From the beginning of our introduction to Jesus Christ we know He was unlike any other, being the literal embodiment of the phrase, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). In the second chapter, Matthew goes to show us in great lengths how climactic the coming of Christ is. In the perfect plan and timing of God, there is a star in the heavens that signals to pagans that a new king had been born. This child is testified to in the heavens! Not only this, but ancient holy Scripture foretold where He would be born, Bethlehem. Dreams and angels are commissioned to spare Him, and we see that this child would be like no other.
In fact, He, although a baby in a manger, is the true King. Not Herod! Pagan astrologers get the heavenly message and begin their journey from the east and they get to be amongst the first recorded in Scripture to come and offer Him worship, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (v11). These are valuable gifts that are fit for honoring a newborn king.[1] So, these men, who weren’t of the Jewish people, become some of the first in Scripture to recognize who Jesus was. Jesus because of who He is in His being as the eternal Son of God, as Immanuel, and as the prophesied King who would be born in Bethlehem, He is the one whom the Father has appointed as His King.
Matt. 2:6, ESV
“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."
He might be rejected by His own people (see John 1:11) but these guys get it! Matthew shows us how He comes in fulfillment of prophecy. Micah had prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem and God orders the events of history, even using a secular ruler’s decree in His sovereign plan to get Joseph and Mary to the right place to fulfill Old Testament prophecy (see Luke 2:1-7).
Christ comes with a climactic inbreaking of the Kingdom of God into the kingdoms of man. Yet, He comes humbly. He comes born of woman as any other would have. Nevertheless, He is no ordinary baby. This one is like no other for truly He is the Son of God. He is the Messianic King that the world has awaited, and He is finally here. With His first coming the Kingdom of God has been inaugurated and He will come again to consummate the Kingdom. In light of this, as modern believers, we eagerly await His second advent. As we await, we ought to live lives filled with His worship fit for this King, because He is worthy.
[1] Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22 of The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 65–66.
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