The Man You Wouldn't Make Mad

December 16, 2007

Title:  The Man You Wouldn't Make Mad

Text:  Mt 2:1-8, 13-19

Proposition:  Christ claim as king requires rebellion or submission

CT:  For Christ to be king of our lives we must worship him through obedience.

I.  Herod

A.  Called Herod the Great

1.  While in exile in Rome was declared king of the Jews in 40 BC. He would take over the land in 37 BC.

2.  He reconstructed the temple in Jerusalem, famine relief that was envied even by his rivals.

3.  Would die in 4 BC, about the time of this account

4.  Concerned about being usurped

a. Because he had got to his seat through civil war and the support of Rome

b. Also he was of Edomite decent.

c. Had 2 innocent sons killed, and a 3rd killed from his death bed.

d. Had many prominent citizens being held to be slaughtered when he died so that there would be mourning upon his death.

B. Slaughter of the innocents

1. Not found outside the Gospel, but based on what would have happened it’s not going to show up in global history as significant.

2. Estimates are Bethlehem had probably 20 babies or so that would have been killed.                      

II.  Usurpers to the throne

A.  Prince John quakes at the thought of Richard the Lionhearts return

B.  The White Witch wishes nothing of Aslan in Narnia

C.  Truth is they know they are claiming what they have not right to claim, sitting in a seat that is not theirs, ruling what belongs to another ruler.

D.  You don’t become King of the Jews as an Edomite just because Rome declares it.

III.  Our response

A. Wish to worship knowing the entire time our desire is to figure out how to remove this problem.  (It is a doomed mission)

B. Join the example of the millions before who have bended the knee, acknowledged the need and declared “My Lord”