Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-30
"BoRN KING OF THE JEWS"
Matthew Il. 1.12-Eeb. &.

Look unto Me and be yes saved, all
We ends of the earth for am God
and there is none se.n-1saiah xiv,
q.
Todays study relates to the Wise
Men of the East and their seeing of a
wonderful star which. as astrologers,
they recognized to import great
event---the birth of a great King. At
the time Palestine was province of
the Roman Empire, and its King,
Herod, was not a Jew of the House of
Jacob, but a representative of the
House of Esau. Herod sought to per-
petuate his dynasty, and hence the
announcement of the shepherds that
a great King of the Jews had just
been born suggested the overthrow of
the Herodian dynasty and the estab-
lishment on Israel's throne of a king
in the line of David and solomon.
Herods disquietude is easily under
stood, but the fact that the people of
Jerusalem in general should be dis
turbed by the annunciation of a king
of their own awakens thought. I'm
der the Romans they Were experience
ing great prosperity Herod, the Edo
mite, had built them a temple the
grandeur of which outshone that of
Solomon. Evidently the people were
feeling so satisfied with their attain
ments that they had ceased to spec
tally long for and pray for the coming
of the Messiah, the long promised
King of the line of David. They
were disturbed lest any change should
be for the worse-lest it should mean
internal strife as between Herod and
another and lest it should mean strife
with the Roman Empire, which at the
time was treating the Jews quite gem
erousl;.'
\ very similar condition of things
( may be expected in conjunction with
the second advent of Christ The
powers that be today are styled
Ghrist's Kingdom. "Christendom" but
they are really kingdoms of this
world, Any announcement today
that Messiah's Kingdom is nigh
that He will soon take unto Himself
His great power and reign CRev. XII,
17)v@meets with resentment. If in
surprise we ask why this Indifference
respecting the fulfilment of our pray
er, Thy Kingdom come" the answer
is. Let well enough alone; do not
agitate that subject; it may bring in
. strife and contention. because many
are prospering so well under the reign
of the Prince of this world that they
could not look upon change as likely
to bring any Improvement in their
condition--indeed some of them have
reason TO fear that Mcssiahs King
dom would seriously disturb their en-
trenched privileges and 1nonopofstic
control of the wonderful blessings of
our day"
Priestly indifference on the Subject.
Although King Herod called the
priests and teachers of his day to in
qufre particularly respecting the
prophecies of Messiahs birth. and al
though they answered him correctly.
nevertheless the records show no joy,
no enthusiasm, on the part of the re-
ligious teachers in respect to the
prophetic fulfilment which they had
protested to trust in and to long for.
They were Indifferent; none of them
followed to Bethlehem to find the new
born King of the Jews They had be-
come Higher Critics and no longer be-
lieved the prophecies: they had less
faith in them than had Herod
And do we not find an antitype in
this day? Are not the chief priests
ard religious leaders generally so out
of harmony with the Divine promises
and so faithless as respects the
glorious Messianic Kingdom of which
the Bible tells. that they are ashamed
to identity themselves in any degree
with those who seek the Lord and
wait for His Kingdom?
| Alas! even the Mohammedans and