Encountering Christmas - Jesus vs Our Agenda
Jesus Versus Our Agenda: When the Savior Disrupts Our Plans
The Christmas story isn't just about peace, joy, and hope. It's also about conflict, resistance, and the uncomfortable reality that Jesus' arrival disrupts our carefully laid plans. Through the lens of King Herod's response to the birth of Christ, we discover a profound truth: the arrival of Jesus always confronts our agendas and invites us into the life we truly need.
Why Don't We Talk About King Herod at Christmas?
When we think of Christmas characters, we naturally gravitate toward the shepherds, wise men, Mary, and Joseph. We focus on words like love, joy, peace, and hope. But there's a villain in the Christmas story that we often overlook: King Herod.
We avoid discussing Herod because his story involves darker themes - slaughter, murder, and families fleeing for their lives. These aren't the warm, fuzzy feelings we associate with Christmas. Yet this story is in the Bible for a reason. It reminds us that Christmas isn't just a story of joy and happiness; it's the story of our Savior entering a broken world filled with sin, devastation, and heartache.
The Bible doesn't sugarcoat reality. Our lives contain both joy and sorrow, peace and pain, comfort and discomfort. This is life on planet Earth, and the Christmas story acknowledges this tension.
What Happens When Jesus Arrives?
The Fight Begins
When the wise men arrived in Jerusalem asking, "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?" they unknowingly triggered a violent response from Herod. These magi had innocently followed a star, believing God had sent a new king worthy of worship. They went to the most logical place to find a king - the palace.
But they didn't understand who they were dealing with. King Herod was a paranoid, murderous ruler who had killed anyone he perceived as a threat to his throne, including members of his own family. When he heard about a "new king," his immediate thought was elimination.
The Little Bit of Herod in All of Us
While we may not be murderous psychopaths, there's a little bit of Herod in each of us. There's a part of us that resists the lordship and kingship of Jesus in our lives. We like being in control. We don't want anything or anyone telling us how to live differently.
This resistance manifests in subtle ways every day. As Paul writes in Galatians 5:16-17, there's a war going on inside us between the Spirit and the flesh. When Jesus arrives as King, there's a part of us that wants to surrender, but there's also a part that wants to hold onto the old way of doing things.
Why Is There a Fight?
Two Kings Cannot Sit on One Throne
The fundamental issue is simple: two kings cannot sit on one throne. When we accept Jesus as Savior, that's often the easy part. But surrendering to Him daily as King - that's costly and requires dying to ourselves.
Jesus didn't just say, "Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest." He also said, "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me." The Christmas story carries both of these truths in tension.
Three Different Responses to the New King
In Matthew's account, we see three distinct responses to the news of Jesus' birth:
Herod's Response: Violent Resistance
Herod violently opposed the reality of a new king, ultimately ordering the death of every young boy under age two in Bethlehem.
Jerusalem's Response: Troubled Indifference
The people were troubled by the news but then seemed to return to life as usual. They were disturbed but ultimately indifferent.
The Wise Men's Response: Surrendered Worship
The magi "fell down and worshiped him" and offered their most valuable treasures. This is the right response - surrendered worship that recognizes Jesus as more precious than anything else.
What Does True Faith Look Like?
The real question isn't whether you believe in Jesus - many people can answer that affirmatively. The deeper question is: Is Jesus your treasure today? Is He more valuable to you than the most valuable thing in your life?
True faith means recognizing what Jesus has done by rescuing us from sin and death through His sacrifice on the cross. It means falling down in worship, not just as Savior but as King, and offering Him everything we have.
Grace is free, but surrender is costly. It demands that we step down from the throne of our hearts and lay down our lives - because that's the only way we'll truly find life.
Can Anything Good Come from Nazareth?
The Upside-Down Kingdom
When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael responded, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?" This seemingly throwaway comment reveals something profound about God's kingdom.
God didn't choose to be born in Herod's palace but in the backside of Nazareth, among the outsiders and poor people. He came into a poor carpenter's family amid scandal and confusion. God chose to enter right into the mess to redeem the mess.
Hope in Our Nazareth Moments
You might be looking at your life right now and it feels like Nazareth. You're asking, "Can anything good come from this?" Maybe you're walking through tragedy, pain, suffering, or loss. Perhaps you're in a season of mourning or have come to the end of yourself.
The beautiful story of Christmas answers with a resounding yes. Jesus can come from that. He can redeem it and turn it around. You're not forsaken or lost. Your story isn't over.
When we face struggles with Christ, when we bring our pain to Jesus, we're bringing it to the very One who specializes in bringing life out of death. He redeems pain and makes beauty from ashes, turning the valley of the shadow of death into places of new life.
Life Application
This week, examine your heart honestly. Are you resistant to Jesus' lordship in certain areas of your life? Are you indifferent, going through the motions of faith without true surrender? Or are you bowing down in worship, treasuring Jesus above everything else?
The arrival of Jesus confronts our agendas and plans, inviting us into the life we truly need - a life discovered in our struggles, received through surrender, and rooted in grace. Even in your "Nazareth moments," remember that the Savior is there and He can bring redemption.
Questions for Reflection:
What areas of your life are you still trying to control instead of surrendering to Jesus as King?
How do you respond when Jesus' way conflicts with your plans or desires?
Are you treasuring Jesus above your most valuable possessions, relationships, or ambitions?
What "Nazareth situation" in your life needs God's redemptive touch?
Setlist
WFC Lenexa + WFC Anywhere
Joy To The World - Thrive Worship
You’ve Already Won - Shane & Shane
Breakthrough - Red Rocks Worship
You’ve Already Won - Shane & Shane
WFC Speedway
Take You At Your Word - Cody Carnes
Build My Life - Pat Barrett
Abide - Aaron Williams
Holy Forever - Chris Tomlin
Be sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday’s set!
