URC Daily Devotion for 02/01/2026

St Matthew 2 1 – 12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’  When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.  They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Reflection

“At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow” declared Paul to the Philippians. But here, at the beginning of Matthew’s gospel, the wisest ones come and bow their knees. The worship of the stars has pointed magi from the East towards Israel, the testimony of the prophets then points to Judah. Every tongue is beginning to confess that Christ is Lord. 

Even Herod’s tongue is tempted towards acknowledging and confessing the Messiah. Though he is trying to trick his visitors into betraying the newborn king, his deceit requires that he admit and repeat prophecy that points to the Christ child. He must repeat it, and even pretend due obeisance. But the magi give true honour, true worship, to the child. The stars are one sign of his significance, the name Jesus another: this name promises rescue.

Herod’s true intentions are not worship but murder. This petty king, whom we call Herod the Great, is king only if the Roman Empire allows it. His ‘great’ power feels fragile to him.  Sensing threat from the child king he acts quickly, cruelly, to suppress any hints that tyrants like him can and do fall. 

So Herod fails to see the promise of true freedom. This messiah will redeem us from the power of evil and death. In his anxiety and fear, Herod turns from the truth. Turns fully, and opposes what is good. May we be wise enough to notice when our anxiety is turning us away from what we know and trust God is doing in the world. And may we find a guiding star in our confession that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Prayer

Jesus, we know you by so many names:
Messiah, Saviour,
Lamb of God,
Christ-child,
Prince of peace.
Holy one,
we bow before you:
grateful for all you have done for us
before we ever knew it.
May we praise your name and speak it boldly:
Jesus, Christ, Lord.