Uncomfortable News
Matthew 2:1-12

The message of the arrival of the Messiah is a key part of the Gospel, the "Good News" the angels refer to when announcing Jesus' birth to shepherds in the field.  As Christians, we take particular joy in knowing that God desired to send His Son to come among us, live with us and die for us so that we could live with Him.  But as good as this news is, it is not a message of comfort, of peace to the whole world.  In fact, man in his natural state finds the message of Jesus to be disturbing news indeed.

In verse 3, we read that King Herod was disturbed.  Understandably so.  The news presented to him was that a king had been born, which would be a direct threat to his power, the empire he served, and probably his very life.  But the verse does not stop there.  It continues to say that all of Jerusalem was disturbed with him.  People in the city, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, found the news that a king had been born to be very uncomfortable.

Those in political power were uncomfortable.  The message of a new king meant serious changes in government.  There was no promise of holding onto their power and authority over the populace.  Instead, in all likelihood, if this message took hold and persisted long enough, these men would be out in the streets within a few years.  They would be replaced by those loyal to the new king, who shared the new king's vision.

Those in religious power were uncomfortable.  They had spent their lives reading the scriptures, understanding the prophecies, and knew they held the secrets to holiness and righteousness.  Yet, here were men from a far-off, pagan land with a message that the perfect, spiritual leadership had not been given.  Had God revealed the coming of the Messiah to sinful outsiders?  How could He do so when the priests, rabbis and pharisees had been so faithful, taking such pains to remain sinless before God?

Those with economic and social power were uncomfortable.  Even with the Romans in charge of the government, these people knew that true power lay in money and social status.  It was all about who you know, and what their price was.  The news of the birth of a king, the possible coming of the promised Messiah, turned their world on its head.  If it truly was the arrival of the kingdom of God, they knew in their heart that their time of influence was soon to be over.  If was an earthly king, they had their work cut out for them to learn how to retain their influence in the midst of the inevitable changes that would take place.

Those with no power at all were uncomfortable.  This news was filled with a sense of upheaval.  War was coming when the predicted king would rebel against the establishment, and with it all of the uncertainties of war -- shortages, restrictions, danger, confusion.  These people simply wanted to go on with their lives, living in the certainty of what they know rather than the uncertainty of change.

The message of Jesus' arrival has no less impact on our lives today.  It is an uncomfortable message of turning power over to Him when we'd rather stay in control.  It is an uncomfortable message of our inherent unrighteousness despite all our efforts and study.  It is an uncomfortable message of our standing and importance as it tells us to deny ourselves.  It is an uncomfortable message of change, threatening to turn our world upside down.  When we come to Christ, we come to the understanding that, as uncomfortable as it is, His message is the way to peace and comfort in Him.  As we grow in Him, that uncomfortableness in our nature continues while He molds us into His nature, teaching us daily how to be more like Him.  But while the message of the Cross is uncomfortable, the gift of Christ is comfort.

Father, thank you for the message of the Cross.  Thank you for guiding us in ways that may make us uncomfortable, but with the purpose of sanctifying our lives.  Lord, help us to turn our lives over to you, to trust in you, to rely on your grace for our salvation, and to be of your mind, loving you above all else, and loving others as you have commanded.  Help us not be afraid to take this uncomfortable message to those who need to hear it, so that they, too, can find comfort in you.  In Jesus' name, amen.