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38th Street Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“The Hinges of History” |
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I. Introduction.
A. The news that came to King Herod (called “The Great”)
was disturbing, to say the least. Persian astrologers had
arrived, looking for the “King of the Jews.”1. The time is just a few years before what we call
“A.D.” Based on the best information we can
gather from both scriptural and secular sources, it
is probably 7 or 6 B.C. It could be as late at 4 B.C.,
but, more likely, somewhere in between.2. The place is ancient Palestine, governed at that time
by King Herod, with the support of the Roman
government and military.
3. The characters of the story are the king himself,
these “wise men from the East,” and a family from
the area called Galilee, far to the north of Jerusalem.
They had made a tiresome journey southward to the
town of Bethlehem, in Judea; a journey made much
more difficult because Mary was pregnant, and near
the time she was to have the child. They had come
to Bethlehem because the Roman government had
ordered a census be taken, and the Jews had to go to
the city, or town, of their lineage. The child’s
earthly father, Joseph, was of the lineage of David,
Israel’s great king. So, they come to David’s home
area, around Bethlehem.B. When Herod asked his scholars where this “King of the
Jews” was to be born, he got the answer “Bethlehem.” And
so it was that, on an evening long ago, a child was born, not
in a comfortable house, but in a cave that served as a
stable. That child was special, not only to His parents, but
for the world. His birth was one of the hinges of history.-II. The Beginning.
A. Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you
are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall
come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose
goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”1. It was in Bethlehem that Jesus was born. A little
town about 6 miles to the south of Jerusalem. In
former times, it was called “Epharath” or
“Ephrathah.”2. Its name meant “The House of Bread”, and it stood
in a fertile area that made that name fitting. It was
built on a high gray limestone ridge, more than
2,000 feet in height. The ridge had summits at each
end, with a hollow, like a saddle, between them, so
that the town had hills all around it – those Judean
hills where “. . . shepherds. . .[kept] watch over
their flock by night” (Luke 2:8).3. The town had a long history. Here, Jacob buried
Rachel and set up a pillar in her memory beside the
grave. Here, Ruth had lived when she married Boaz
(from Bethlehem, Ruth could see the land of Moab,
her native land, across the Jordan River valley).
Here, David had lived and shepherded his father’s
flocks – and, to all Jews, that was its mark of
distinction – it was the city of David.4. Here was where David’s greater Son would be born.
Here was where God’s Anointed One would come
into the world.B. The God of the universe came to this earth, and was born as
a child in a cave where people sheltered their animals. But,
even so humble a beginning had attracted the attention of
an earthly king.C. Herod was king over Palestine – or as much of it as Rome
would allow – but he was hardly secure on his throne.1. Why? Why was the powerful, the feared, King
Herod concerned about a child born to an obscure
family in an obscure town? One answer – he was
not a full Jew by birth, but an Arab. He was an
Idumean; there was Edomite blood in his veins. He
had gained his throne by proving useful to the
Romans, the enemies of the Jews. He maintained
his throne by terrorizing the population. Herod was
not loved.2. He had been king since 40 B.C. and was used to
wielding great power. Now, he was called “The
Great” – and, in many ways, he deserved the title.
He had succeeded in keeping peace in Palestine; of
bringing order to a disorderly situation. He was
also one who had restored some glory to the land
with magnificent building projects – not the least of
which was the new Temple at Jerusalem.3. But, Herod had one terrible flaw in his character –
he was almost insanely suspicious. The older he’d
gotten, the worse this suspicion had become. He
was now “a murderous old man.”a. If he suspected anyone was a rival for his
power, he had that person eliminated.b. He murdered his wife, Mariamne, and her
mother, Alexandra. His eldest son,
Antipater, and two other sons, Alexander
and Aristobulus, had been killed at his
order. (The Emperor Augustus had said it
was safer to be Herod’s pig than his son).c. Such a man, with such a mind, would react
quickly when he heard of a child born who
was destined to be king. And, Herod’s
concern was Jerusalem’s concern (v. 3)
because people knew what he was capable
of doing to eliminate this child.D. But, there were other men who took a far different view of
this special child. These “Magi” were Medes, who were
now living under Persian domination. These people had
given up any ambitions for power and were now a tribe of
priests.1. Like the Jewish tribe of Levi, they served as
teachers, and as priests, scholars and “wise men.”
They also served as prophets and interpreters of
dreams. (In later times, the term “Magus” came to
signify little more than a fortune-teller, or sorcerer;
a magician and, often, a charlatan.)2. In these times, there was a firm belief in astrology –
seeing the future in the stars. A person’s destiny
was settled by the star under which he or she was
born (“. . . we have seen His star in the East . . .”,
verse 2).3. We do know that, about 7 B.C., there was a bright
“star” produced by the conjunction of the planets
Saturn and Jupiter. What the “Magi” saw, we do
not know with certainty. But, some heavenly
brilliance brought them all the way to Palestine.E. Jesus entered a world eagerly expecting a new king. His
birth brought out the best and worst in people. To this first
hinge of history, there were three common reactions:1. The reaction of Herod: hatred and hostility. Jesus
would interfere with his life, his power, his
influence, and, therefore, must be destroyed. (Still
those who see Jesus as an interference with their life
and lifestyle.)2. The reaction of the chief priests and scribes:
scholarly indifference. Jesus’ coming into the
world made no real difference to them. They were
so caught up in their rituals and legal debates they
disregarded – or dismissed – Jesus. (Still people
who are far more concerned about their own affairs
and have no time for Jesus.)3. The reaction of the wise men: adoring worship.
The desire to acknowledge Him as king and to
worship Him as Lord. (Still those who bring gift
of themselves to Jesus.)III. The Second Hinge.
A. The child in the stable was born for a purpose. (If we were
to develop “timeline” of “hinges of history” – second
would be about 34-36 years later.1. READ Matthew 27:32-37. (elaborate).
2. Focus on verse 37. The “accusation” was the truth.
B. Jesus came to fulfill the first covenant and to seal the
second. He came to give Himself as the price of mankind’s
sins. (“Therefore My Father loves Me; because I lay down
My life that I may take it again.” – John 10:17).IV. Conclusion.
(Illust.) Story of Angel:
One day there was a great excitement in heaven. The
rumor was going around that God was about to do something
unheard of in celestial history. Instead of sending an angel to
give a message to people, God was going Himself, and He was
going as a human being!The day finally came. The heavenly host was hovering
over the little town of Bethlehem, looking down in total
amazement. It was an amazing sight. They looked down to see
this all-powerful God lying in an animal’s feeding basket. . . a
manger . . . dressed only in the swaddling cloths of a newborn
baby! And God was crying!They had to get the news out. One angel flew out to the
hills where he found some shepherds watching their flocks by
night. The light scared the shepherds, so he said to them, “Fear
not! I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be for all
people.”And suddenly there was with that one a multitude of the
heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the
highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God
favors!”After that, that one angel went on to bigger and better
things. And about 36 years later he was given an even bigger job,
that of rolling away a certain stone and sitting in an empty tomb
with some folded up grave clothes with another important
announcement.