Excerpt from Birth of the Messiah by Paul Thomas Smith.
(reading only)
As Joseph and Mary were in the temple with the infant Jesus, they were approached by a devout man named Simeon, who had been assured by the Holy Ghost that he would not die "before he had seen the Lord's Christ" (Luke 2:26). Prompted by the Spirit, he had come to the temple on that day. Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God for the fulfillment of the promise. But with his praise, his words to Mary chillingly prophesied of her suffering at the foot of the cross:
"Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
"(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also)" (Luke 2:34—35; see also John 19:25, 32—37).
Also in the temple that day "was one Anna, a prophetess,…
"And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
"And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (Luke 2:36—38).
Some time later, Jerusalem received several distinguished visitors from a distant country to the east: the learned men who had seen the star. Gaining an audience with Herod, they asked where they could find the newborn king, for they had come to worship him. Herod was inwardly disturbed at their request but promised to locate the newborn leader. His chief priests and scribes informed him, "It is written by the prophets, that he should be born in Bethlehem of Judea" (JST, Matt. 3:5).
Herod probably concluded that the newborn child was to be a future political leader. He also could have thought that the newborn king was to become the religious leader of the people—a future high priest. In earlier times the high priest had almost total power over the nation. In any event, in view of Herod's age—he was in his 60s, old for those times—either possibility could have hardly challenged his personal position as king. Yet he could well have believed that this child could pose a threat to his dynasty.21
Calling in the Wise Men for a private audience, Herod "enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared" (Matt. 2:7). He then sent his visitors to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also" (Matt. 2:8).
Worship, of course, was far from Herod's mind. Although he had provided Israel with 30 years of peace and prosperity, he was hated and despised, for his path to power was stained with the blood of many victims.
When two of his sons plotted to overthrow him, Herod sought Caesar's approval to punish them; he then ordered his sons strangled to death.22 On his deathbed, he commanded the murder of another son, Antipater, his appointed heir, believing that Antipater had plotted to poison him.23 Further; Herod had alienated many of the Jews by directing that a large, golden Roman eagle be erected over the great gate of the temple.24 Jews were understandably infuriated—to them the Lord's temple was defiled. Now Herod was confronted with a child king in Bethlehem, a possible threat to the throne with a nation of potential supporters.
The Wise Men, after hearing Herod's request, "departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy" (Matt. 2:9—10).
It was proper protocol to present gifts to a king, so after worshipping the possible new monarch—now a young child—they presented him with three gifts of value—gold, frankincense, and myrrh (see Matt. 2:11).
"And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
"When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt" (Matt. 2:12—14).
At the time, many Jews—more than the Jewish population in the Holy Land itself—lived in Egypt. Undoubtedly, Mary and Joseph were easily able to find refuge among their own people.25
No comments:
Post a Comment