Danger in the Manger

Matthew 2:13-23

December 30, 2007 – ©Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes

Introduction

A little girl came home from Sunday school waving a paper for her mother to see. “Look Mommy, Teacher says I drew the most unusual Christmas picture she ever saw!” Her mother took one look and had to agree with the teacher. Hoping her daughter could explain her creation, the mother asked, “Why are all these people riding in the back of an airplane?”

“Mommy, that’s the flight into Egypt.” Mother asked: “Who is this mean-looking man in the front?” Her daughter said: “That’s Pontius, the Pilot.” Looking at the picture even more closely, the mother said, “I see you have Mary and Joseph and the baby. But who is this large man sitting behind Mary?” “Can’t you tell?” Shaking her head in disappointment, the little girl said, “That’s Round John Virgin.” [PreachingToday.com, “Child Draws Humorous Picture of Christmas.” Submitted by John Beukema, Chambersburg, PA].

Well, the Christmas story can get a bit confusing, even for adults. Today’s lesson from Matthew 2:13-23 is one that leaves us wondering about a lot of things.

Danger to Herod and All Jerusalem

Matthew 2:13 begins, “When they had gone.” The wise men had found the baby Jesus, the newborn King of the Jews and presented their gifts to him in an act of worship. The wise men had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, but return home by another route [Mt.2:12]. Herod’s comments about wanting to worship this baby too were lies.

Matthew 2:3 tells us that when King Herod heard the news about a new King of the Jews, he was disturbed. Actually, Herod was terrified of anyone that posed a threat to his position and power. He would stop at nothing to get rid of anyone who threatened his throne.

Not only was Herod disturbed by the news from the wise men, but it says “all Jerusalem” was also disturbed. This probably means that the religious leaders were disturbed. Herod allowed them freedom to worship as they pleased, so they didn’t want this arrangement to change. A “new king of the Jews” could mean trouble for them as well.

Jesus was a danger to Herod and Jewish leaders even as he lay in a manger, tiny and dependent on Mary and Joseph for everything. He especially depended on them to protect him from those who wanted to kill him.

In fact, God sent an angel in a dream to warn Joseph to escape to Egypt because Herod was planning to kill the baby Jesus. Just as Joseph obeyed the angel and took Mary as his wife, now Joseph obeyed the angel and immediately took Mary and Jesus to escape Herod plot.

Herod’s fear of any rival for his throne caused him to order the death of every baby boy two years old and under in the area of Bethlehem. He wanted to make sure he got rid of his competition.

How could this baby in the manger be a danger to Herod or anyone?

I thought about that this week as the reports of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. Yes, she had been the Prime Minister. Yes, she had the support of many people. But she didn’t have an army to back her. She didn’t really have power in Pakistan. And she was a woman, in a country where women have little power. Why was she such a threat that she had to be assassinated? How dangerous could this woman really be? Dangerous enough that some wanted her dead.

To King Herod, the baby in the manger was danger – a danger that had to be eliminated. However, Joseph took Mary and the baby to Egypt, where they lived in safety until a time when they could return home.

Danger to Archelaus

Once again an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and told him to take Mary and Jesus back to the land of Israel since King Herod was dead. [Mt.2:19-20].

Yet, danger still was present. King Herod’s son Archelaus was now in power in Judea. His cruelty toward Jews and Samaritans surpassed that of his father, Herod. In fact, he was so cruel that Caesar Augustus banished him to Gaul after only two years in power.

However, because Archelaus took after his father, Joseph was afraid to return to that area. So having been warned in a dream, he took his family to the town of Nazareth. There the family lived without threat for many years.

Neither King Herod nor his son Archelaus ever met Jesus, yet both lived in fear of this danger in the manger. From the moment Jesus was born and laid in a manger, he was a danger to those who would reject him.

The Pharisees, Sadducees and other religious leaders of Jesus day wanted him out of the way. He was challenging their authority. He was teaching the people new ways of living for God. Jesus always made them feel foolish when they tried to trick him with questions. He was clearly a problem to them. Finally they decided to do whatever it took to get Jesus arrested and condemned to death.

Yet, even when Jesus was dead and lay in a tomb, the religious leaders were afraid of him. So they put soldiers in front of the tomb to guard it. No one expected Jesus to just walk out of the tomb, but they wanted to make sure. They also wanted to make sure no one stole the body.

If they were afraid of a dead man, perhaps it was because he claimed to be the Son of God. If Jesus really was the Son of God, they had good reason to be afraid. The One who was a danger in the manger was also a danger in the tomb, even death couldn’t hold him.

Still a Danger

Not much has changed in 2000 years. Some people still see this baby as danger. People burn Bibles so people can’t read about Jesus. Some kill those who claim to be followers of Jesus in hopes that they can get rid of all the Christians and keep people from believing in Jesus.

In many countries today, those who are followers of Jesus are persecuted, arrested, tortured, and even put to death. Jesus is still a danger to those who reject him. Even in this country, talking about Jesus in school or at work may bring trouble, even though people can talk about any other religion quite freely.

Jesus is dangerous. Jesus makes people uncomfortable, even afraid. Can you imagine what would happen if they actually saw him or heard him?

A story by H. G. Wells was published in the New Yorker about an Episcopal bishop (although it could have been any preacher). The bishop was the kind of man who always said pious things to people. When troubled folks came to him, he found that a particularly helpful thing to say, if said in a right tone of voice, was, “Have you prayed about it?” If said just right, it seemed to settle things.

The bishop himself didn’t pray much; he had life wrapped up in a neat package. One day, his life came unwrapped, it fell apart. He didn’t know what to do. It occurred to him that he should take some of his own advice. So, one afternoon he entered the cathedral, went to the front and knelt before the altar. Then he folded his hands (he couldn’t help but think how childlike he was).

Then he began to pray, saying, “O God—“ and suddenly there was a voice. It was crisp, businesslike. The voice said, “Well, what is it?” The next day when the worshipers came to the cathedral they found the bishop sprawled face down on the crimson carpet. When they turned him over, they discovered he was dead. Lines of horror were etched upon his face. What H. G. Wells was saying in that story is simply this: there are folks who talk a lot about God who would be scared to death if they saw him face to face.” [PreachingToday.com, “Terrified by God.” Haddon Robinson, “Good Guys, Bad Guys, and Us Guys,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 80].

One day all people will see him face to face. We will all stand before the throne of the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will judge all people according to their deeds [Rev.22:12].

Those who see this King as a danger, who reject him, still see him as the “danger in the manger.”

Those who bow before him and worship him as the wise men did, who listen to his voice and follow him, will not see Jesus as a danger. They will not be scared to death to see him face to face.

Conclusion

Very soon we will put Christmas back in the box. The nativity scene will get put away. Even the baby Jesus will be put away with all the rest.

However,

Ø if we try to hide Jesus until next Christmas,

Ø if we try to keep Jesus at a distance in our lives,

Ø if we are afraid of what Jesus will do if we let him have control,

Jesus will always be a “danger in the manger.”

God’s message, through the angel to Joseph and Mary was “Do not be afraid,” for the baby born to Mary is the Son of God, the One who will save his people. [Mt1:20, Lk1:30].

God’s message from the angel to the shepherds was, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” [Lk2:10-11].

So Rejoice! The baby in the manger is the Son of God.

Ø He has come to save us.

Ø He has come to give us life.

Ø He has come to show us how much God loves us.

Keep Jesus in your heart all year.

Listen to his voice.

Worship Jesus, the Savior of the world. Amen.

Return to the Sermons Page

Return to the Immanuel Home Page

To email Pastor Carnes or Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church office@immanuelcov.org

This sermon is copyright 2007 by Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes, Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, Illinois.