Christmas 1 (3)
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13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 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.” 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Introduction: There are certain people who bring about about strong reactions in others. When a person shows a dominant personality or is championing a cause that is important to them, they can expect either strong support or strong opposition.
Some people have very strong opinions about whoever is the President of the United States or the governor of their state.
In the school system, there may be strong reactions to the policies of the School Board or how the teachers are conducting their class rooms or how the local coach approaches the weekly games.
In sports people are polarized when it comes to the coaches and quarterbacks of the teams.
Even in the church, there can be a strong reaction to how a pastor is doing especially if he is “making waves” or pushing an agenda that is not favorable some of the people in the congregation. St. Paul referred to cliques in the congregation in Corinth and elsewhere the Bible warns again factions.
(NIV)
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Because there can be such conflict in religion and politics, we are often warned against not talking about those subjects lest there be a heated argument. History has show that battles and even wars have been fought over the viewpoints and policies of political and religious leaders. The history of the Lutheran Church stems from conflict between Martin Luther and the theological leaders of the Roman Catholic Church over the doctrine of justification and between Martin Lutheran and other Reformers over the teachings about baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
This should not surprise us. Jesus had warned that there would be such conflict in religious matters when he taught: (NIV)
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Our text today is about an event in the life of Jesus that is only recorded by Matthew and which takes place not long after his birth. Just prior to this we read about how God has led the magi to visit Jesus not long after his birth. Popular sentiment is that they arrived the same night as the shepherds and the two events are often telescoped together. A careful reading of Matthew shows that this is not the case. They lived hundreds of miles away and would not have started on their journey until the star had appeared announcing his birth. They did not go directly to Bethlehem but stopped in Jerusalem. Logic told them that since the star announced the birth of the king (and kings were usually born to kings), they should talk to the king of Judah (Herod) and find out in what room the baby was. This was a mistake. Not only was Jesus not there, but perhaps the most jealous person on earth regarding a challenger to the throne was unwittingly alert to Jesus’ presence.
What does history tell us about Herod?
In stark contrast, Herod’s domestic life was filled with turmoil, fostering his natural tendency toward cruelty and instability. He married ten wives, many for political reasons, including Mariamne, the granddaughter of the Hasmonean Hyrcanus II, and another Mariamne, daughter of the high priest Simon. Palace intrigue was rampant, spurred largely by Herod’s sister Salome and Alexandra, mother of the Hasmonean Mariamne, and scores of assassinations and executions ensued, including those of Hyrcanus II, Mariamne, her brother the high priest Aristobulus, and three of Herod’s own sons. Herod’s shifting favor, complicated by the assassinations, necessitated numerous revisions of his choice as successor; the sixth version of Herod’s final will, although disputed, named Archelaus as king of Judea and Samaria and Philip and Antipas as tetrarchs of the remaining territory. Herod died of arteriosclerosis in 4 B.C., shortly after executing his son Antipater and (unsuccessfully) ordering his sister Salome and her husband Alexas to murder several leading Jews in the hippodrome at Jericho, ostensibly to guarantee a period of national mourning at the time of Herod’s death.
It was toward the end of Herod’s reign that Jesus was born (Matt. 2:1). Matthew reports that Herod viewed the birth as a threat to his own power (v. 3). Not only did he seek to destroy Jesus (v. 13), he also ordered the massacre of all male children at Bethlehem under the age of two (v. 16), a deed which, although otherwise unattested, was typical of Herod’s cruelty.
Being the target of a person with murderous intent can be a very frightening thing. Most of us are spared this. We try to life at peace with everyone and are careful not to push someone into having a motive to harm or even kill us. What would you do if someone did threaten you?
Fight back.
Tell the authorities.
Find people to protect you.
Seek reconciliation.
What choices did Jesus have? Even though he is the Son of God, it would be quite a stretch to think that he could do anything. Joseph and Mary would have been in a difficult situation too especially since they had no clue what was going on in Jerusalem. Even the magi were unaware since Herod had lied to them and told them to make a careful search for the child so that he too could “go and worship him”.
Here we see the protect power of God. He was aware of what was going on and what could be done to spare his son
(NIV)
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
To give them some time, he even warned the magi to return by another route so that Herod would not take action immediately.
But Herod tried to kill Jesus anyway by ordering the “slaughter of the innocents”.
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
This brings about a seeming contradiction between Luke and Matthew. Luke has Mary and Joseph living in Nazareth and going to Bethlehem for the census. He is silent on the trip to Egypt. Matthew does not say Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth before Jesus was born in Bethlehem and fleeing to Egypt and then moving to Nazareth to avoid Archelaus. We probably do best to combine both.
What this does teach us is that there were those who opposed Jesus but that God protected him.
Application: We often face threats to our health and safety.
Illness
Injury from accidents or violence.
Threats to our property and goods. (Including cyber threats.)
People who refused to honor us or help us and may even lead others against us.
We have options when we are threatened. There are legal ways to respond to threats but there are also unhealthy choices. As Christians we have a protector we can trust in that is stronger than ourselves and the strongest of people. And that person is the Lord God.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
What a contrast today’s lesson is from the readings we enjoyed hearing for Christmas. On Christmas we rejoice with the shepherds, the angels, and Mary and Joseph that the Savior has been born. We sing about it in joyous songs and promise to “Go, Tell in on the Mountain” that Jesus Christ is born. But within a very short period of time we have people trying to kill that same little baby. Even today we have a sharp distinction between those who follow Jesus and those who are opposed to him. And when we openly share our views, we are open to resistance. It may threaten us to keep silent.
But remember this “He who is for us is greater than he who is against us.” and that God promises to be with those who confess him before men and even if we should suffer loss, he will save us through faith in Jesus.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.