12/17/15- The People of Jerusalem in Advent

12/17- The People of Jerusalem Mt. 2:3
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 

Thoughts: The people of Jerusalem reacted to the news.  They were “disturbed” or “troubled” (KJV).  It bothered them that perhaps another king was born.  The status quo was disrupted, and they also doubtless knew Herod wouldn’t let anyone get in his way.  But there is no indication that these “troubled” people bothered to check it out.  It was about 22 miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.  The three kings could travel over 600 miles to find a foreign king to them, but there is no record that one person traveled 22 miles to see if their own king was born.   Let it not be said of us that we would not travel a few miles in a warm car to go to a safe warm sanctuary to visit our king.  Later the people of Jerusalem were disturbed again and cried out, “Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!”  Perhaps if they had responded to Christ earlier (at his birth and in his ministry) they would not have had such a hard time at his end.  The people ended up turning into types of terrorist trying to crucify the innocent. 

Prayer: Lord, keep me from not caring about you.  Help me not to be bothered by your existence but to crave and desire your presence in my life. 

Song: Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright;  Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild.  Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace!