Loving God, you confront us this day with the reality of life in this world, while at the same time comforting us with the presence of your Son, Jesus. Help us to experience the reality of your love for us, as well as the joy of your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If you ever had any doubts that the people of this world truly need a Saviour, today’s gospel gets all of the ugliness right out there on the table. Here is a picture of what sin can do – at its ugliest, greediest and most power-hungry. Herod (sometimes referred to as Herod the Great) is just as self-absorbed as many power-hungry tyrants in this world. History records that this same Herod gave orders that certain people were to be killed as soon as Herod himself died, in order to ensure that the nation would really mourn for him (http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/matt2x13.htm ). Thus, it is not at all far-fetched to imagine Herod giving the order to kill any children in and around Bethlehem who might turn out to be the Messiah.

It is a part of the story that nobody really likes to hear. And so, why does Matthew include it in the first place? For one thing, in the gospel of Matthew, each thing that happens is a fulfilment of prophecy of some sort. At the same time, today’s gospel reflects the reality of how the Son of God is received in our world. There are some - like the wise men - who seem to recognize who he is and respond in generosity and in worship. There are others, like Herod, who respond in fear and in greed and in jealousy. Herod doesn’t want anybody who might look good beside him. Herod doesn’t want anybody who might be more powerful or more popular than he is. Herod doesn’t want anybody who might insist that he needs to change in some way.

It might be difficult for us to see ourselves in either Herod or the wise men. However, our own response to Jesus is also put out there on the table by today’s gospel. We don’t have to read very far in any of the gospels to discover that response to Jesus is often extreme and never lukewarm. Those who follow Jesus put their whole selves in, whether they really grasp what Jesus is all about or not. At the same time, those who reject Jesus tend to do it violently. What is it about Jesus that prompts such extreme responses?

For those who reject Jesus, the reasons are often not that different from Herod’s. There is a suspicion that getting too close to Jesus might change us in some way, and we like things just the way they are. We also like our own power and control. Anything that suggests to us that God might be in control seems scary and a fruitless risk. We like it far better being in control of things ourselves. We also don’t want to get too close to somebody who might look good beside us. Getting to know Jesus might reveal that we are not quite as holy and good as we thought we were, and who really wants to confront their own sinfulness? And so, many people in the gospels reject Jesus outright – especially those who are in positions of power and authority and immediately feel threatened by Jesus.

Yet, there are just as many people in the gospels who see in Jesus the answer to their prayers and who hunger and thirst for a deeper knowledge of God. Those who accept Jesus know how deeply they need his healing and his forgiveness. They know that they are sinful and need to be washed clean. They know that there is more to life than the visible, physical world, and they find in Jesus the nourishment for their spiritual hunger. They know that they need a Saviour in order to have a life-giving relationship with God. They see, in Jesus, God come to be with us and to share in our humanity.

Actually, this brings us to another message that emerges from today’s gospel. In this part of the story, Matthew is showing how Jesus and his family share in the experiences of his people. Two of the most important events in Israel’s history are known as the exodus, and the exile. The exodus involved being brought out of Egypt and led through the wilderness until they reached the promised land. The exile involved being carried off to Babylon and having to live for a time in that foreign land. In today’s gospel, Jesus, Mary and Joseph share in these events through their experiences. They become refugees for a time – living in a foreign land until it is safe to return to the land of Israel.

These experiences also drive it home for us how vulnerable Jesus becomes when he is born as a human child. He doesn’t come complete with some sort of special powers that will protect him from murderous kings or from any other dangers. Instead, he is quite able to be killed or to be hurt at the hands of other human beings. His life is entrusted to Mary and Joseph, and it is only their willingness to hear God’s word and to act on it that keeps Jesus safe. When Jesus comes, he shares in all human experiences – all, that is, except for sin.

Have you been rejected by family and friends? So has Jesus. Have you been so tired that you could fall asleep anywhere - even during a storm at sea? So has Jesus. Have you been hungry? Alone? Weeping? Grieved? In pain? So has Jesus. Have you been misunderstood? Abandoned? Ridiculed? Tempted? So has Jesus. Have you been hated? A refugee? Homeless? Thirsty? Sorely disappointed? So has Jesus.

Hebrews reminds us that in Jesus we have somebody who has experienced both the best and the worst of what life has to offer -- although Hebrews focuses specifically on suffering and testing (Heb. 2:17-18). In Jesus we have somebody who now intercedes with God on our behalf and who does so, knowing what life in this world is really like. When we pray, it is not to a God who is aloof and “out there” somewhere, but to one who has shared our vulnerability, our sorrows and our heartaches.

At the same time, Jesus experienced many of the simple pleasures of life: Things like celebrating and dancing at a wedding feast; things like loving and being loved; things like sharing a meal with others; things like welcoming and playing with children. He, too, was tempted by material gain, by the quest to be popular, and by worldly power and prestige. Yet, he rejected these things, knowing that the truest treasure is to be found in the presence of God. Jesus knew who he was and what his mission was, and his love for all people won out over any worldly temptations.

He came for our sake, and this brings us back to our response to Jesus. It has always been those who know their need who come to Jesus first – not just material need, but spiritual need. Both the wise men and Herod had a great deal in terms of worldly goods and prestige. Yet, the wise men still knew their need for a Saviour.

It seems that many these days, especially in our affluent North American culture, exhibit the same attitude that is recorded in Revelation: “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing” (Rev. 3:17). Revelation continues: “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” The truth is that when we stand next to Jesus, this is exactly what we are. Some, like Herod, are threatened by that truth and do everything they can to quash it. Others accept their human condition – their own sinfulness – and allow God to clothe them with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Today, may we be among those who open our hearts and who come and worship. Amen.

Christmas 1(A) Matthew 2:13-23
December 30, 2007 Hebrews 2:10-18
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore

© 2007 Lynne Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved