Mat
2:1-6 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod
the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is
born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to
worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these
things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the
prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the
land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee
shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Herod was troubled at the news that
the Christ was born the King of the Jews. He could not bear to hear that there
was someone other than him to rule. He kept his throne by violence and any
other who appeared to be a rival was to be eliminated.
All Jerusalem was troubled as well!
WHY?
Have you noticed how the people who
were seeking the Christ were foreigners and not His own people the Jews? He
came unto his own, and his own received him not. John
1:11
Is it surprising to you that no one
is recorded as accompanying or following the wise to seek this King of the
Jews? Where was the interest? Where was the curiosity? Where were
the scribes and priests who gave the information concerning the
advent of this, according to Micah who they quoted, person that
is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of
old, from everlasting. Mic 5:2
It appears that they were more
concerned with the intrigues of politics and position in life so the news of
the appearance of a potential Leader and King who may well disturb the status
quo was troubling indeed.
It is somewhat puzzling that the
people who should have been the first to live in expectation were disturbed at
the news.
Herod was a foreigner (an Edomite)
reigning as king in Jerusalem. He had his loyal following and as a usurper with
no credentials, who had no right ruling, he would be disturbed at the news of competition.
But why all Jerusalem with him?
Possible reasons
1. Fearful to show joy and gladness
knowing Herod's jealous temperament and suspicions
2. Dismayed at a possible righteous
interference with their vices and wickedness
3. Fearful of an uprising and
therefore swift retaliation from Rome.
He revealed Himself to foreigners
and lowly shepherds.
Evil hates good and sin becomes
uncomfortable in the presence of righteousness If ye were of the
world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I
have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John
15:19
Because evil is uncomfortable
it resorts to various devices to mask or eradicate the discomfort. This is the
reason the ungodly and unrighteous hate the righteous and seek to ridicule,
humiliate and destroy them. It is the reason that vicious, vile and
vituperative attacks are made in various media and in physical acts of violence
against the righteous. It is the reason why conservatives are hated so much by liberals.
Many are contented to live in the squalor of sin and unrighteousness and are
stirred to violent action when their hypocrisy and evil is revealed for what it
really is. Who are the people that constantly coin politically correct phrases?
Who are the ones that make all excuses for sin, coining such terms as
alternative life styles, protest against ALL forms of CHRISTIAN public
demonstration and exhibits? Who are those that lower standards so that the
failure will not feel badly about failing?
John
15:20-24 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute
you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But
all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know
not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken
unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their
sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If
I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had
sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
What would be your reaction if Jesus
should appear to you now?
1. PEOPLE BECOME TROUBLED AT HIS
APPEARING BECAUSE HIS PRESENCE REVEALS SIN
Light reveals and Jesus is the
light. At night all cats are grey and features are indistinguishable. Only the
advent of light reveals whether you are black or white, clean or dirty, well
dressed or naked, ugly or beautiful. And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather
than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every
one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth
cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought
in God. John 3:19-21
A person who loves the appearing and
the presence of the Lord will approach Him and abide in His presence so that
every error and fault will be revealed in His light. This
then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God
is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that
we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,
we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin. 1Jn 1:5-7
Eph
5:11-14 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak
of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all
things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth
make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that
sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
This requires a constant
pilgrimage into the Word of God for: Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path. Psa 119:105 and The
entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the
simple. Psa 119:130
We need to remind ourselves that we
are light for Jesus said: Ye are the light of the world. A
city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do
men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it
giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven. Mat 5:14-16
Remember therefore to: Let no man deceive you
with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the
children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore
partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes
darkness, but now are ye light in the
Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the
fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness
and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is
acceptable unto the Lord. Eph 5:6-10
2. PEOPLE BECOME TROUBLED AT HIS
APPEARING BECAUSE HIS PRESENCE DEMANDS A DECISION
People do not take lightly to anyone
making a call on them to commit themselves to God and to seek His honour and
glory. His saying and teaching will challenge and shake our control over
our own lives and demand surrender to Him. Many times we may find His doctrine
unacceptable because it intrudes into our well laid out plans and schemes and
then we have to choose. FOR or AGAINST! What will our reaction be when we hear
his teachings and demands? Remember what happened when fed the multitude? They
wanted to make Him king! Then He began to lay out the doctrine of God before
them and what was the response and reaction?
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had
heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear
it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured
at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and
if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It
is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I
speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But
there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning
who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me,
except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many
of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words
of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art
that Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6:60-69
Take note therefore that His
appearance demands a decision whether to follow Him and pay homage to Him. It
requires a commitment. You are either for or against. A failure to decide means
a decision against Him and His counsel. God wants no spiritual mugwumps*
Mat
12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth
not with me scattereth abroad.
Jesus told the Laodicean church
which is well represented in this age : I know thy works, that
thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So
then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out
of my mouth. Rev 3:15-16
In his final
admonitions, commands and exhortations to the Israelites Moses said: I
call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set
before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that
both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the
LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou
mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy
days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. Deu 30:19-20
Joshua stated plainly to the
Israelites : And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,
choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers
served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the
LORD. Josh 24:15 Yes indeed! You can sin in a variety of
ways and season it with 101 flavors! But there is only one way to please God
!
IF YE LOVE
ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. JOHN 14:15
John
14:23-24 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will
keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make
our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not
my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent
me.
John
15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as
I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
1Jn
5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God,
and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that
we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Exo
20:3-6 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any
thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth
beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate
me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me,
and keep my commandments.
As people of God we are constantly
faced with choices. Our lives become the sum total of our choices. Our choices
need to reflect prayerful consideration of the will of God as revealed in His
word and our subsequent obedience to bring glory to His name!.
3. PEOPLE BECOME
TROUBLED AT HIS APPEARING BECAUSE HIS PRESENCE DISTURBS THE STATUS QUO
People are generally
reluctant to disturb the life style they are accustomed to. They do not
want to disturb the status quo. They don't want you to rock the boat, but
Jesus' presence will always create somewhat of a controversy, again demanding
you make a choice. You know? It's one thing to say I am a Christian and attend
church, and sing, and testify, and pray, and preach. It is a whole new ball
game when He begins to answer you in a way you did not expect! The young ruler
who came to Jesus asked all the right questions. He just did not like the
answer that really mattered!
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what
good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he
said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but
one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus
said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt
not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour
thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things
have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said
unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast,
and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and
come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard
that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Mat
19:16-22
How many have not walked away from
God because he did not answer the way we expect? Yes, we have remained right
there in church going through the motions but there is no longer any heart in
it! We're just going through the motions!
Isa
29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw
near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have
removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the
precept of men:
The Amplified Version puts it like
this: And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with
their mouth and honor Me with their lips but remove their hearts and minds far
from Me, and their fear and reverence for Me are a commandment of men that is
learned by repetition [without any thought as to the meaning], Isa 29:13
AMP
We read the Word by rote and
it means nothing to us! We ignore the commands of God and seek the teachings of
men that will justify our behavior. We hold on to two words; "God
understands" Yet we are without understanding! However
we should pay heed to what the Bible says For the time will
come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall
they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
unto fables. 2Ti 4:3-4
We run behind every Tom Dick and
Dorothy who will tell us what we want to hear not what we need to hear.
How about you today? Does the truth
disturb you in a way that you seek to eradicate it from your life? When truth
stares you in the face do you turn you back on it and refuse to follow it to
its glorious conclusion? When truth makes demands of you do you weigh the
consequences and decide against it?
Eph
4:17-20 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth
walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their
mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated
from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given
themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with
greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Or as amplified: Eph
4:17-20 So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as
in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do
in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and
the futility] of their minds. 18 Their [5]moral
understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are]
alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it;
this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the
willful blindness) that is [6]deep-seated in them, due to their
hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral
nature]. 19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous
and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to
unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity
[that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. 20 But
you did not so learn Christ!
No Indeed! We have NOT so learned of
Christ! Let us therefore so live that we will love His appearing for as Paul
wrote:
2Ti
4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his appearing.
1
Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall
appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
...
It hit the big time in 1884, during the presidential election that set Grover Cleveland against the Republican James G Blaine. Some Republicans refused to support Blaine, changed sides, and the New York Sun labelled them little mugwumps. Almost overnight, the sense of the word changed to turncoat. Later, it came to mean a politician who either could not or would not make up his mind on some important issue, or who refused to take a stand when he was expected to do so. Hence the old joke that a mugwump is a person sitting on the fence, with his mug on one side and his wump on the other.
There is also a slangy sense — less known these days, I believe — of a person who has been persuaded by his possession of a minor official position into a sense of self-importance, often becoming obnoxious as a result. (World Wide Words)
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