Clay in the Hands

Yesterday, I referred to the story of the magi that came from the east to see the new born king.  Matthew chapter 2 tells the story and you can read it here.

In verse two, we are told why they traveled all the way to Israel.  They made their way to Jerusalem – which would make sense as they were looking for the king.  When they got there the began talking to people asking, “where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”

As you can imagine, this began to stir up some talk.  It wasn’t long before Herod, the current ruler got wind of it.  In fact, that is what has had me thinking since reading this story again yesterday.  Verse three says that when King Herod heard what they were asking, he “was disturbed, and all of Jerusalem with him.”

Think about that for a second.  Three strangers show up asking to see a baby and all of the sudden the entire city, including the king, is concerned.  Jesus was born and even as an infant, he was already starting to impact the world.  As we know – that was just the beginning.

Jesus’ coming shook things up.  Jesus’ ministry was one of turning things upside down.  Most of everything he did and taught was counter-cultural – it went against the grain in the first century and it remains to be the case today.

In just over a week we will celebrate the in-breaking of Deity into the human existence – we will celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We will remember that Jesus came to love and live and die. He came to teach us how to love and live as well.

Today, we as followers of The Way are to be Jesus in our world.

So here is my question for you today:

“How disturbed is the world because of you?”