Everyone in Jerusalem Knew the King would Come from Bethlehem?
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:6 “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a rulerwho will shepherd my people Israel.”
Matthew 2:1–6
Look at the way Jesus is described as soon as He is born. “King of the Jews” and a “Ruler who will shepherd [God’s] people.” It is no wonder that Herod was intimidated! Herod had taken his authority over Jerusalem and the surrounding areas of Israel through force, deceit, nepotism, treachery, and plenty of murder. He would be the guy that would be yelling “I’m the King of the Jews! I’m the King, not him!” as if to convince himself and others at the same time.
The King of the Jews
The thing is, the Jewish people hadn’t had a king in a long long time. They had some rulers after they returned from Babylon in 444 BC, but they never regained the joyful unity that they once had as Israel. They had heard old stories of King David or King Solomon and Josiah, but the idea of a king over all of Israel in their lifetime was a very faint hope at this point. Rome made sure to keep it that way with imported rulers like Herod.
When the wise men came from the East to see “the King of the Jews” it was enough to send the whole city in to fits. To think that there was a King here among us! Remember how David became King?! Nobody knew it was the harp player in the king’s court, and them BOOM! King David!
A Ruler Who Will Shepherd
This is a direct reference back to King David. Not since King David had Israel had a king that cared for them and led them like a shepherd. They longed for another king like King David that would extend their borders, bring about peace, and most of all be pleasing to God so they would be close to God again. A ruler that wasn’t a tyrant would be a pleasant change for this little occupied country that hadn’t had sovereign, native leadership for over 400 years. It was hard to call yourself “God’s people” when God had turned you over to people like the Romans for so long.
They Knew He Would Come From Bethlehem
When King Herod heard this news, he gathered them all together to find out where this king would be born. They were united in their answer: Bethlehem. You have to wonder: if everybody knew that some boy born in Bethlehem would be the future and final king of Israel, wouldn’t that be a big deal‽ Wouldn’t Bethlehem become like a birthing capital of Judea and every dad be claiming his studly son came from Bethlehem‽
I think many of the people had lost hope. “Those who walk in darkness have seen a great light,” Isaiah would say about Christmas night. They are walking in darkness and don’t expect the light to shine any more.
Let’s not be those people. Let’s keep watch for the coming of God with Us and if we know there is a place where He’ll show up, expect to see Him there. Scripture says He is close to the poor, the broken-hearted, the despised and rejected, but also around the thankful, joyful, mourning, worshipping, praising people. Let us be on the lookout, instead of waiting for foreign people to come tell us what has happened under our noses.
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