At this point, the prophecy of a ruler given to the Wise Men becomes quite personal. For the issue is not merely whether the one born in this small Judean town so long ago really was a great ruler, but whether He is your ruler. The question is, Are you his subject? Have you bowed your knee to him?
When the Wise Men came to Jerusalem inquiring after the new ruler and were directed to Bethlehem on the basis of Micah's prophecy, they asked for “the one who has been born king of the Jews" (Matt. 2:2). That is, they were asking for one who was a king from the very moment of His birth.
The birth of Jesus at Bethlehem shows us many things about God, but chief among them is God's eternal, predestinating power. God's choice was Bethlehem, and in Bethlehem Jesus was born.
Bethlehem was a small town among the many towns of Judah, but with a great history. And yet the history of Bethlehem was to become even greater, for it was out of Bethlehem that He who was to be a divine and everlasting ruler over Israel would come.
When the Wise Men came to Jerusalem in those early months following the birth of Jesus Christ, they asked to see the new king. Those who heard the Magi's questions were disturbed—particularly King Herod. It was because Judea already had a king, and Herod was that king. Herod was a crafty old politician. He did not know who this king was, but that did not mean that no king existed. He set about to find where the "pretender" was so he might kill him. Who would know about his birth place? If anybody would know, it would be the chief priests and teachers of the law. So Herod called them together and asked where the child was to be born.
