Last Sunday, I challenged you to come to the church once a week during Advent and spend some time praying in the newly renovated prayer room. Have you been doing it? This is a great challenge to help us draw closer to Christ during Advent.
There are four Sundays in Advent–the four Sundays just prior to Christmas. Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation for Christmas. But Advent is a dual purpose season, because it recognizes that just as Jesus came and was born as an infant in a manger, He will come again as a king in the clouds on the day of judgment. So, we are preparing for Christmas, but we are also preparing for the second coming of Christ.
Perhaps this adds a little incentive to your preparations this Christmas. Yes, there are presents to buy, decorations to put out, and all kinds of things to prepare for in this busy holiday season. However, the most important thing we need to be ready for is when Jesus returns. And I can assure you, Jesus will come for you in your lifetime. Either he will come in the clouds to bring His Kingdom to all the earth on the last day, or He will come for you personally when you take your last breath. Either way, you will meet Him face to face. Will you be ready?
For Advent this year, the Lord led me to study the story of the Wisemen who came from the east.
Matthew 2:1-6
1 Jesus
was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time
some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king
of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
3 King
Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the
leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah
supposed to be born?”
5 “In
Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem
in the land of Judah,
are not least among the
ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the
shepherd for my people Israel.’”
In ancient times, it was common to keep track of the years by relating them to the reigns of different kings. That’s why Matthew starts out this chapter by saying Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod. Matthew wrote these words decades after King Herod was dead and gone, but everyone could remember his ruthless reign.
King Herod was known for being ruthless and paranoid, willing to do anything to keep his throne. He even executed members of his own family, including his wife and her two sons, as well as his own son. When Herod felt his authority was challenged, he acted without mercy. He had Israel’s high priest assassinated and ordered the execution of 46 members of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin. Herod ruled with an iron fist and made it clear that no one could stand in his way.
It was during King Herod’s ruthless reign that the Wisemen showed up in Jerusalem seeking a new King: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
They
were talking about Jesus, who is a special kind of King. Jesus is the kind of King heralded in the
Heavens; a brand-new star was added to the sky as a sign of His birth! And His coming is so profound, Magi traveled
thousands of miles from Persia to worship
Him! Jesus is the kind of King Herod
could never be. No matter how merciless
and violent Herod was, no one would voluntarily travel from a thousand miles
away to adore him.
Who
or what is the “king” in your life right now? Are there things like success,
fear, or the need for control that you’re holding onto so tightly that they
influence your decisions, just like Herod clung to his throne? This Advent
season, God might be challenging you to take a closer look at your life and
think about the things you’re allowing to rule your heart. Are they drawing you
closer to Him, or are they keeping you from fully trusting His plan?
Verse 3 says, “King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.” Knowing how paranoid Herod was and how far he would go to hold onto power, imagine how upset he must have been when strangers arrived asking about a “new” king. The people in Jerusalem, who were already used to tiptoeing around Herod’s temper, were likely terrified. They must have been panicking, wondering how this shocking news would shake up their lives and what Herod might do in response.
When
Jesus comes into your life, it may shake some things up. It changes your
values. It changes the way you think, the way you act, and the way you see the
world. Suddenly, the things that once seemed so important—like power, wealth,
or popularity—don’t hold the same value anymore. Instead, you begin to align
your heart with God’s priorities: love, mercy, humility, and faithfulness. But
this transformation isn’t always easy. It can create an inner conflict as your
old ways of thinking and living clash with the new life Christ is calling you
to.
This
change can also cause tension with family and friends and a worldly community
around you who don’t share your faith or who still follow the "old
rulers" of this world, like selfish ambition or materialism. They may not
understand your new priorities or why you no longer chase the same goals. Just
as Jesus' arrival disturbed King Herod and the people of Jerusalem, your
decision to follow Jesus might disturb the people around you. But don’t let
that discourage you. God’s ways are always better, and as you walk with Him,
you’ll find peace, purpose, and the strength to endure. Transformation is never
easy, but the joy of living in Christ’s light is worth every challenge.
This
prophecy from Micah was written about 700 years before Jesus was born. At the
time, the powerful leaders in Jerusalem didn’t know or expect the Messiah would
come from a small town like Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a humble, unimportant
village—certainly not the kind of place where anyone would think a king would
be born. But God chose it as the birthplace of the greatest ruler in history,
showing us that He doesn’t use worldly standards like wealth, power, or status
to measure greatness. Instead, God works through the small, the humble, and the
overlooked to do extraordinary things.
Do you ever feel small or humble or overwhelemed?
You
might feel small, unimportant, or unworthy, but God has a purpose for your
life. Just as He chose Bethlehem to bring forth the Savior, He can use your
unique story, your gifts, and even your struggles to accomplish His plans. The
ruler born in Bethlehem wasn’t just a king—He was also a shepherd, leading and
caring for His people with love. Will you trust Him to lead you and allow Him
to work through your life in ways greater than you can imagine?
Closing
As
we reflect on the story of the Wise Men and their journey to seek the newborn
King, we are reminded that following Jesus often requires us to let go of the
things that rule our lives. The Wise Men left the comfort of their homes,
traveled great distances, and endured hardships, all to worship the true King.
Their journey challenges us to ask: are we willing to set aside our own
ambitions, our fears, or our distractions to seek Jesus fully?
Jesus
came to offer us something far greater than the world’s fleeting treasures. But
this journey often shakes us, transforms us, and challenges our relationships
and priorities. Yet, the rewards are eternal—peace, purpose, and an eternal
relationship with the King who lovingly shepherds His people. Will you seek Him
today and let Him be the ruler of your heart and life?
I
invite you to take a moment of silence to reflect on what you need to surrender
to Jesus today. Take 60 seconds to ask Him to reveal anything holding you back
from fully following Him. Then, we will
close with a responsive reading.
A Prayer of Surrender
Leader: Lord, we come before You,
recognizing that You are the true King of our lives.
People: We surrender to You, Lord.
Be the ruler of our hearts.
Leader: Forgive us for the times we have
held onto fear, control, or selfish ambition.
People: We release these things to
You, trusting in Your perfect plan.
Leader: Help us to let go of the things
that keep us from fully following You.
People: Teach us to seek You with
our whole hearts.
Leader: When the journey is hard and the
path is unclear, give us the courage to follow You.
People: Strengthen our faith and
lead us in Your ways.
Leader: You are our Shepherd, guiding us
with love and care.
People: We trust You to lead us,
even when it’s hard to see the way.
Leader: Today, we surrender our lives to
You. Shape us into who You’ve called us to be.
People: We are Yours, Lord. Use us
for Your glory.
Leader: Let our lives reflect Your light,
drawing others to know and worship You.
People: We surrender to You, Lord,
our King and Shepherd. Amen.
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