Are you ready to meet baby Jesus?
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Are you ready to meet Baby Jesus?
(Matthew 2:1~12)
Two thousand years ago, Jesus came to this earth. There were many obstacles of circumstances and difficulties, but through all of them, you came to history. Today, we are going to strengthen our faith by looking at the events that occurred when Jesus came, focusing on a few people.
The first is King Herod. King Herod was informed that the Messiah would soon be born in Judea. I heard the news from wise men from the East who came from afar. How long have you been looking forward to it? Even if it was later, it was a global and cosmic event, at least for Israel, it was something everyone had been waiting for for hundreds of years, so I was very happy. He was a king who rejoiced in the coming of Jesus based only on King Herod's reaction shown in verse 8.
But his reaction the promise to worship him was a plot to kill the baby Jesus, and later even tried to kill him. As the king of Israel, he had to show leadership to meet the Messiah, but instead of welcoming Jesus to protect his kingship, he sinned against Jesus. How are we now? Do we still struggle to ignore and reject Jesus because of our little interest? I hope that you will become healthy saints who truly welcome the baby Jesus.
The second are the high priests and the scribes. They indirectly heard the news of the birth of Jesus through King Herod, who was surprised to hear the news from the wise men. However, they may have already known the news because they had the most thorough knowledge of the Bible, and the high priest also knew the most about all the information about the Messiah. Verse 6 makes it clear.
Still, they were not making any preparations to meet Jesus. Because they kept the word and kept the tradition of faith in the temple, perhaps they had to take the lead in welcoming the Messiah than King Herod, and they had to predict the atrocities King Herod might commit to protect the kingship and protect the birth of the Messiah, but they did not play any role. Rather, they ignore Herod's hostile actions and show cunning to protect their interests. Doesn't it seem like you're looking at our apathetic attitude? I hope that you will become the courageous people of the Lord who preach the baby Jesus with faith and courage and testify to the good news of salvation that He brought and the Kingdom of God to come.
The third figure is the Magi. They saw the star that heralded the birth of the Messiah and came to them from afar. However, their visit was contrary to the original plan and put the Messiah in jeopardy. However, in the end, they received God's instructions through dreams and thoroughly obeyed them, and they risked their lives without Herod's knowledge to go home.
Dear brothers and sisters, please keep in mind that the one obedience shown here by the wise men was used as God's opportunity for all mankind to welcome the Messiah. Remember that obedience to what you know and understand is God's way of accomplishing God's work, and I pray in the name of the Lord that everyone will become a powerful instrument of God's faith.