Daily devotion – Your response to the Christ
“Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him.” – Matthew 2:13
In the birth of the Messiah Jesus, in the end there are only two possible responses. We see a picture of each in the contrasting figures of Herod the Great, and the Magi – the wise men from the East.
Herod’s reaction was simply an outpouring of this wicked man’s heart and character. His whole reign was one tainted constantly with death and blood. Herod live in constant insecurity, thinking that all those around him were out to overthrow his rule. Any who Herod thought were even thinking of such a thing he had liquidated. Herod killed his wife Mariamne; his mother, Alexandra; and his three sons Aristobulus, Alexander and Antipater. But there were more.
Herod killed more than half of the Sanhedrin along with sundry uncles, cousins and other relatives.
The saying at the time of Herod’s rule was it was safer to be Herod’s pig than his son.
When the Magi arrived you could imagine how this again set off Herod’s paranoia? For they asked Herod, “Where is He who was born ‘King of the Jews’?”
As we view these two contrasting accounts, we discover the same principle exists in today’s world. Many people perceive Jesus Christ as a rival, a nuisance, an embarrassment. C.S. Lewis wrote – “A transcendental interferer.”
So, we are faced with an alternative. Either we see Jesus as a threat and are determined like Herod to be rid of Him, or we see Him as the King of Kings and are determined like the Magi to worship Him.
Let us be as bold as the Magi and publicly declare at every possible moment that we are worshippers of He who was born King of the Jews. That this Jesus is indeed our Lord and Saviour and that He has been the most significant part of our life’s search for hope, peace and forgiveness.
Let us celebrate this Christmas in a manner that all will know that we are His followers and have declared Him to be the Saviour of the World!