Scripture References: Matthew 2:1-12

Light in the Darkness – Continued

The light that shone in Jesus still shines on, and the darkness has not been able to overcome it, put it out, quench it, or extinguish it.

Now this does not mean that the light that has been seen in Jesus will never seem to flicker low, indeed, seem to have gone out or have been lost.

The wise men must have lost the star. The star is introduced at the beginning of the story, but as it unfolds Matthew says “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10). But why such an exclamation of joy? Maybe we can assume they had lost the star, and greatly rejoiced at finding it again. Obviously, they had lost it by day when it had been eclipsed by the sun. But they may have lost it by night as it dipped beneath some Judean hill. They continued their traveling, however, remembering where they had last seen the star, and they journeyed in the faith that it would appear again.

How often the influence of Jesus seems eclipsed by mighty powers just as the star was eclipsed by the sun. He often seems so weak and the forces pitted against Him so strong.

This was certainly true at the beginning. There was the helpless baby Jesus and King Herod with his legions seeking the child’s life. We see Mary and Joseph fleeing with the child to Egypt. They were so weak in their flight and Herod was so strong in his search. But it wasn’t the way it seemed. It was the baby who was strong, Herod who was weak. Matthew tells us that when Herod was dead, an angel appeared to Joseph in Egypt telling him to take the baby home. Jesus outlived Herod, and His influence has had a way of outliving the powerful, cruel, and tyrannical forces of history.

Or take Good Friday for instance. Jesus seemed so weak, stumbling beneath His cross. Tremendous powers of church and state had joined forces to crush Him. Why the amassing of such power against one so weak? And did anything ever look weaker or more helpless than His limp body on the cross? But then came Easter morning, and then they knew that He who stumbled beneath His cross alone was strong.

How often the forces of propaganda, discrimination, injustice, dehumanization, and war seem so powerful and Jesus so weak. They seem to eclipse Him.

Like a star dipping beneath some Judean hill, how frequently the influence of Jesus seems to get lost behind some high mountain of fear, prejudice, hatred, cruelty, and death.

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
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