by Henry Knapp
Driving through our neighborhood, Kelly and I were pleasantly surprised to find, not one or two, but three different nativity scenes within a few blocks. While not identical, they all shared the same main characters—angels, shepherds, magi, and naturally, Jesus and His family. But, even more so, the depictions of Christ’s birth all share a serene sense of quiet, tranquility, calm, and peace. Of course, in any objective sense, this is ridiculous. A young woman had just given birth, in a less-than-hygienic place, after exhausting travel, a panicked and nervous father, an intrusion of smelly and gawking shepherds, and the constant noise of animals. Jesus was born into chaos…which, of course, is where we meet Him, and need Him.
The chaos of Jesus’ immediate birth paralleled in some ways the chaos of 1st century society as a whole. An oppressive government, violent political opposition, rival religious philosophies, contentious social disorder, antagonistic relationships, the intrusion of competing worldviews. The world Jesus was born into was a world in crisis, disorder and confusion. Not at all dissimilar to times both past and present.
The Old Testament book of Judges ends with a long recitation of such a world—a culture devoid of any apparent blessing, a society in freefall. The last five chapters detail the devolution of the world Moses and Joshua left to the Israelites, and reveal the total collapse of Israel’s identity. We see the spiritual and religious downfall of the people in the pursuit, worship and embrace of idolatry (chapters 17-18). The abuse, rape, murder and desecration of the Levite’s concubine scream out of a culture devoid of morality or ethical character (chapter 19). In violent rage and self-righteousness, the entire society and nation tore itself apart in civil war, berift of any sense of identity (chapter 20). Absent any sense of familial compassion or relational empathy, the Israelites allow, no, encourage, the abduction and forced marriages of their daughters to the very enemy they viciously slaughtered months earlier (chapter 21). Sexually, relationally, nationally, culturally, morally, spiritually, civilly, Israelite culture was the very definition of chaos. If we were not living in such a time, it would be impossible to imagine a culture in such anarchy.
“In those days there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” At each depiction of the descent into national and cultural debauchery, the biblical author reminds us that there was no king reigning in Israel as this epic collapse was taking place (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). Instead, “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Shockingly, in today’s society, this would sound like a good thing—“oh, if only everyone did what they knew in their hearts was good.” But, as this description of Israel in Judges makes clear, such a situation is a recipe for unmitigated disaster. The solution? The reign of a king. And, indeed, in the centuries to come, kings did reign; but some were good and some were bad. What was needed was the True Reign of the True King.
If you feel that so much of our world is in chaos—if you think that things could be so much better relationally, socially, culturally, spiritually—then maybe what is missing is the True Reign of the True King, Jesus Christ. Join us this Advent Sunday as we are reminded of the Coming of the True King.
In preparation for Worship this Christmas Eve morning, read Matthew 2:1-12.
- The ESV translates the main characters here as “wise men.” Others use “magi,” “rulers,” or even “kings.” Without going too much into the cultural background here, what images are brought to mind about these people?
- What has to happen to be born a “king”? Not just a prince, but a king.
- Why would Herod be “troubled” when he found out that the wise men were seeking a king (verse 3)? And “all Jerusalem with him?”
- How does the prophecy quoted in verse 6 answer Herod’s and the wise men’s question?
- What actions do the wise men take to demonstrate their understanding of who Jesus is? List them out. How can each be replicated by us today?