Not Everyone Comes to the Manger
When we think of the birth of Jesus, we picture a celebration. Shepherds running to the manger, wise men longing for a King, and angels crying out in worship. Everyone seems to be rejoicing. But not everyone came to the manger. Not everyone rejoiced when they heard the news of a new King.
After Jesus was born, wise men sought him out and, as they journeyed, they told another king about the birth of Jesus.
"When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him" (Matthew 2:3).
Herod didn't rush to see Jesus. He didn't join the caravan of the wise men. He didn't bring gifts or, like Simeon, bless God for sending salvation and a "light for revelation to the nations" (Luke 2:28-32).
Herod was troubled. The birth of another king disturbed him, leaving him agitated rather than joyful.
Everyone responds to Jesus and the news of his birth, but not everyone responds the same way. Some rejoice. Some worship. Some are troubled. Some are doubtful. By the time John wrote his second letter, there were even some deceivers who did not "confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh" (2 John 7), denying the birth of Jesus all together.
Today is no different. This Christmas will also find an array of responses from the family doubting his birth to the family troubled by the Good News of a coming King. While one family sings carols of worship and reads the Luke 2 story by the fire, another family will find it more pleasant and comfortable to replace worshipful carols with "Jingle Bells" and Luke 2 with "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
How will you respond to the 2 John doubters? How will you respond to the troubled Herods? Will you offer a sarcastic remark? Will you condemn them? Judge them? Ignore them? Shake your head? Simply tolerate?
Will any of these responses honor Christ or point them to Jesus? Will they ever say, "Your sarcasm, disapproval, and judgmental spirit really showed me the love of God and made me want to be a Christian"?
Not everyone will respond to Jesus and the celebration of his birth the same way, but those who respond in worship can respond to others in love. Those who respond to Jesus in praise can respond to the Herods in grace.
And perhaps, with love and grace, this year's Herods will finally join the wise men in worshiping the King.
Jonathan Williams is the founder of Gospel Family Ministries and the Senior Pastor of Wilcrest Baptist Church, a multi-ethnic church of 44 nations located in Houston, TX. He and his wife are blessed with three wonderful children.
