Matthew 2:1-6: a reflection

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” 3When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet, 6‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”

When wise men from the east arrive in Jerusalem asking where the newborn King of the Jews is, so that they may worship him, the news lands very differently on different hearts. The wise men have traveled far, following a star, eager to find and worship the child. But King Herod, hearing of a newborn king, is troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, threatened by the very One the wise men long to worship. The same news, the birth of the King, draws worship from some and fear and hostility from others.

Notice the two responses to Christ that the passage sets side by side. The wise men, outsiders, foreigners, seek him out at great effort and come to worship. Herod, the reigning king, sees the newborn King as a threat to his own throne and will soon try to destroy him. One heart is drawn to seek and adore; the other is threatened and turns hostile. The coming of Christ divides, drawing worship from some and resistance from others.

That division still runs through every heart that hears of Christ. The King has come, and the question is how we respond: do we, like the wise men, seek him out and worship, gladly giving him his place? Or do we, like Herod, see him as a threat to our own throne, our own rule over our lives, and resist? To welcome Christ as King means letting him take the throne we would rather keep for ourselves. Which response is yours? Do not be like Herod, threatened by the King and clinging to your own throne. Be like the wise men: seek him out, and worship, gladly giving the newborn King his rightful place, even over yourself.

Lord, when the newborn King came, the wise men sought him out to worship, while Herod was troubled and turned hostile, threatened by the very One they longed to adore. Show me which response is mine. Keep me from being like Herod, seeing you as a threat to my own throne, clinging to my rule over my own life and resisting yours. Make me like the wise men, seeking you out and worshiping, gladly giving you your rightful place, even over myself. To welcome you as King means letting you take the throne I would rather keep; help me yield it to you and worship you as King.