Matthew 2:1-6

“Where is the Christ to be born? They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote: You, Bethlehem, land of Judah, by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah, because from you will come one who governs, who will shepherd my people, Israel.” (Matthew 2:4b-6, CEB)

Yes, you read that right and no, it’s not a mistake. Today’s reading is not one that would normally come a few days before Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, but there is something we wanted you to see as it relates to the whole story and part of the impact of the Crucifixion/Resurrection narrative.

From the very beginning of Jesus’ life (nearly 3 decades before his ministry even began) he was destined to be theKing; he would come from Bethlehem; and he would be the Shepherd of Israel. (See Micah 5:2, 2 Samuel 5:2, Ezekiel 34:11) These early statements about Jesus may not have been known by the Disciples early in their ministry, but the discovered them somewhere along the way. They saw it in His authority, his teaching, his healing, his miracles, and especially in his compassion.

Regardless of what will happen to him in the week that follows, Jesus’ disciples are totally convinced that Jesus is who they had been waiting for and who would usher in a new day that he called the very Kingdom of God.

The contemporary hymn states, “You came from heaven to earth, to show the way; from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay; from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky, Lord we lift your name on high.”

This week is a reminder of who it is that we follow, and what people and scripture have been saying about him ever since he came. His name is Jesus the Christ, Lord of All!