Brent Kuhlman

+ Jesu Juva +

Herod is king.  He likes being king.  The Roman senate made him king of the Jews.  So he’s a Roman Rent A King.  Herod’s gotten used to it.  “King Herod.”  He likes the sound of that. Jerusalem isn’t that bad.  It’s a fixer upper.  And his big project was the temple in Jerusalem.  He worked to make it a magnificent wonder of the world.  Herod’s king and he wants it to stay that way.  

But now there’s a new king in town.  And Herod’s world is shaken.  Rocked to the core.  Word has leaked that ambassadors from the east are in Jerusalem.  Looking for “the one who has been born king of the Jews.” 

Magi from the east, Gentiles, follow the star to find the one born King of the Jews.

So they go to Jerusalem.  After all that’s where you’d find the King of the Jews, right?  Jerusalem’s the capital, the center of political power.  Jerusalem’s the royal residence. 

But there’s no King of the Jews there.  Just Herod.  The Roman Rent-A-King. And so the Magi ask Herod:  “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”  

“We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.  And as we can see Herod, you’re certainly not the one!”  Herod doesn’t know.  He’s an ambitious politician not an expert on the Christ’s birth.  For that answer he needs the Bible scholars.  “Where is the Christ [the Messiah] to be born?” 

The Old Testament is dusted off and examined.  And the answer is:  “Sure isn’t Jerusalem your eminence!  Instead, the prophecy states that the baby King will be born in Bethlehem in Judea.  Says right here in Micah 5, your majesty, written some 700 years ago, that right out of Bethlehem of Judea will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of God’s people Israel.”

Herod plays it cool.  “Nice work boys!  Knew I could count on you.  Now why don’t you eastern ambassadors, you Magi, check it out and report back to me.  As soon as you find the child tell me too and I’ll go and worship him as well.” 

Right.  Like that’s going to happen.  We all know Herod’s wants the baby dead.  He’s threatened.  Nonetheless, the Magi follow the star.  And it takes them to Bethlehem.  To a house.  “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”  They bowed down and worshiped the baby. 

Worshiping a baby.  Are you outraged?  Puzzled?  Confused?  Not the Magi.  The baby Jesus is the true king of the Jews.  The shepherd king of Israel.  But He’s also true God.  Yes, the baby in the crib is the one true God.  Who created the universe in the beginning.  There’s God!  He’s the Baby Jesus!

Baby God Jesus.  He’s come to shepherd sinners. His people Israel.  You, me and all people.  Even Gentile Magi from the east.   He shepherding style is cruciform.  He’s going to the Cross to be crucified and die.  To willingly give up His life into death for all sinners.  For their salvation.  For your salvation.

Baby God King Jesus serves up salvation.  That’s His shepherding.  That’s His reigning.  Crowned on the cross He is King the most. 

And faith receives.  The Magi believe.  They believe He’s the Savior King.  So in response to His gift of free and full salvation, the Magi praise Jesus.  And they offer Him thanks.  They give Him gifts.  Gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh.

There’s a new king in town.  He’s the baby Jesus.  God in the flesh.  He’s your king.  He’s your shepherd.  He died for you.  There’s no sin He didn’t answer for.  All is forgiven.  You are safe and saved with Him.

What kind of gifts would you give to a king like that?  Gold?  Incense?  Myrrh?  Sure.  If you want to.  But there’s something even better.  It’s what Herod could never give.  It’s precisely what the Magi did give.  It’s spelled: 
F A I T H! 

Happy believing in Baby God Jesus.  That’s the highest worship you can give Him.  Trusting in Him and not in yourselves for salvation.

In the name of Jesus.