Herod or Magi

DEVOTION

PROPHESIES AND FULFILLMENTS CONCERNING CHRIST

HEROD OR MAGI

Jer 31:15

15 This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more."

NIV

We certainly know the story regarding the fulfillment of these prophetic words.

Matt 2:16-18

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."  

NIV

There is no question Herod was an evil man concerned only with his own power and life as a king. He lived in the lap of luxury with various palaces to enjoy. His main palace was of course in Jerusalem. Historians place it in northwestern wall of the upper city. But he also built a palace at Masada, Herodium and Ceasarea Maritma. His lifestyle was certainly threatened by the birth of a new king. This is what the Magi had told King Herod they came for, to worship the one who was the King of the Jews. After they had left without informing him exactly where this child was, he had all the boys under two slaughtered in an attempt to put an end to this supposed new king that would displace him and his abundant lifestyle. It is not uncommon that people today want to put an end to the reign of Christ in their lives. Knowing that he has been given all authority over all that was created certainly means he has all authority over all human beings. Yet there are some who refuse his authority and in some sense are life King Herod, wanting to remain in power of their own lives and lifestyle, feeling threatened by Jesus. They would rather kill anything that could possibly have to do with Jesus. They have even lifted theories, which mean ideas with no empirical evidence to prove true, higher than any truth. Evolution has been replaced as truth while creationism has been put in the theory category. Schools have been teaching evolution but remain steadfast in forgetting to teach intelligent design, a fancy phrase which takes God from the equation of creation. Some have used this phrase intelligent design only as a means to support evolution. It simply implies that somehow something intelligence caused the first cell to become a multitude of species which ultimately evolved into a form of upright being. It still debunks the truth of creation as God has recorded for us through Moses. The point is that we have to put ourselves to death rather then put Jesus to death.  We are either a Herod or a Magi. We either put anything to do with Jesus to death or we come to him and bow, bringing the gift of self, before him and worship him as the King of kings. The Magi brought expensive gifts to Jesus. There is nothing more expensive than self. If we are not bringing self to Jesus, then we are serving self, as Herod was. We are putting self above all else. We have built ourselves a palace within our own hearts. There we live in the abundance of self, serving all the desires we have. So let us be as the Magi, bringing self to Jesus, laying it as his feet and proclaiming him King of our lives. He has told us we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him,

Matt 16:24-25

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

NIV

Herod would not, but we must. Are we a Herod or a Magi?