Matthew 2:1-8

Summary: Before Jesus had said or done anything that could have been offensive, he was already rejected by the ruthlessly paranoid Herod the Great. It’s the beginning of a life-time of rejection for Jesus–the unavoidable consequence of the true King of Heaven entering into a world of sinful human pride. Yet Matthew quotes the prophets of old to remind us that this life of rejection is something that God planned in the realms of eternity and that Jesus willingly entered. By being forced to flee to Egypt, Jesus reveals his role in bringing about a second Exodus–this time not merely from the bondage of slavery, but from the bondage of sin and death. Our truest hope and joy is to lay down our opposition to Christ’s authority and to humbly surrender our lives to our King.