Hello,
I was reading some of Luke to my kids this weekend, and I
was struck by a difference in response to the presence of Jesus. Let’s take a
quick look at the two examples:
John – while he was still “living on the inside” his mother
Elizabeth encountered Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus. The presence of Jesus
caused an excitement in John. We see the description in Luke 1:39-44 “Now at
this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of
Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled
with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of
your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my
Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached
my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.” (NASB)
I want to contrast that to the response of the presence of
Jesus by Herod. Matthew 2:1-12 goes into this account: “Now after Jesus was born
in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, [a]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.’” Then Herod secretly called the
magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And
he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and
when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship
Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which
they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the
place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced
exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child
with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped
Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a
dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another
way.” (NASB)
So what is the comparison here?
Both John and Herod had a reaction to the presence (and
existence) of Jesus. John was one of joy and hope – Herod was one of fear. We
see later in John’s life that he placed all he had to the promise of Christ, spending
his life turning folks to Christ – not trying to gain any position on his own.
But Herod, he had a response of fear. He feared for his
current role as king, and let the short term perspective impact his choices.
What is your response to the presence of Jesus? Is it fear
or joy? Are you concerned/focused on what you may have to give up, or what can
be gained in the long run?
Have a blessed day,
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