Yet another prophecy fulfilled. Yet behind it all the struggle continues. Herod is dead and we are reminded that no matter how evil one man might be, death is the great equalizer. The despots and tyrants of history are mere footnotes in the story of God. Alexander the Great conquered the known world yet was dead by the age of 32. Herod unleashed his monstrous crusade against young male children but his life was soon required of him as well. Yet into his place, sin still continued. Even though God told Mary and Joseph they could come back, they still feared the new king, who was Herod's son. So they settled in Nazareth.
The Gospel of Matthew begins. The least likely of Gospel writers. The tax collector. We were all Matthew at one point. We were all Rahab the prostitute at one point. We were all Ruth the Moabite pagan at one point. We can minimize our sin all we like but we were all Herod at one point. Struggling to protect our power and the power sin had over our lives. It is the age old struggle of Adam and Eve. Of the Israelites dancing around the golden calf. Of David and the wife of Uriah. We are no better beloved except through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary. We do not get to Calvary however, without first going through the manger. Going though Egypt. Going through Nazareth.
Reverend Anthony Wade - January 31, 2015
1
1
1
