The Mystery of the Christmas Star – by Digistar — http://www.es.com/

….Let’s revisit the Matthew story now with the historical and geographical context in mind.

The Magi ride in, emissaries from a kingdom about a thousand times bigger than Herod’s (a kingdom, which, BTW, had less than 40 years before had snatched the kingdom of Israel away from his father).

The Magi, who BTW, in Parthia were the committee who selected the next King.

The magi ride in, and they ask Herod, whom the Roman Senate had named “King of the Jews”, a single question:

Where is the one “born King of the Jews?”

Herod’s worst nightmare. No wonder he was disturbed. And all Jerusalem with him, because it looked, no doubt, like another coup on the horizon.

And really, it was another coup on the horizon. But not the kind they might have expected. Not a coup of the flesh, but of the spirit.

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The baby Jesus.

O Come Let us Adore Him!

 

by Wendy Wippel