“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3)
Authority challenged
Herod was the so-called King of the Jews. He relished his authority and fought hard to keep it for over thirty years. He went so far as to murder members of his own family, including his beloved wife, on suspicion of plotting against him. Additionally, he was fully backed by the Roman Empire, which also would react violently to any opposition against the local king they had established on their behalf. So when Herod heard about a king being born, naturally he was troubled. Jesus’ birth challenged the authorities of the day.

Salvation denied
Before Jesus there had been other “saviors” who had risen up to deliver Israel from foreign power, attempting to restore peace and justice. But all had failed within a short period of time. With each failure came the disappointment of hope. Without question, Israel was hoping and waiting for a coming king, a ruler, a savior, a shepherd that would bring the kingdom of God to earth. Time and time again, though, they were disappointed and their anticipated salvation was denied.
Captivity prolonged
By God’s intervention, the baby Jesus was rescued by his parents, Joseph and Mary, who fled in the night to Egypt. God had told Joseph in a dream that Herod was about to search for Jesus to kill him (Mat. 2:13). God also warned the wise men in another dream not to return to Herod with the whereabouts of Jesus (Mat. 2:12). Upon realizing that the wise men had not returned, Herod went into a rage and murdered all the baby boys in the town of Bethlehem (Mat. 2:16). And Israel once again realized that they were in fact still captives to a king who was not God.
The Trouble with Christmas
The trouble with Christmas is that it reveals what is in our hearts, that we don’t want to be ruled by any other king or any other authority other than our own. But the joy of Christmas is that our sinful and willful rebellion against God has been forgiven, overcome and conquered by the precious blood of Jesus, the Son of God made flesh.
The trouble with Christmas is that we worship other idols and false gods and have put all our confidence in our own wisdom, strength and works. But the joy of Christmas is that our idolatrous worship, false security and empty hope have all been dashed to pieces by the love of Jesus, who has rescued us although we hated him, and has given us a hope that will never disappoint us.
The trouble with Christmas is that we are slaves to sin, death and Satan and, therefore, subject to unfathomable brokenness and unyielding despair in unimaginable darkness. But the joy of Christmas is that all our chains have been broken off by the power of the resurrected and living Jesus, who calls us to Himself, into an eternal relationship with God where we can fully come to know and experience the inexhaustible riches of the grace, mercy and love of God.
The trouble with Christmas is that Jesus came because we were sinners, but the joy of Christmas is that Jesus came to be our savior.
"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9
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