his family members. Indeed, the city of Jerusalem knew that when King Herod was disturbed, bad things were to follow and this is why the city was on edge, unsure of what their maniacal ruler might do.

But as we see in this scripture passage from the second chapter of Matthew, Herod’s first attention was directed more on locating his new challenger, the prophesied Messiah. This wasn’t so he could worship him, as he falsely professed to the Magi, but rather to eliminate him.

To pinpoint where the child was born, God’s word tells us that Herod summoned his chief priests and teachers of the Law, those who would be authorities on the prophecies of old. We read where they quickly had an answer the king, sharing the words of the prophet Micah, who had foretold the following:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2

This prophecy made it clear that Israel’s God intended for Israel’s new ruler to be born in the town of Bethlehem, also known as the City of David. Like Jerusalem, it was also located in Judea, approximately six miles south of the ancient holy city. The words of the chief priests and teachers of the Law served as confirmation that a true King had indeed arrived, the One who would be named Jesus, the One who would have authority over all governments and be the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace for all people as the prophet Isaiah proclaimed (Isaiah 9:6).

And so the Magi were on the right track. The King of the Jews had been born, just not where they thought. All they needed to do is journey a little further south to Bethlehem to find and worship Him.

Yes, a true King had been born and King Herod believed it. He knew that the words of the Jewish prophets had come to be because if he didn’t believe it, he would have never asked the wise men to come back and make a report to him concerning the exact location of the child.

Indeed, a King had been born to fulfill all the prophecies of old, with the events unfolding just as God had promised they would for His plans always happen in His perfect way and in His perfect time.

In the end translation, Jesus, the child born in Bethlehem, was the confirmed true King, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the long awaited Messiah who came to deliver, and God’s only Son who was sent by His Father to save His people from their sins.

Today and forever more, He is the true King who reigns over all things in Heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

Tomorrow, we carry this through as the wise men seek and find the true King Jesus.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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