THE MAGI
(Matthew
2:1-12)
The
Magi reached Jerusalem and announced to King Herod and the Jewish
people that the King of the Jews was born...and added where they
could find Him. At first Herod was disturbed, and understandably so,
because that was a threat to his kingship that he was unlawfully
holding on to since he was not a Jew.
But why was the whole Jerusalem
also disturbed? Were they not waiting for the Messiah? Herod and the
Jews had one thing in common that caused them to be disturbed: they
were sinners with no intention of being good. Such people are always
disturbed. Evil people do not need anything to disturb them.
The scribes confessed Christ by
narrating all the prophecies concerning His birth; they ended up
killing Him. He who confesses Christ does not necessarily follow
Him. They could end up killing Him.
Herod is an example of a sinner and
one sick in the head. He felt the Magi tricked him. He became angry
and killed innocent children. God allowed the killing of the
children to show the insanity in Herod's mind, the fruit of anger
and pride. The insane are always angry and victimize even the
innocent. Their anger is irrational.
Why did God allow that innocent
children should die to satisfy the anger of an insane sinner? Well,
they are all in heaven while Herod died a miserable death and ended
up in hell.
Herod was angry because he thought
the Magi tricked him. Good people never trick anybody. It is God who
tricks sinners. The Magi were without guile; and people without
guile think everyone else is without guile. That's why they
innocently asked Herod for directions. But God loves to thwart the
plans of the proud.
God instructed the Magi to go back
to their land by another route. They obeyed God and Herod felt
tricked. If you obey God, God will trick your enemies by your very
obedience. You do not have to do anything to overcome your enemies.
God will fight your battles.
(updated
03-16-02) |