"For generation both before and after Jesus' birth, the Galilean and Judean people repeatedly protested and revolted against the Romans and their client rulers - the Herodian kings and the high priests in Jerusalem. It was an age filled with popular unrest, suppression, and protests, movements, and riots. Uprisings and slaughter plagued entire cities. In the decades before Jesus was born, Roman armies marched through the area burning villages, enslaving entire towns, and killing all who resisted.
. . . Herod the Great had ruled the empire with an iron fist for forty years, and just before his death. Jesus entered the scene. For some reason, King Herod was not excited to hear all the buzz about the birth of a baby King of the Jews (go figure). Even royal wise folk were coming from afar to find the new king. So Herod gathered these magi and ordered them to report to him when they found Jesus. Herod said it was so he could "go and worship him." But they knew better (after all, they were wise folk) and defied the royal order. The Scriptures say that after they brought their presents to Jesus, they were "warned in a dream not to go back to Herod," so they returned to their country by another route. Jesus' birth was a divine conspiracy."
- Shane Claiborne
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining . . .
. . . a king is coming.
No comments:
Post a Comment