Matthew 2:3-7
3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.
Tuesday, December 23 - Week of Love
After the Wise Men arrived and received their audience with King Herod, confusion set in. Once he called experts in his court together, Herod learned that the news the Wise Men brought was prophesied.
Quoting words from the prophet Micah, the experts in King Herod’s court pointed to the promise of a future ruler coming from the lowliest of nations in the Jewish territories. Each of the territories of Israel was named after the twelve tribes, which were named after the twelve sons of Israel (minus Joseph, who rose to power in his own way). Bethlehem was a small, unassuming town located in the territory assigned to the tribe of Benjamin, so named for the youngest of Israel’s sons. This recurring Biblical pattern of the least and last becoming the first is significant when we hold firm in our minds and hearts the humble way God chose to dwell among us.
When we see these repeated themes in the stories of our faith, we must recognize them as something important. Demonstrated through his entire life and ministry, Jesus the Christ embodied what humility truly looks like and how we are to embrace our humility in service for God’s Kingdom.
Prayer: Humble and Holy King, help us to learn the lessons of humility as we seek to embody Your teachings and share your Love with the world. Amen.
