"When King Herod heard this (the Magi's telling of Jesus' birth)

he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him."  Matthew 2:3

These noble foreigners came to Herod with questions and disturbing answers that shook this evil, political, power-hungry ruler to his core.  "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?"  (v 2).  "King", that was what Herod was, thus the cause of his consternation was apparent; but not so for the rest of Jerusalem's populace.  Why were they 'all disturbed with him'?  What exactly did this city full of people have to fear in a new king?

The Apple Cart Syndrome:

During this period in history, Rome ruled most of the then known world, including Palestine.  The iron hand of Roman rule was strong, yet it had it's benefits.  A condition known today as Pax-Romana - Roman Peace, had settled over all of Rome's domain, and the Jews were experiencing it.  At the same time, these Jews intellectually knew of their prophesies which foretold of a Messiah who would deliver them into freedom one day.  Hence their dilemma.  They chafed at being ruled and dominated by anyone, after all they were the 'chosen ones' the 'children of Abraham'; yet this iron hand which presently held them had brought with it a peace they had not known previously.  Could it be that the actual arrival of this prophesied Messiah might disrupt their ongoing, yet peaceful surrender of their sovereignty?  Were the Jews of Herod's day so satisfied with servitude that even their sought after deliverer seemed an interference to their tranquil plans?  However ignoble their subjugation, their apple cart was rolling along very smoothly, thank you.  Don't upset things with talk of a messiah whose arrival might bring Rome's wrath upon this shackled serenity.  The chief priests summed it up well in John 11:47-48; "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs.  If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

Nicodemus:

In John 3 we meet up with Nicodemus.  Under the cover of night he seeks out Jesus for answers to the strange and radical philosophies this 'teacher' is espousing.  Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a teacher and expert in the Law is compelled to seek answers from our Lord; but what did he fear so strongly that only in the gloom of nightfall would he inquire?  Look closely at his words; "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him,"  John 3:2.  Nicodemus' 'we' conceals the root of his fear.  He came, presumably, as a representative of his fellow Pharisees, but if that were true, why sleuth around at night?  The reason is that Nicodemus came representing only himself.  He was fearful of his reputation, he had a comfortable position in life; a meeting with this Jesus was risky, yet he was compelled beyond his fear to seek answers that eluded him.  He admitted to knowing of the miracles Jesus performed, therefore we can assume he also was exposed to the gospel message of salvation.  This salvation message that Jesus spoke of is what so disturbed Nicodemus, just as His birth had upset Herod and 'all Jerusalem' 30 years previously.  He was falling under conviction at the prospect of being 'born again' because it threatened to upset his cozy existence.  His pride would not allow him to say, "Rabbi, if what you have said about reaching Heaven is true, and I know it must be based upon the genuineness of the miracles, then I am truly in trouble!  I have not done this 'born again' thing, therefore by your definition I will not make it to Heaven.  But how can that be?  I am a Pharisee for goodness sake!  My warm and familiar Law doesn't say I have to be 'born again'!"

Nicodemus could handle the Law.  As shackling and restrictive as it was, it remained something that was comfortable to him, a 'friend' he had grown to live and work with and even count upon.  This Jesus, on the other hand, was offering something that would shake and topple all the icons that were familiar to Nicodemus as well as 'all Jerusalem'.

Paul and Felix:

"He (Felix) sent for Paul (who was imprisoned) and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.  As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now!  You may leave.  When I find it convenient, I will send for you,"  Acts 24:24-25.  Felix was plainly afraid, but of what?  Was he fearful of the prospects of a sometime future judgment or of the present-day disruption in his life which would be the result of proclaiming a saving faith in Jesus?  Either way, his life's apple cart would be severely jostled.

The Comfort of Pigs:

In an area known as the Gadarenes, Jesus encountered a man possessed by many demons.  Our Lord commanded the demons to leave and allowed them to indwell a herd of pigs.  This resulted in the pigs stampeding down a steep bank and into a lake where they were all drowned (Matthew 8).  'An equitable act,' you might say; the soul of a man shaped in God's image spared in exchange for mere pigs.  However on that day, the equity of the transaction was lost on those tending the pigs as well as their neighbors in the nearby village as they encountered Jesus face-to-face.  Their peaceful life was upset greatly.  They disregarded the ruination of a human soul bound by evil in favor of the economic value of their

lost pigs!  All they could see was that they were deprived of the present guarantee of food and the future assurance of income.  Disruption had occurred and the status-quo apple cart was rocked!  Their self-centeredness is summed up in Matthew 8:34, "The whole town went out to meet Jesus.  And when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region."  The 'whole town' is reminiscent of 'all Jerusalem' in Herod's day.  It happens throughout history.

Pax-Americana:

Today, is the 'Christian' church in America afraid of the birth of Jesus in itself, just as Herod, Nicodemus, Felix, all of Jerusalem and the Gadarene townsfolk were?  Is it too difficult and costly to consider the Lord truly being 'Our Lord'?  If Jesus' intrusion into our lives is not disruptive, then we must consider if He has really entered.  He may still be standing at the door and knocking (Rev. 3:20).  We have experienced God's tremendous blessing here in America.  We have what some might call a 'Pax-Americana'.  Since the Civil War, we have seen over 130 years of peace on our native homeland.  The attack on Pearl Harbor is the only act of war brought directly to American soil in all that time.  Mainland America has seen peace and God's prosperity for a long, long time.

Is this Pax-Americana too comfortable to set aside in favor of Jesus?  Are we afraid His presence will sow disruption in our lives?  Do we, like Peter in Mark 14:54, follow Jesus at a comfortable distance, staying just close enough while remaining warm and cozy at His expense?  Are we in America crushing an awakening and a revival in the two tightly clenched fists of pride and convenience?  Are we more concerned with our way of life and cash flow than of inviting Jesus into our lives?  He is the patient one in Revelation knocking on the door to gain entrance to His Church.  How long will we ignore His loving entreaties?  Will we beg Jesus to leave as the Gadarene townsfolk did?  Will we forever be disturbed as 'all Jerusalem' was at the prospect of Jesus' birth in us?  Oh I pray not America!  Amen!

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Does Jesus Frighten You?

The Goodsoil Discipleship Ministry

By Bro. Andy Madonio

January 3, 1997

Introduction:

I am fearful that far too many Christians in our churches today really do fear a Savior.  They want one, to avoid the heat of hell, but that's enough, no closer please.  Why is that?  I believe it is because they really are happy with this world; it is their 'friend'.  1 John 2:15 is a missing scripture from their dusty Bibles.

Does God want us to be comfortable?  I don't think so.  He really isn't concerned with our comfort, He simply wants us to be like His Son -- whatever it takes.  If it requires comfort, so be it.  But, since "the Son of man has no place to lay His head," I think comfort is a fairly low priority.

Are you really comfy-cosey?  Be careful.  A salvation worked out with "fear and trembling" seems at odds with comfort.