MATTHEW 2: 1-12

The Two Kings and the King Makers

So who are the Maji – these guys from the East? Well the Maji are like the religious civil service from the country they came from. They would give the stamp of approval on appointments. It was said that no one could be confirmed of their (religious) position before the Maji gave their thumbs up. So they were the King Makers.

They were also learned and spotted a star that was extremely unusual and their journey leads them towards Jerusalem. They arrive in Jerusalem and start asking people (verse 2): “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

At this point – we get to Herod. Herod was the ruler of the region, installed by the Romans. He was coming to the end of his life and was an absolute monster. He was so evil that he had had some of his own sons executed and one of his wives. It was said that he was so concerned at the end of his life that people wouldn’t mourn his death, he had Pharisees jailed with the order that they would be crucified on his death to ensure people would mourn (although this order was not carried out in fact).

So he was utterly evil. But he was also fearful. And he now hears that these King makers are going round Jerusalem asking about the one who has been born King of the Jews. And he is disturbed by this. And he is one of these people that when he is disturbed he makes sure that everyone else is too.

So why is he so disturbed? How can a small child cause so much fear? Part of the reason is because of Herod’s own (informal) title – which was: The King of the Jews. You see now how this would have caused Herod so much anxiety. And when he hears that it is the King Makers going round asking about the King of the Jews – and these guys knew what they are talking about – he is doubly anxious. They have a credibility. They know. And if they know who the real King of the Jews is, what would people think of Herod; the counterfeit King of the Jews? There could be insurrection? Rebellion? He could be dethroned.

So he summons the chief priests and teachers of the law and demands answers; where is this Messiah to be born? The answer is Bethlehem – just a few miles south of Jerusalem.

So Herod hatches a plot. He arranges to see the Maji (The King Makers) secretly and finds out when the star appeared. This gives Herod a rough idea of the age of Jesus. But Herod is able to tell the Maji that Bethlehem is the place where the Messiah would be born.

So these King Makers then head towards Bethlehem and up ahead the star appears. What a moment this must have been. Maybe the star had disappeared for a while whilst they were in Jerusalem – maybe doubts were starting to well up. But now as they look up into the sky – that star is there again. Imagine their hearts leaping with joy – with anticipation. Their long journey is almost at an end.

So they arrive in Bethlehem (a town of just a few hundred people) and they come face to face with Jesus and his mother. The Maji – these King Makers – the ones who would know – are now in the presence of the King – the King of Kings. He’s a boy – no more than two years old. And the King Makers – with all their wisdom and authority and splendour, bow down and worship this little boy! They open their treasures and the ones they give him are gifts of gold (which symbolises kingship), frankincense (to symbolise his divinity) and myrrh (a symbol of death).

Then a key moment. It’s time to leave and almost certainly they would expect to simply go back the way they came. But they are warned in a dream not to go back to Herod – so they go by another route. And so they obey.

I just want to draw a couple of reflections on this passage.

I guess the first one is the comparison of the two kings: Herod the counterfeit King and Jesus the real one. The counterfeit king would get his own way by fear or through lying or deception; anything to get his own way. He would bully and threaten. And as King he could carry through his threats without – so it seems – anyone to answer to. All he is interested in is himself.

Compare this to Jesus. Jesus is not interested in power so he can threaten and have his own selfish way. He doesn’t need to. He is King. He’s the King of Kings. He doesn’t come in and lord it over you in overwhelming physical power or some pyrotechnics. He comes to save you from yourself. Because this King of Kings – is interested in you. He wants to save you and the way he will do that is by showing his love for you. Herod hated so much, he had people crucified – Jesus loved you so much he was crucified for us. Jesus came to be with us so he would die for us so we could be saved.

There was a story of a prince. He was walking through a town one day and noticed a beautiful peasant girl. Straight away he wanted her as his wife. Wisely he said nothing and went back to the palace and asked his father, the king, what he should do. Would this girl love him for himself?

His father thought about it and said to his son: “Son – if you go back down to the town in all your power and majesty – she will be overwhelmed; not by you but by all the power and majesty. What you need to do is to go and live in the town as a peasant and for her to love you for who you are.”

Praise God that when Jesus came to be with us; he came not in great displays of power and might – but in very ordinary circumstances. So he could be with us – so we would love him for who he is and what he has done for us.

The other reflection is this: like the King Makers, sometimes in life we have these great God moments. Jesus seems incredibly close. Maybe this happens in at a camp or a conference or maybe as we are waiting on the presence of Jesus we have a sense of his great love for us. It all is very real; very moving. Then it is time to go to go back to the ordinary. Maybe back to work; maybe back home.

These King Makers would ordinarily have retraced their steps back home – going back via Jerusalem and Herod. They will go back home but God through a dream instructs them to go another way. Another way. Sometimes it can seem a step backwards to go back to the ordinary. The usual. The familiar. The humdrum. Why can’t we stay at this mountain top experience for longer? So maybe this passage is saying to you – yes, go back. But go back a different route. What does that mean? Well – don’t go back to the usual practices. Maybe there are habits you have got into that Jesus wants you to avoid. Maybe there are new things that Jesus wants you to do. But in the place you are.

Maybe when this Covid injection starts to take effect and life slowly begins to return to normal – maybe we don’t just simply go back to what we did, and the way we did them. Maybe the Lord is speaking to you to go back another way. Maybe to live life more fully for Jesus when we return. Maybe it is about living life where you are now – but doing it God’s way. The King’s Way.

Let’s pray:

Dear Father – may we see our King Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

Amen


Category: Children , Prayers , Sermons , Services , The Bridge

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