Pastor Pat Edwards 12/17/2006
Grace Baptist Church in Bountiful, Utah

We’re all familiar with the "good news, bad news" scenario. Sometimes it shows up as a joke as when the airline pilot announces the good news to the passengers that they’re making good time with a strong tailwind but the bad news is they’ve lost their navigation instruments and don’t know where they’re going. One of the classic "good news, bad news" stories involves Wrong-Way Corrigan. As a collegiate football player he recovered a fumble and avoiding all tacklers ran it in for a touchdown. That’s the good news. The bad news was that he ran the wrong way and scored a touchdown for the opposing team. In today’s Bible passage the good news is that change is coming. The bad news is that change is coming.

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" 7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

The trouble in today’s story is that God is going to make some changes that are a threat to the established program. And he’s going to do that even though most people won’t understand or appreciate what he’s doing. That’s because God is always loving despite who we are and how we behave. Herod and all Jerusalem are disturbed that magi from the east have come to worship "the one who has been born king of the Jews." And they have good reasons to be disturbed.

First, the message means change and Herod doesn’t want change and what Herod doesn’t want the people don’t want. Herod is a deeply troubled man, an ancient Saddam Hussein, known as both a builder and destroyer. Like Saddam he executed close members of his own family and put down any resistence to his rule with ruthless fury. His family and the people pay a horrible price when he’s unhappy so they are disturbed when Herod is disturbed.

Second, change means disruptions to familiar patterns. Herod is of course disturbed because a new king is a threat to him and his dynasty. Jerusalem is disturbed because change always brings the unknown despite every effort to retain control over the change. The people don’t know what the new king would be like, would he be better or worse than Herod? How would it affect relations with Rome and most importantly - what about the economy! We all know most political decisions are about the pocketbook. So ultimately most of them would prefer the known to the unknown despite how miserable their present condition might be.

Third, it’s disturbing because the messengers are men of importance. Few would have paid attention to some goofball waving a sign on a street corner. The magi are most likely from Persia, modern-day Iran, and men who serve as counselors to the kings of that country. It is a land the Romans have never conquered and Israel doesn’t want to get caught in the middle of some new war. These men obviously have wealth and power for the journey they’ve made and the gifts they bring would require great resources. And finally their message doesn’t make sense. Herod is an old man and they would have known if one of his wives was about to bear another son. So what is their real reason for entering Judah? Herod’s probably meets secretly with the magi for a number of reasons. He doesn’t want to disturb the man in the street any more than necessary. He doesn’t want to give credibility to the rumors or importance to the presence of the magi. And he certainly doesn’t want to appear weak or worried. He also wants to get information they alone appear to have. Surprisingly the people who should be prepared and excited - the Jews - are resistant while those to whom it shouldn’t matter - the magi - are enthusiastic beyond reasonable expectations. And it’s all controlled by their belief about change.

To many Jesus is a threat to the accepted program. We certainly see that everyday in our culture. Christian tradition and values no longer dominate as they once did in our society. And when some suggest a return to those traditions and values there are loud complaints about intolerance, censorship, religious dictatorships and discrimination. Even though our nation started out closer to the biblical world view than where we are now, most of us don’t want make the necessary changes required to go back there. We’re comfortable with where we’re at. We don’t want to rock the boat, upset the apple cart or reformat the hard drive. "Live and let live" has become our modern-day mantra. But change comes whether we seek it or reject it.

Someday Jesus will ascend the throne and receive his crown and scepter, every knee will bend and every tongue will admit Jesus is indeed Lord whether they want to or not. Some drastic changes will take place in this world of our’s. Lot’s of people are going to be out of work and looking for jobs. We saw an ad for "Two and a Half Men" last week and Chris commented on the sleazy nature of the show. It’s bad enough that the show is filled with non-stop, over-the-top sexuality but to make it worse one of the actors is a young boy who is constantly exposed to what we politely call "adult situations and humor." He’s growing up in a world where sex is portrayed as an activity like dancing. It doesn’t matter how often you change partners as long as you’re having fun and not stepping on too many toes.

When Jesus is king that will be just one of many shows whose actors, directors, technicians and advertisers will be out of work. Think of how many internet sites will close and tv and radio programs will be canceled. Armies will be disbanded and the military-industrial complex will no longer be needed. Drug dealers and drug users will finally get lucky because their destructive lifestyles will end. A lot of people in the music industry and other businesses will be looking for new jobs as well. When Jesus is king everybody knows things are going to change big time. And if people don’t want his values today they certainly don’t want him as king tomorrow. They like things the way they are.

The big problem followers of Jesus face is how to promote the new king. Using the analogy of changing government leaders, do we nominate him for king then encourage people to elect him or do we stage a coup and demand that people submit whether they want to or not? Change is coming but fortunately the problem is not as big as the solution.

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Magi are not afraid of the change this new king is bringing. After all forces far superior to mankind are at work. How often have the heavens announced in such a dramatic way the birth of a new king? They recognize something very special is is occurring and they are privileged to be part of it.

That’s why they’re willing to make a dangerous and challenging trip across hostile regions and from one empire to another. That’s why they, men of power, wealth and influence, humble themselves, present gifts and worship an infant born of poor parents living in an insignificant town in a subject land.

God uses them and protects them; he empowers them to act rightly. He gives them a star to guide them; he speaks to them in signs they understand and then he warns them so they continue to serve his purposes. And because they listen they are among the first to see and acknowledge the Son of God has come to earth.

We might be tempted to envy them because of this miraculous communication but that’s only when we forget we have such miraculous communication and it comes in a better form. God has actually written to us specific revelations of truth that guide us through every day of life. He has put in writing what we need to know and we can carry those words with us wherever we go and whatever we do.

A while back Chris and I caught several episodes of SuperNanny and Nanny911. As we watched the shows we were not only dumbfounded by the lack of basic parenting skills but by the absence of simple common sense. We sat in amazement as parents would argue with the nannies about the need for change. Meanwhile their kids were rude, obnoxious brats that nobody liked. They were creating monsters but they just didn’t believe discipline would work or see the benefits that would come with a change in their methods. They didn’t want to stifle their little prima donnas’ personalities or creativity.

But apparently they had signed a contract with the tv show that required them to follow through. So despite their ignorance and arrogance, with time the nanny eventually proved loving, consistent discipline is what is best for the children, the family and society.

Aren’t we glad the Lord does that with us as well. Despite how disturbed we might be by change our loving Lord goes ahead and does what is best for us. He empowers us to act in accordance with his revealed truth so we can be part of the positive change he is always working for in every situation. God is always loving despite who we are or what we do.