Have you ever considered the response of Israel’s religious leaders to Jesus’ birth announcement. After four centuries of prophetic silence and even longer of foreign occupation and subjection under their nation’s enemies, the most well-versed leaders of ancient Judaism, glossed right over the birth of the Messiah.
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
Matthew 2:1–6 (NASB95)
From their own recitation of the prophet Micah, they knew the facts of the anticipated King. The Messiah of the nation, the promised descendent of David, the King who would deliver His people…and the inquiry from the men from the East…yet no curiosity. No concern. No urgency. Simply an answer to the question and back to business.
Was it apathy? Possibly. Could they have been distracted? Not likely…after all, if the governor commands an audience of all the religious scholars and experts of the land, it is doubtful that the singular question would be a source of distraction. Perhaps it was something more subtly sinister. Perhaps, they did not like the implications.
The religious leaders were in charge. To the people, they arbitrated the relationship between God and man. They had respect. Their status, their perceived value, their pride… all was at risk if the King actually did appear. If God sent a deliverer, what would change for these men? But, more than that. These men would go from being sought to seeking. They would shift from pronouncing terms of deliverance to pursuing it themselves.
Therein lies the reason that Jesus is often rejected. It is not because of His power or the promise of being delivered, but of the implications of His Sovereignty. If He is a delivering King, then He must be King as well as Deliverer.
Luke records a story of a “wealthy religious leader” who approached Jesus (Luke 18:18-30). The young man desired eternal life but rejected it when Jesus lovingly articulated the demands. Turn loose of this world and live for the world to come and you will have eternal life. Reject the world where you have pride, prestige, and power. Choose instead the world where Jesus is King. Jesus said the man walked away from the encounter despondent…because the perceived loss eclipsed the man’s value of the desired gains.
Is that you today? Do you love the idea of King Jesus more than the implications of having a King in your life? Have you evaluated the loss you’ll incur as greater than the benefit you’ll receive? What if, though, Jesus is precisely what you need and now is the perfect time? Why not receive the greatest gift ever…today. Confess your rebellion to the Lord asking for forgiveness. Trust His response that the debt is settled. Walk in new life, with a new leader, and newly understood love. Come to Jesus today.
Recent Comments