A Baby and A Sword

 Matthew 2:1-3, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

 

We have all seen a newborn baby lying in its crib or mother’s arms. I don’t ever remember looking into the face of one of those babies and thinking, “What a great threat to the peace and prosperity of the world this baby is!”

 

No, we all look into those faces of our newborn children and grandchildren and think to ourselves, “What a beautiful child, and oh, how proud we are that they are now and forever, a part of our family!”

 

Any normal human would gaze upon that baby and think, “Here is a new and precious life. Here is a child with all of the potential in the world to do great things and become someone who will make a difference in this world.”

 

We look at that baby, realizing that within each one that comes into this world, there is a seed of greatness, for it is Almighty God in Heaven who has given a new life, created another human being in His own image, and blessed us all with the chance to expand the love in our hearts to include someone new.

 

How anyone could ever cast aside a baby as though it means nothing or how anyone could ever purposely harm a precious child is beyond me. All of us know that this is not normal, but those who would do such things are under the influence of Satan.

 

It is the power of sinful nature and the overcoming powers of darkness that would cause anyone to do such things. The murder of innocents, whether in the womb of their mother or after it has been born into this world, is the result of sin in the heart of man, sin and evil that the devil himself inspires.

 

Over 2000 years ago, a baby boy was born in a stable and laid down in a manger. His birth had been foretold for thousands of years, and the circumstances had been prophesied to the smallest detail. This little baby, lying in a manger of hay and wrapped in swaddling clothes, carried a greater significance than any other baby that would ever come into this world.

 

Jesus came as a perfect, holy, innocent child and would never sin during his entire life. No other child has ever, or will ever, come into this world with those qualifications. No other human being could ever be offered the perfect sacrifice to take away every sin of everyone who would believe in him. This single child, Jesus, that innocent baby lying in a manger, brought with him the power to bring the greatest hope the world has ever had. Along with that great hope, Jesus brought with him the greatest division that would ever enter the hearts of men.

 

Jesus confessed later, when he entered his earthly ministry, what his coming would bring to this world in Matthew 10:34-36: "Think not that I come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."

 

We, as Christians, love to look at the Christmas Story, with all its wonder and beauty, seeing the events that unfold through the eyes of faith and hope, knowing that the birth of Jesus meant the coming of our Savior. The scene of the peaceful hillsides of Bethlehem with its shepherds watching their flocks at night, and the appearance of the angels of Heaven singing, “Glory to God and Peace on Earth,” and the Star that shone in the sky that brought such “Exceeding Great Joy,” is a scene that we picture again and again.

 

But the rest of the world did not, and still does not, see that night's peace, joy, and wonder. To the world, this is a night of terror and something to be hated and stopped at all costs. From the beginning, right here in these first few verses of Matthew 2, we can already see the reaction of sinful man against the coming of Jesus into the world. The great division that the birth of this one single little baby, lying in that manger, would bring begins with all the powers of hell aligned against him.

 

Immediately, the power of mankind to be a god was threatened. King Herod, appointed king by the power of Rome, felt threatened by the presence of a baby who was born as the true king and one who would become the King of Kings. Jesus' crown was given not by man but by Almighty God. Jesus’ kingship superseded the titles given by man and gave him authority over every king and ruler upon the earth.

 

From the beginning, the very presence of Jesus and His very existence upon the earth became the single greatest threat against the power of man and the power of Satan to rule in the affairs of men. He immediately became the greatest enemy of sinful man, and plans sprang into action to eliminate him. It started with the murder of every child in the little town of Bethlehem and the areas around it. Every child, two years old and under, was murdered. The great sword, the great division, and the absolute determination of both sinful man and Satan to rid the world of any knowledge of Jesus had begun, and it continues to this very day.

 

With every passing generation, humanity has tried to eliminate Jesus and remove the knowledge of Him from the consciousness of man. Man refuses to acknowledge that there is a God and that man is not that God, but that all men will be held accountable to the One True God.

 

We know that Jesus came to save the world and all who would accept him as Savior, but I want to speak to those who have already chosen to follow Jesus. This is a message to the Church, the saints of God, and those who have already been adopted into the family of God. This is a message to each of us.

 

In writing to the Church, the Apostle James says, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

 

James isn’t speaking to the world but to those who know Jesus. He says, in effect, you cannot have a love affair with the things of this world, enjoy all that it offers, receive the accolades and praises of the world, hold the friendship of the world in high regard, and still consider yourself as a faithful child of God!

 

If a born-again child of God is going to have a love affair with the world, then you will become an enemy of God. Sooner or later, the love affair with the world will directly conflict with your love for Jesus; at that point, a division will come. The affair may last for a while, but it must end if you are to remain faithful to the call of God on your life.

 

The sword Jesus promised would come has swung again, and now the division must come. You cannot be a friend of the world and a friend of Jesus for very long.

 

The sword of division that Jesus brought to this world swings today in our national conscience as Congress, the courts of our land, and many of our godless leaders continue to attempt to eradicate the name of Jesus from our public schools and buildings. The name of Jesus stirs the sinful hearts of men who refuse to acknowledge the existence of an Almighty God more than anything else.

 

Our nation, born upon the Word of God and known as a Christian nation, has decided that the things of the world are more important than serving God. As a result, the Sword that Jesus brought is swinging furiously throughout the land, dividing sharply that which is godly from that which is not. The division becomes more significant with each passing day.

 

The love affair that the Church has had with the fame and fortune of the world and the praises of men must end, or the Church will be no more. We, the true Church of Jesus Christ, cannot be friends with the world, and therefore, the world will continue to hate us as its enemy more and more. The sword will not stop swinging, and the divisions will become greater.

 

We must be aware that the sword still swings, even in the Church and among those who call on the name of Jesus and are a part of the family of God. Even in our families and lives, the sword is swinging, bringing division.

 

Where is your first love? Do you still have Jesus and his kingdom as the first place in your life, or has this world's fame, fortune, glitz, glamour, and popularity begun to draw you aside? Is a love affair with this world a part of your life, or is there a part of you that wants the life that the world offers more than the life of service to Jesus? Christians are not immune to becoming involved in a love affair with the world. In fact, you are the devil's primary target, and he will promise you almost anything you want.

 

Christian young people are confronted with “peer pressure,” the need to be accepted by friends, and to have those who are popular in school allow them into their circle. How often do they choose friendships and popularity over standing firm for their belief in Jesus? You see, even in school, there is a sword swinging, separating the things of Christ from those of the world.

 

There are things that the world offers in our public schools that we cannot partake of and maintain the right relationship with Jesus! So, you must decide, will you serve the Lord or have a love affair with the things of the world!

 

Christians, in churches everywhere, have begun to be more and more accepting of the things of this world, not only in the Church but also in their homes. Often, it's caused by a desire to be at peace with the kids who want to be accepted.

 

The standards that once held a great separation of Christian kids and worldly kids have been relaxed to the point that we allow our kids to take part in everything offered, even if partaking in those things violates the law of God and grieves the Spirit. Parents would rather be friends with their kids than train them in the way they should go. They fear the sword of division more than the judgment of God against sin in the camp, not realizing that, in the end, the souls of their kids are at stake, not just their popularity and acceptance.

 

Finally, what about your own life? What place does Jesus have in your heart? Is the chance for promotion on the job more important than being faithful in serving Jesus? Do you hide your faith because you don’t want to make waves or take the chance of being passed over? When you’re around friends and co-workers, are you keeping your faith to yourself to avoid conflict? Those are the first signs of the beginning of a love affair with the world!

 

What a difference the birth of one baby boy in a manger in Bethlehem has made! The entire history of man centers on that one little baby! The eternal destiny of every soul of man hinges upon what we will believe and do about that one little baby! That little baby, Jesus, brought a sword that swings to create a separation between those who will serve him and those who won’t.

 

The sword is swinging! Jesus brought the opportunity to decide in your own life. Which side are you on? Which side will you choose today, tomorrow, and forever? Every day that you live, the sword will be swinging! Which side will you be on when the sword is done?

 

As you observe the rituals and traditions of Christmas, and you look upon Jesus in that manger scene, remember that He is no longer that baby in the manger. Jesus is Lord! He is the King of Kings! He is the God and Savior of the World to those who will choose to serve him. To everyone else, He is the Great Divider, the One who separates light from darkness and sin from righteousness! Are you on the Lord’s side?

 

Christmas brings joy, peace, and glory to those who serve the Lord. But to everyone else, Christmas is a sword, a thorn in the side of the ungodly, and an ever-present reminder that there is a God and that there will be a day of accountability as we all stand before him.

 

I pray that Christmas is a joyful time for you. Enjoy your time with family and friends. But most importantly, make Christmas a time of renewing your relationship with Jesus and ensuring that you love Him more than the things of the world. Make sure that Jesus is your life and that his presence with and in you matters more than anything else.