Behold Your King

Devotional For Matt 1:18-2:6

Babies are cute. They are not supposed to inspire awe.

Perhaps that’s one reason why people find it so easy to trivialize Christmas. Baby Jesus, lying helpless in the manger, can be viewed with mild affection. Folks can smile down at Him, and then move on to the real business of the season – shopping, vacation, being with the family, sending e-cards that say “holiday greetings” with some Christmas jingles and so are unlikely to offend with an overly religious message.

Despite what people may assume, Matthew wasn’t interested in having us meet “Baby Jesus.” We know, because over and over this Gospel writer quoted from the Old Testament. And the passages he selected and applied directly to Christ are passages that insist we see not an Infant but a King; not a Babe, but the Master of the universe.

Who is Jesus to Matthew? Matthew 1:23 identifies Him with a virgin-born Child predicted by Isaiah. What did Isaiah say about Him? He is “Immanuel,” a name that in Hebrew means “With Us Is GOD!” Look at the Babe in the manger, not with mild affection, but in awe. For in this Child all the glory of God shines through.

Matthew also quoted from Micah 5, which predicted the birth in Bethlehem of a Ruler who would be the Shepherd of God’s people Israel. Looking in Micah, we discover that “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord.” In fact, “in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.” His people will be secure, for His greatness will “reach to the ends of the earth.” Why not, when His strength is the strength of God, and His majesty the name of the Lord, which He bears!

And when Christmas comes again, at the end of 2008, don’t be concerned with the displays of crèche and cradle. The wooden replicas, however cute, hardly represent the King of kings.

To catch the spirit of Christmas, read again Matthew’s account – and the prophecies he quotes. And then bow down in awe for He is worthy of all our worship.

Personal Application

The Christ we need to keep in Christmas is not the Babe so much as the King of kings.

Quotable

“Napoleon was right when he said, “I know men, and I tell you, Jesus is more than a man. Comparison is impossible between Him and any other human being who ever lived, because He was the Son of God.” Emerson was right when he replied to those who asked him why he did not include Jesus among his Representative Men, “Jesus was not just a man.” Arnold Toynbee was right when he said, “As upon the farther shore a simple figure rises from the flood and straightway

fills the whole horizon of history. There is the Saviour.” – Billy Graham