Now, at Jesus' being born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, Lo! Magi from the east came along into Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who is brought forth King of the Jews? For we perceived His star in the East, and we came to worship Him." Now, hearing of it, King Herod was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with Him.
Matthew 2: 1-3, Concordant New Testament
It is hard to imagine quite what it was like a few thousand years ago this week in Bethlehem of Judea. Sure, we're told the story from the narrative of the scriptures, but can they be trusted to be accurate? Was there, in those days, the telling of the birth of a child who would soon leave His mark on history? Well, it seems that there were quite a few in Jerusalem who were uneasy about this prophesy coming to fruition {Matthew 2:3}. We know that the prophesy of the birth of Jesus was known to many in the region of Judea, given the population of the Lords people in that area. Indeed, if you were Jewish, then you most assuredly knew of the coming birth of the Messiah. Depending on how strong your belief was, you might even see the coming birth of the Christ as that of a magnificent military leader who would deliver the Lords chosen people from the hated Roman occupiers. However, scripture does not back up these assumptions. What the scriptures do tell us is more along the lines of the reason for the coming Messiah. That being, that He would save His people from their sins {Matthew 1:21}. It is hard to imagine that, knowing this passage, that the Jews of the time would choose to equate Jesus with a powerful military leader. Perhaps that had been under the boot of Rome for so long that they were seeking any belief that God would ultimately deliver His people from this bondage. Whatever the belief of the population of Bethlehem, we're told that those within the city were disturbed. This was the backdrop for the birth of our Lord and Savior. That King Herod inquired of others concerning the birth of the Messiah tells us that His birth was not meant to be a secret. Despite the uneasiness of those in Jerusalem, the birth of Jesus was told to be an occasion for joy among all people {Luke 2:10}.
Now when the full time came, God delegates His Son, come of a woman, come under law, that He should be reclaiming those under law, that we may be getting the place of a son.
Galatians 4: 4-5, Concordant New Testament
Every year the question is asked, what is the true meaning of Christmas? Well, I believe that I know that true meaning, and it does not lie with trees and gifts. It doesn't even reside with candlelight services of our brick and mortar churches. The real meaning of Christmas, I believe, is our heavenly Father saving us from ourselves. For we are the ones who chose to accept the lie of the accuser in the garden {Genesis 3:4-6}. As a result, man was moved from the garden which the Lord had prepared for him {Genesis 3:23-24}. Obviously, it was never the Lords intent to leave his children in the broken state in which their own choices had placed them. We were in need of a Savior, and in this lies the true meaning of Christmas. I was never uneasy about knowing Jesus. In fact, I often wonder what took me so long to hear His call to me. Yet, just as the residents of Jerusalem were uneasy over the birth of the coming Messiah, there may be those today who are just as uneasy at the thought of turning their lives over to the Lord. I've heard many people mention that they simply do not want to give control of their life to someone else (i.e. Jesus). This could definitely produce some uneasiness in people. But if we see and know Christ the way He desires us to, it may ease our hearts. We do well to recall that the desire of Jesus is that all would be one with He and the Father {John 1:21}. The prophesy of the Messiah is not one who would banish the oppressor with fire and brimstone. No, the promise of the Messiah is that He will save us from the oppression we have already endured {Romans 6:6}. I have no uneasiness about that at all.
~Scott~
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