(The Story of Jesus)

New leadership, with a bit of knowledge, comes to town, inciting fear for those who like things just as they are. We feel we are in control when things are just as we think they should be. When our circumstances change and our comfort is threatened suddenly or even a little bit at a time, fear of the unknown grips our false assumption that we are in control.

Fear has gripped Herod, the evil king who thought he would always be in control. Now God has stepped in, entering the world as a baby boy in the arms of two parents who have little control over anything. They look to God, the Father of the child in their care and keeping for a little while, and follow His lead, moving when He says go, and staying when He says stay.

Herod, who thinks he is king of the world, now has extreme fear that drives him to go against the God of Heaven and Earth to “control” the situation. He has gone against God before, so he thinks he can “win” again. We might add that Herod knew enough about the prophecy of the coming Messiah, as did most of Jerusalem, that if this were true, he knew life would never be the same. Mm.

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory–this was during Herod’s kingship–a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, ‘Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.'” Matthew 2, Msg

FEAR…Because Messiah might be coming as Scripture said He would!
“When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified–and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, ‘Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?'”
Matthew 2, Msg

TRUTH BRINGS MORE FEAR!
“They told him, ‘Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
‘It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.'”

HEROD’S LEADERSHIP – FEAR DRIVEN – DECEIVER
“Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, ‘Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.” Matthew 2, Msg

Herod knows the Scripture, the prophecy of Messiah and knows that his days are numbered now. Secret meetings never bring good results, only bad. We know Herod has no intention of falling down to worship the true King.

Question for all of us…Do we think we are in control? If Jesus comes back today, will we be fearful or relieved, full of praise and worship? What will we be worried about? Nothing? Everything? It is good to daily come before the real King of kings and evaluate what damage of worldly thinking as done to our thinking…and get rid of what is not righteous thinking. Mm.

Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to evaluate our lives, even if it hurts or stings a little. Set our minds on Your Higher Ground thinking. We repent of our need to be in control. Make us holy and clean of world thinking and by Your power in us, help us live more righteous lives because of Your higher thinking. We believe. You are God and we are not! In Jesus Name, Amen.