Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 21: Read Matthew 2:7-8

Wise Men Come to Visit Jesus

Matthew 2:7-8 reveals King Herod's response to the wise men, who came to ask him where Jesus was to be born. After Herod learned where the baby was to be born, he had a secret meeting with the wise men. He learned from these men the exact time that they first saw the star. King Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, saying, "Look carefully for the child. When you find him, come tell me so I can worship him too."

King Herod had a secret meeting with the wise men because he desired to know information about the star they had seen, in order that he might devise a plan. Remember King Herod was troubled by the news of the birth of the Savior and had sought information from the priests and the teachers of the law. He could not meet with the wise men in front of these men because they knew that King Herod did not want to worship the baby since they had seen him troubled. After King Herod knew an approximate age for the child, he provided the wise men with the information they needed, that is the birth place of the Savior. King Herod had learned this information from the priests and the teachers of the law. It is not clear why King Herod didn't seek the child himself, but he did give explicit instructions to the wise men to tell him the child's location, under the false pretense that he too wanted to worship the child.

This passage is an example of how God can use someone's evil intent for good. King Herod had evil intentions, but through him the wise men were able to obtain the information they needed to find the Savior. Without King Herod providing this information, it is not clear if the wise men would have been able to find the Savior. They were following a star, yet they had to stop and ask, which makes me believe that the wise men needed further directions. God may have also required the wise men to ask so that King Herod would know the news and be able to act according to God's plan. Either way, the events that unfolded between the wise men and King Herod are often overlooked at Christmas, but are important in understanding the Christmas story. There is a darkness to Christmas and this darkness is needed to intensify the light in the birth of the Savior. Without darkness there is no need for light. 

Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 20: Read Matthew 2:3-6

Wise Men Come to Visit Jesus

Matthew 2:3-6 reveals King Herod's reaction to the wise mens' news about the King of the Jews being born. King Herod was troubled when he heard this and the people in Jerusalem were troubled too. Herod then called a meeting of all the leading priests and teachers of the law so that he could ask them where the Christ would be born. The priests and teachers of law answered him, "In the town of Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this in the Scriptures: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are important among the tribes of Judah. A ruler will come from you who will be like a shepherd for my people Israel.'" This verse from the prophet can be found in Micah 5:2.

King Herod was troubled when he heard the news about Jesus because it threatened his rule over the people. He would not be able to compete with the King of the Jews, who God Himself had appointed.  This news threatened his power and his livelihood, which would have been very troubling at this time. During this time, kings came into power when their predecessor had died or when their predecessor appointed them king on their deathbed. To no longer be called king was to no longer be alive. I believe that the people in Jerusalem were also troubled by this news because a new king meant new rules and a change in their lives. The hardships they faced under King Herod's rule might be intensified. I don't believe the people in Jerusalem were associating the news of a king with the birth of a Savior. It is also possible that the majority of the people were not familiar enough with the Scriptures to know the words of the prophet.

The priests and the teachers of the law were familiar with the Scriptures, which is the reason why King Herod asked them to tell him where the baby would be born. These men knew what the Scriptures said and were able to answer the king with a direct quote from Scripture. To them the prophet had made clear that the baby would be born in Bethlehem. This baby would be a ruler for God's people and be to them like a shepherd is to his sheep. A shepherd guides the sheep, protects the sheep, and essentially rules over the sheep, which translates into King Herod is out of a job. Understanding this passage is important because it gives insight into King Herod's future actions. In the season of Jesus' birth there was both glory and darkness that came from uncertainty. Everyone wasn't rejoicing and this is a part of the Christmas story that most people overlook.

Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 17: Read Luke 2:15-18

Shepherds Hear About Jesus

Luke 2:15-18 continues the shepherds' story. After the angels left the shepherds and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened which the Lord told us about." The shepherds went quickly to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby (Jesus). Jesus was lying in a feeding box, just as the angels had said. When the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone what the angels had said about the child. The people were amazed at the shepherds' words.

In the scripture angels and prophets are the primary source of God's messages to His people. Yes, He spoke to other people directly, but primarily the messages were delivered in the form of angels or prophets. So when the angels told the shepherds about the birth of Jesus and told them to go find him, this was a direct message from God. God was telling the shepherds, through His angels, to find His son and to worship God because of His son. The shepherds heard the news of the angels and chose to obey God. Their obedience brought them to the birth place of the Savior and they were able to experience a new aspect of God. When the shepherds found the family and when they saw the baby the angels spoke of, they decided to share the good news with the family. The shepherds didn't know that angels had already revealed the truth to Mary and Joseph and they wanted everyone to know the good news of the baby. The sharing of the angels' words invited more people into the good news of the Savior's birth and allowed more people to give glory to God.

From this passage we can learn how to be more like the shepherds. First, the shepherds took the directions they were given by God and obeyed them immediately. The angels appeared to them at night and the shepherds were likely tired, yet they still journeyed further to obey God. The shepherds didn't complain about the directions given to them, but instead excitedly acted upon their instructions. Second, when the shepherds found who they were looking for, thus verifying the words of the angels,  they immediately shared the good news that the angels spoke of to them. Their words could have been ridiculed and they may have even be seen as sleep-deprived, but the shepherds didn't allow the potential reactions of others to deter them from sharing the good news. When God gives us a direction we should obey Him immediately and then share the good news with everyone who will listen. The shepherds' decision to share the good news brought many more people into the truth of the Savior's birth.

Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 14: Read Luke 2:1-7

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-7 reveals to us the events that led up to Jesus's birth. At that time, Augustus Caesar decreed that all people in the countries under Roman control must list their names in a register. This was the first time a registration was ordered and it was taken while Quirinius was governor in Syria. All of the people had to return to the towns of their family to register. This meant that Joseph had to leave Nazareth and travel to the town of Bethlehem, also known as the town of David, because Joseph was from the family of David. Joseph took Mary with him because they were engaged. Mary was pregnant at this time. While they were in Bethlehem, it became time for Mary to give birth, but there was not room in the inn. She gave birth to a son, wrapped him in pieces of cloth, and laid him in a box where animals are fed because there wasn't room in the inn.

Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, but God had spoken through His prophets that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. The young couple would not have had reason to travel to Bethlehem, especially when Mary was about to give birth to a son, but God ensures the completion of His prophecy through Caesar's decree. Joseph and Mary are under Roman rule, which means they must comply with Caesar's decree or risk punishment, the punishment likely being prison or death. The couple is forced to take the long journey to Bethlehem just before Mary is about to give birth. Once in Bethlehem Mary is able to give birth to a son and fulfill the prophecy. God could have made room in the inn for the young couple and their child, but instead He has the baby born in a stable with animals. This is not done to suggest that Jesus is the same as an animal or less than God's son, but is once again an example of a humble beginning that God will transform into a glorious ending. 

The humbleness of Jesus's birth should not be treated as a reason to be dismissive of Him, but rather should be a reminder of our own need for humbleness. The shelter over His head is not grand, but it still protects Him and He has no reason to want for more. The cloth covering His body is not luxurious, but He is clothed. He does not have a single possession and yet He knows God's love. Most of our lives will never be this humble and yet we can still learn from Jesus's humble birth. It does matter our shelter, if there is a roof over our heads then we can give thanks to God for protecting us from the elements. If our bodies are covered then it doesn't matter what the label says and we can give thanks to a God for clothing our bodies. It does not matter what possessions we own if we know God's love for us, which is the only part of our lives that will endure forever. God desires a humble heart and this is shown in the birth of Jesus. In humbleness God is glorified. 

Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 13: Read Micah 5:2-5

The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem

Micah 5:2-5 is an important prophecy for Christians, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are too small to be among the army groups from Judah, from you will come one who will rule Israel for me. He comes from very old times, from days long ago." The writer goes on to say that the Lord will give up his people until the one who is having a baby gives birth and then the rest of his relatives will return to the people of Israel. When this happens the ruler of Israel will stand and take care of his people with the Lord's strength. He will have the power of the name of the Lord his God. The Israelites will live in safety because his greatness will reach all over the earth. He will bring peace.

Israel and Judah had seperated. The people once united were at odds with each other and this made them open to temptation from the neighboring countries. The people would go through long periods of time where they didn't obey God and it was during these times that the people faced war, as well as captivity at the hands of their enemies. The prophecy recorded in Micah 5:2-5 would have come as a tremendous blessing to the people of Judah and Israel because it promised safety in the form of a Savior who would rule over them. 

Once again, we see that God likes using a small, insignificant object or person to be the source of His blessing for His people. In the prophecy we see that God has chosen Bethlehem, a town so small that it isn't allowed to be part of Judah's army, to be the birth place of the Savior, the one who will rule Israel for Him. The prophecy begins to illustrate that the Savior will be God by indicating that He is from old times, He will have the Lord's strength, and finally that He will have the power of the name of the Lord his God. Micah 5:2-5 also states that God intends to leave His people until the birth of the Savior. I believe that God gives up His people so that they will be ready when His son is born and will recognize Him as their Savior. When Jesus is born the people of Israel are so ready for their Savior that wise men are studying the stars looking for signs of His arrival. The birth of the Savior is the start of this prophecy, but the prophecy ends when He comes again. It is then that the Israelites will have safety and live in peace.