The Menace of the Manger

Matthew 2:1-12

This month are you celebrating the birth of Someone you don’t know? Millions will.

Shortly after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a delegation of wise men came from the east. They were well-respected intelligent men who had made a lifetime study of the stars. There is no evidence that there were only three, or that they were kings. But they were highly regarded by the citizens of Jerusalem. The simple question they asked, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” greatly upset the entire city.

When Herod, the king heard about the visiting VIPs and their searching enquiry “he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” You bet! In those days, if the king had a bad day so did everyone else. The very question was a challenge to his authority. He was king. Who dare usurp his claim to the throne? It was a direct challenge to his dynasty. This was the menace of the manger.

This month millions of people will celebrate Christmas commercially, because they can’t take it spiritually. They want their Herod-self to be in control. They will sing and party, but their Herod-hearts are bent on His destruction. For them, Jesus is a menace.

There is also a message of the manger – departing. When the wise men departed from Herod (v.9) the star appeared, which they had seen in the east, and they rejoiced. Their human wisdom had brought them to the capital city and to the palace of the king. But the promised Savior was not there. Now they were back on track. Now their divine celestial navigation guided them to the place where the young child was.

After they had worshiped Him, and presented their gifts, being warned of God in a dream they departed into their own country another way. I’m so glad that God has made another way. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12 We don’t have to follow the crowd. Herod was the embodiment of the world, the flesh and the devil. He was determined to destroy Christ. Times haven’t changed. The secularists today want to remove every vestige of Christianity from the public square.

Now we have the meaning of the manger. The wise men brought gifts. It was a picture of God’s provision for a lost world. Remember the first verse you learned as a child? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus is the gift of God to a lost world. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Isaiah 9:6 The world can handle a baby in a crib and say “O how sweet,” but not the Son of God on a cross – dying for our sins.

Don’t let the manger be a menace. Open your heart and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Otherwise you celebrate the birthday of someone you don’t even know. Jesus is the reason for the season.