King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.
Matthew 2: 2-3
Herod would surely have been offended when asked about another “King of the Jews”. He was, after all, the ‘King of the Jews.’ When he called a meeting of the priests and scribes, he might have hoped to expose a plot.
However the leaders come back with the answer that the new king would be born in Bethlehem, a prophecy written hundreds of years before. (Micah 5:2) It was old news – news that faded in importance as time went by.
What about you and I? Near the end of his life, this new king, Jesus, said to all his followers, ”Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.” (John 14:28a) But as each year ticks by, and as each generation is born and then dies, this news too, fades in importance. And so, we live as though we no longer believe it.
Like Herod, we too are little “rulers” or managers ! We are responsible for a host of things – family, homes, finances, study, work. church and community. In the busyness of it all, we are apt to forget the True Ruler of our ‘little kingdoms”. This Christmas Season, may we too be deeply disturbed as we take stock and then in joy, let us hand back the reins to the King of Kings. (1Titus 6:15)