Matthew 2:3 (KJV)
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Why would anyone be troubled at the news of a baby’s birth?
This was no ordinary baby; this was the news of one born to be king. It was a concept everyone in Jerusalem was familiar with. In the best of circumstances, the arrival of a new king would bring monumental change to their way of life. But these were far from the best of circumstances.
Herod was troubled by the threat of replacement.
Herod, a half-Jew appointed to the throne, ruled as a Roman compromise. He was only grudgingly accepted by the Jewish people. A cruel and monstrous man, Herod was feared more than respected. Though he had commissioned the building of the temple to its current grandeur, no one in Jerusalem would mourn his passing.
The Pharisees and the Sanhedrin were troubled by the messengers.
The Jewish religious leaders were prejudiced against Gentiles, and this animosity was only intensified by their forced submission to Roman rule. The one promised to be born king of the Jews, in their minds, was supposed to deliver them from Gentile oppression. That His arrival would be announced by Gentiles was unthinkable—a direct affront to their national pride and religious biases.
The citizens of Jerusalem were troubled because their leaders were troubled.
Who among us is not concerned when our leaders—both political and spiritual—are disturbed? We know that when their peace is shaken, the consequences often trickle down to us. News of government instability is rarely good news, and when spiritual leaders echo those concerns, it only compounds the unease. It’s disheartening to hear about corruption in government, only to attend church and have those fears confirmed.
Despite all that was troubling in Jerusalem, this was the best news the world would ever hear.
The lesson for today is this: Look for the star of God’s glory in all the unsettling news you hear. God is alive and at work. Neither governments, religions, nor the enemy of your soul can change that.
#ChristTheTrueKing #GodInControl #HopeInDarkTimes #UnsettlingNewsBestNews #LookForGodsGlory
A Baby’s Birth Shakes a Kingdom: The News that Changed Everything
What news have you heard recently that feels unsettling? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Take action today: Open your Bible, read Matthew 2:3, and write down one way you can trust God to work in the challenges you’re facing right now.
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