Advent | A Family ReflectionSample

Born King
by Dave Stone

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

Matthew 2:3

Matthew 2:1–2 tells us: “During the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?’ ” 

Those two verses stirred up a hornet’s nest. Do you see the problem in Herod’s mind? He senses that he’s about to lose power and influence to this newborn king. Never mind the fact that Herod is around 70 and this is an infant. Herod is threatened—the news of the Magi coming in search of this baby was unsettling to him.

Herod’s immediate response to the Magi was to attempt to manipulate them into divulging the location of his rival (vv.7–8). But after they visit the baby, the Magi do not return to Herod because God warns them in a dream. They begin to realize that a new king is always a threat to those who love power.

We’re not typically threatened by a little baby, but neither do we want to bow before a king. It’s not just King Herod who has been threatened by the birth of the Christ child. We, too, don’t want him to tell us right and wrong. We say, “I’ll date who I want to date.” “I'll marry who I want to marry.” “We will raise our kids the way we want to.” “I'll manage my resources the way I want to manage them.” “I will determine my morality.” “I will sit on the throne of my life.”

Mankind’s first reaction to someone else sitting on the throne of our life was rebellion. Herod was threatened by the coming of Christ. Don’t make the same mistake; we must be willing to give up our puny dynasties for a higher authority.

Revisit Matthew 2:1–12, focusing now on Herod. How does Jesus’ authority as King of Kings challenge your own sense of autonomy?

Dave Stone is senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.