At this time of year, Christians throughout the world celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace. But rarely is it recognized how aggressively worldliness, or what could be called the Herod-thought, tried to prevent his appearing.
For centuries the Hebrew prophets had foretold the coming of the Messiah in such scriptural passages as Jeremiah 23:5: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”
Based on a misunderstanding of predictions like this, the Jews had been anticipating a powerful warrior, a king of Israel who would free them from political oppression. So most of their religious leaders were taken by surprise and disbelief when the Messiah appeared as a child born to a poor family in a little town and placed in a lowly manger. Rather than being the offspring of royal parents, he was born of a virgin to whom the Holy Ghost had revealed the presence and power of God as the Father or creator of all. Thus, Christ Jesus was known not only as the Messiah but also as the Son or only begotten of the Father, God.
