Absolute LORD, Dictator, Ruler and King

Matthew 2:3-6

“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophets: 'but you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel'.”

It is not difficult to believe that the Jews had long anticipated the coming of the Messiah. Judaism 101 tells us that the most basic of the Jewish beliefs was that out of the line of David he would come. It, being the fundamental part of their faith, has been incorporated into their daily prayers as well.

Let me now take a moment to discuss the Shemoneh Esrei. It was a prayer recited three times daily. It consists of 18 parts. Parts 14 and 15 are what we will put our focus on.

Part 14 Binyan Yerushalyim: (Concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem)

“Return to Jerusalem, Your city, and dwell in her midst as You have spoken. May You build it soon and in our days as an eternal building, and prepare the throne of David within it quickly. Blessed are You O LORD, Builder of Jerusalem.”

And part 15 Malkhut beit David: (Concerning the Kingdom of David)

“Cause the Branch of David to flourish quickly, and raise his horn in Your salvation, for we hope for Your salvation all day. Blessed are You O LORD, Who makes the horn of salvation to flourish”

We see the eager anticipation of the coming of God in flesh to come and take His rightful place in Jerusalem, as the King of the Jews. At this moment in time he was greatly awaited and expected because of what was written in Ezekiel 38:16 “You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” This was heavily interpreted to mean that before the time of Messiah there would be war and suffering upon the Jews. And here the Jews are being ruled and oppressed by the Romans. They were cheated through taxation. They were being violated. If the time for the Messiah to arise it would be now—or so thought the Jews.

They believed him to be a King long awaited. In fact, the term used instead of “Messiah” was “Mashiach”. The term Mashiach does not mean savior. The literal meaning is “the Anointed One” referring to the anointing of the head when a man takes the position of king upon the throne. The Mashiach is one who will be anointed as King of the Jews. Thus, they were expecting a King.

Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold the days are coming” says the LORD, “that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and proper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.”

And here is more evidence as to why they were searching for a king, or a government official. He will be well versed in Jewish law (Isaiah 11:2-5). They awaited a charismatic leader, one inspiring others to follow His example. They thought he would be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. They expected a great judge, who will make righteous decisions.

They had certain expectations for their Mashiach.

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  • The Mashiach will bring about political and spiritual redemption and restore Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5)
  • He will establish a government in Israel that will be the center of all world government, for Jews and Gentiles (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; 42:1)
  • He will rebuild the temple and re-establish its worship (Jeremiah 33:18)
  • He will restore the religious court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the land (Jeremiah 33:15)

So we see the expectation which the Jews had for a king. But what about a Savior to the world? As Commissioner James Gordon says in Batman, “the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now.” Well here we are looking at the Savior, the king, not that Jerusalem deserves but the one they need. Yet in their search for this King whom they thought would liberate them and bring them to the top above all other nations, something curious happens in Matthew 2:3.

Before I get there let me paint the picture of King Herod. Although born an Arab, he was a practicing Jew. He had been appointed by Rome as the king of the Jews, his iron hand stretching from Palestine to parts of modern Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. His vast and successful rule earned him the title Herodes Magnus, “Herod the Great”.

The Romans all gave Herod the title, “king of the Jews.” So for when Pilate ordered the sign “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” To be nailed to the cross above Jesus, it was more of an offense towards the Jews. The chief priests shouted out for the sign to be taken down, “I have written what I have written” was Pilates reply.

Now to see what was odd, Matthew 2:3 “...he (Herod) was troubled, and all Jerusalem with Him.” The great king, the deliverer, the man to be born prophesied through the years, long awaited and searched for. Yet when he comes, not only is Herod troubled, but all of Jerusalem with him. They should have rung the bells and rejoiced. The priests should be offering the thanksgiving sacrifices and the people should be feasting. Their Savior was born as promised many hundreds of years before. But instead, Jerusalem is troubled. Why?

This great man long awaited was rejected by his very people. The Jewish leaders of the temple would not travel to see him. Bethlehem had no room for him in the inn (Luke 2:7). The Son of Man had nowhere to lay his head (Matt 8:20), and when he died he was buried in a borrowed tomb (Matt 27:59, 60) This world has no room, nor time for Jesus. We even know from Matthew 14:6 that his family did not even believe him.

As my favorite minister, Leonard Ravenhill, says:

“And there’s no room for Him in the inn.He got a bit older, there was no room in His family, His family turned on Him.He went to the temple, no room in the temple, the temple turned on Him.And when He died there was no room to bury Him, He died outside of the city.Well why in God’s Name do you expect to be accepted everywhere?How is it that the world couldn’t get on with the holiest Man that ever lived and can get on with you and me?Are we compromised? Are we compromised?Have we no spiritual stature?Have we no righteousness that reflects on their corruption?”

Now I would like to get to the point of my note.

This world is the enemy of Christ. Matthew 13:57 “...A prophet is not without honor except in his own country.”

We as Christians, right now, must imagine ourselves as His country. Where is His honor? Where is His glory? Herod was troubled....Jerusalem was troubled. And I have a question. If Jesus came back to earth today to live among us...would you be troubled?

Right now take one minute to think about this.

Would you be troubled?

Read it again, would you be troubled?

Is your business, is your life, is your plans of the kind that you would have no shame nor fear if you knew Jesus would return today?

Herod and Jerusalem showed their wickedness when they were troubled at the coming of the Savior. How about you?

What were you watching on television the other day? Did you program have cussing, adultery, per-marital or extra-marital sex in it? Violence to the degree that would dishonor the LORD? Even one use of the LORD's name in vain, because it is so beautiful and so holy, should make you cry. Our music is corrupt, many songs now playing on the secular radio stations are woman singing love songs to other women, or men being proud to be gay. Drinking, drugs, murder, sex, prostitution. Our movies and shows are corrupt.

I wonder if the church today is even doing its job. Is the church a light. I don't see it anymore. I see churches just as corrupt as the world. I see the majority of the church-goers more rude and angry and hateful than most of the homosexuals, adulterers, and prostitutes that I worked with as a CNA at my nursing homes.

If were are supposed to be the light of the world why are we so dark.

Some women will spend thirty minutes to an hour preparing for church externally (putting on make-up, getting the right clothes on) yet when was the last time you spent that same amount of time in the bible, or in prayer.

Our world has never been in a greater sense of turmoil than it is today.

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. When was the last time you took a sip of water and glorified the LORD through it?

And you Christian who says I can't believe that Jerusalem was disturbed. I can't believe that the Jewish leaders were not there seeking after him. I can't believe that they didn't go bow down and worship him. There may be some specific people coming to mind, but before you jump to criticize others, do you have time for Him? Or would you troubled if he walked into your living room, or you bedroom, or your empty prayer closet, or dusted off your bible?