The Rage of Herod

Matthew 2: 16-16

“16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Herod’s fear upon hearing of the Magi turned to rage when he understood that they had not obeyed him.  He suddenly realized that there were some things that were not within his control.  So he lashed out, using his full authority and power against the innocents in Bethlehem.

In Herod a terrible prophecy was fulfilled, mothers weeping for their children, refusing to be comforted.

In Christ, a wonderful prophecy was unfolding.  "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1)

The Son of God yet lived... in Egypt.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Second Dream of Joseph

Matthew 2: 13-15

“13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Joseph’s second dream was a warning from an angel of God to flee the murderous scheme of the King against his child.  No parent wants to hear or even think about their child being in danger.  Joseph’s fear must have been severe when he learned that it was the King of Israel, the most powerful man in Israel, who wanted his child dead.

As in the first dream, Joseph recognized God’s voice in this dream, he believed that his dream was true, and he took immediate action that not only saved the life of Christ but, in all probability, Mary’s life and his as well.

Joseph was a man of faith, who not only believed but who put his faith into action. His life teaches us to trust in God, trust in our faith, and live our faith each day.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Visit

Matthew 2: 11-12

“11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

Mary and Joseph are no longer in the stable but are now in a house.  The journey of the Magi from Persia to Bethlehem probably took at least four months.  Joseph could have found employment as a carpenter while Mary tended to her growing child.  

Life was beginning to take on the air of normalcy when suddenly a caravan of camels showed up at their door.  Strange men dressed in strange clothing, speaking a strange language bearing gifts meant for a king, came into their home.

They fell down at the sight of the child and then they opened their treasures.

We worship him still today.  But the only treasure He demands is your faith...and your heart.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Guided by a Star

Matthew 2: 9-10

“9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”

The Magi left King Herod after learning that the prophet Micah had prophesied that the birth of the Messiah would take place in Bethlehem. The star that they had seen in the beginning of their journey in Persia, now shone brightly before them, leading them to the birthplace.

We know stars to be fixed objects that do not move and certainly comets do not stop and rest in the sky.  So this star was a light created by God for the special purpose of marking the birthplace of Christ.

A light created by God led the Jews as they wandered in the wilderness. Now God’s light led the Magi to His Son...the light of the world.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Our Hope Rests in the Lord

Matthew 2: 7-8

“7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

King Herod’s secret desire was not to worship the child, but to murder him.  God blessed the world by sending the Christ child into it; the Christ child’s birth was celebrated by the heavenly hosts; and the only emotion that this birth evoked in King Herod was fear, jealousy, and anger.

The worldly powers did not understand God’s gift to the world. 

The world today still does not.  There is a song titled “Peace on Earth” by Casting Crowns whose words are especially relevant:

“And in despair I bowed my head

There is no peace on earth I said

For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men”

Many people, including believers, are in despair today and have lost hope.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Where is our hope?

Our hope rests in the Lord.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Greater King

Matthew 2: 3-5

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied…

When Herod heard that the Magi were searching for a child they called the “king of the Jews”, he was afraid.  The long awaited Messiah was thought to be a great, earthly ruler who would liberate Israel from their enemies, namely Rome, and Herod was Rome’s puppet ruler.

Herod did not know that God’s Messiah was on earth for a greater purpose than any earthly Messiah could accomplish.  God's Son would not save Israel from her earthly enemies, but would offer the entire world salvation and all people the way to eternal life.

Herod the Great, the rebuilder of the Temple, saw himself as the King of the Jews.

 But the Magi sought another....God’s only Son.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

A Light in Heaven

Matthew 2: 1-2

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “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.”

It is significant that the birth of Jesus occurred during the reign of a violent, corrupt, insecure, and paranoid tyrant who ruled Israel at the pleasure of Rome and not through the will of the people of Israel.  Herod would go to any length to protect his hold on power, including the murder of his sons and wives.

The people of Israel longed for the promised Messiah.  But the birth of Jesus was more than a local event or even a national event.  People of other countries were interested and informed of His birth, people who were aware of the prophecies and the signs of their fulfillment.

The wise men of the East were such people, willing to set out in search for the Messiah, to follow the star.  

And a light in heaven shone down upon the child who was the light of the world.

Come let us worship the King.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)