The Coming of the Worthy Ruler...

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:1-6 ESV) Matthew leaves out many of the details that Luke does of the Nativity. One thing he wants to make very clear is that this baby is the King, the Messiah, the One all had been waiting for. It was something very much in the back of everyone's mind. That's the problem - so many had been looking for a temporal deliverer, and forgetting what we needed was the King to Come and rule in our hearts and lives. Welcome, King Jesus, we need You!