A Hope Fulfilled - Advent DevotionalSýnishorn

The scene is stark. The Roman-appointed king of Judea, Herod, learns that the Magi from the east came to Jerusalem in search of “the one who has been born king of the Jews.” The Magi do not identify Jesus as one who will become king of the Jews, but rather one who is now king of the Jews — present tense. The reason for the Magi’s inquiry? They simply desire to worship this newly-born King.

To eliminate any potential threat to his power, Herod consulted Jewish leaders for perspective on the birth location. Their response: Bethlehem, of course (cf., Micah 5:2). Then, Herod asks the Magi to inform him when they have found the child, hypocritically posturing as a fellow worshipper.

However, being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi reroute their travel home to avoid detection. Learning of this, Herod becomes so incensed that he orders the killing of all boys in Bethlehem under the age of two, thus eliminating any threat to his kingship. How many baby boys two years and under were found in the small town of Bethlehem is uncertain — two or three dozen? We simply do not know for sure.

What we can imagine, though, is the excruciating cry of mothers as their baby boys and toddlers were ripped from their arms and possibly killed before their eyes. Unsurprisingly, Herod’s heinous act of taking the lives of innocent children extended even to the killing of one of his wives, her two sons, and her extended family. Yet, despite Herod’s best efforts, his demonic plot to ensure Jesus’ demise could not withstand God’s eternal plan.

In his gospel, Matthew harkens back to Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jeremiah 31:15) when the southern kingdom of Judah was exiled to Babylon. Despite the mourning experienced by the captives over six hundred years prior, the exiles received a promise of restoration and return to their land through Jeremiah’s prophetic proclamations. Matthew lays claim to Jeremiah’s prophecy as if to say that the tears begun in Jeremiah’s day are brought to an end through the tears of the mothers of Bethlehem. The true Son of God, the promised Hope, has come as the heir of David’s throne. Jesus embodies the new covenant announced by Jeremiah (31:31-34), ensuring promised restoration (31:17).

As foretold by the prophets, Jesus, King of the entire world, has come. Mourning has turned to dancing (Psalm 30:11), and eternal restoration has begun (Acts 3:21). Bless the Lord!

Prayer

Father, we thank You for the eternal restoration made possible by sending Your Son, Jesus, to redeem us as exiles in sin—cut off from fellowship with You—into sons and daughters brought into Your family through divine grace. Thank You for taking the broken pieces of our lives and carrying us during disappointment, confusion, and tragedy through the Holy Spirit’s presence. This Advent season, be glorified so the world may know that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of all. In Christ’s matchless name. Amen.

Diane Chandler, Ph.D., serves as associate professor of Christian Ministry & Spiritual Formation at the Regent University School of Divinity.