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The Dark Side Behind Christmas

It is 5 months to Christmas but with the bleakness surrounding us now, surely, we can all do with the peace, hope and cheer that Christmas usually brings, can’t we? But I wonder, have you ever thought about the dark side of the Christmas story?

Quest from the East

Matthew 2 tells us that the Magi from the east noticed a peculiar star which heralded the birth of the king of the Jews. These Magi were most likely Gentiles and they might have been astrologers or ‘wise men’ of some kind. They then traveled to Jerusalem and to King Herod to seek out this royal child. After all, where else could a king of the Jews be born if not in Jerusalem and in the ‘royal’ household? But what they heard must have shocked them!

There was no such newborn in Herod’s household! Furthermore, the chief priests and teachers of the law quoted the prophet Micah, that such a national king, the Messiah, whom all Jews have been anticipating throughout the centuries, would be born in Bethlehem, not Jerusalem!

The Wise Men on a quest to look for Jesus in Bethlehem

So, the Magi continued on their quest to search for the child in Bethlehem. But what about the religious leaders? Craig Keener, in his commentary on Matthew, wrote “while the religious leaders know where the Messiah will be born, they do not join the Magi in their quest. These were the religious leaders, but they failed to act on their most critical biblical knowledge.” They utterly ignored their king and their Messiah and that is both outrageous and sad!

As for Herod, he felt his rule threatened by a ‘new’ king of the Jews. So, when the Magi failed to report back to him exactly where the child was, he ruthlessly ordered the slaughter of all Bethlehem boys under 2 years only. So, while religious leaders ignored the Messiah, the civil leader opposed him and wanted him dead! It clearly portrays Herod as a usurper to the throne that legitimately belongs to Jesus.

Is Jesus ignored

We can reflect on at least 2 ideas here. First, the priests and teachers of the law scored full marks in the Scripture quiz but they wouldn’t even travel the short 5-miles to Bethlehem to worship the Messiah. Gentile Magi would but not them; how ironic! How ironic too, that we may “know” our Scriptures, but completely ignore them or the Jesus they point to. Or that we may “know” how we should live according to God’s Word, but then disregard what it says anyway! Whether we are leaders or not, may we genuinely and earnestly seek to worship our King and Savior, and not take him for granted.

Is Jesus dethroned

Secondly, none of us would dare say that we want Jesus dead. But then, are we willing to give up our own throne to Jesus, or are we like Herod who plots and maneuvers to keep it for himself? Who sits on the throne of your life? If you are the one, then you usurp Jesus’ place. He will not dislodge you by force but if you yield it to him, he will take it because he is its legitimate King and owner!

Serve Him, Honor Him

If we claim to be God’s servants and we honor him in every way, then every day, Christmas or not, will be bright, joyous and rewarding.

Blessings!

This blog is authored by Mok Kok Hoong on 28 July 2021.