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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, \u201cWhere is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.\u201d When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. (Matthew 2:1-3)

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We\u2019re going to stick with the Christmas story this week in our devotions, but not the happy nativity version from Luke 2.\xa0 Because the world we\u2019re sitting in right now is not the world of joyful carols, shepherds, and mangers\u2014the world we\u2019re sitting in is the tumultuous world of Matthew\u2019s Christmas story.

These first verses of Matthew 2 follow directly from the words \u201cshe gave birth to a son. And [Joseph] gave him the name Jesus\u201d (Matthew 1:25).

What impact did the birth of Jesus\u2014the one who would \u201csave his people from their sins\u201d\u2014have on the world?\xa0 Well, it wasn\u2019t received as good news of great joy.\xa0 Instead, King Herod \u201cwas disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.\u201d

Herod, for his part, was a paranoid individual anyway\u2014always leery of someone trying to usurp his throne. Many were executed to assuage Herod\u2019s fears.\xa0 He was not one to receive news of any rival passively.\xa0 Indeed, he was known to be ruthless.

So when the news arrived by way of foreign dignitaries on his doorstep saying that a king had been born, Herod was disturbed.\xa0 And when Herod was disturbed, everyone was disturbed, because Herod\u2019s temper was impulsive and erratic.\xa0 There was no telling what he might do.\xa0 Herod was a violent and abusive king whose reign brought fear.\xa0

There was one who had just been born not a prince, but already a king however\u2014a king who would bring peace, justice, and salvation from the sins of the kingdoms of this world.\xa0 A humble and defenceless king who, though he was the eternal word, could only coo and cry.\xa0 And yet, this king\u2019s reign of perfect love would drive out all fear.\xa0

Two Kings.\xa0 Two Kingdoms.\xa0 A stark difference between them.\xa0

But as we know, the fall of Herod\u2019s kingdom before the ascendancy of the Kingdom of God would not come without much conflict and death.\xa0 And not only the death of the new-born king.\xa0 The cross and the struggle remain part of this world and our lives.\xa0 We all groan in the sorrow and longings, awaiting a coming Easter day when our King returns to bring justice, peace, and the healing of life to the full.\xa0 \xa0\xa0

Make no mistake, Jesus\u2019 Kingdom is on the ascendancy.\xa0 It appeared on Christmas Day. \xa0It\u2019s coming even now.\xa0 A reality to disturb any abusive power in this world, but for us who believe and count our citizenship with Christ under his crown, it is our anchor of hope.\xa0

So even while we continue to grieve and groan under lockdown with our neighbours and all creation, we pray in hope: \u201cCome, Lord Jesus.\u201d

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