A Story of Three Kings

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 354: Today, I am grateful for a story of three kings. 

The mathematical odds of Jesus being the Messiah are incredible. Some say he filled up to 300 Messianic prophecies. A more conservative number is 100-150. Even going with the conservative opinions, it is mind-boggling. 

I have never before considered that the birth of Jesus included three kings until a recent message. It was the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus who called for the Census that required Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem. He was a conquering ruler with no real "dog in the fight" in regards to the birth of Jesus. Yet, he called for a census. 

Three Kings collided on that night in Bethlehem so many years ago with a newborn baby, the Messiah God's people had been promised. 

"At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire." -Luke 2:1,4-5

It was the Jewish King Herod who raged with anger and fear about news of a baby born in the line of David in Bethlehem. The magi did not return with the details. Herod was furious.  Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Egypt for a season, until they would return and come "out of Egypt." Echoes of the Passover are in both chapters of the recorded history of Jesus. 

"Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah,  weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”-Matthew 2:16-18 

Jesus, the Baby King, was a miracle over and over again. I am always grateful to revisit the wonder in the statistics. 

Today, I am grateful for a story of three kings.