{"id":8979,"date":"2011-12-24T09:45:21","date_gmt":"2011-12-24T14:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=8979"},"modified":"2011-12-22T19:39:11","modified_gmt":"2011-12-23T00:39:11","slug":"way-of-the-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/way-of-the-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":"The Way of the Kingdom"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8981\" title=\"Herodium complex\" src=\"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/herodium-complex-570x359.jpg\" alt=\"Herodium complex\" width=\"570\" height=\"359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/herodium-complex-570x359.jpg 570w, https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/herodium-complex-200x126.jpg 200w, https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/herodium-complex-860x541.jpg 860w, https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/herodium-complex.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When reading about the birth of Jesus in Scripture, many people do not realize that\u00a0Bethlehem was situated within a mile or two of the Herodium, a huge palace fortress built upon a hill for King Herod, who had set himself up as the King of the Jews. Undoubtedly, as Joseph and Mary worked their way toward Bethlehem, their eyes looked frequently to this fortress upon a hill, reminding them of King Herod\u2019s power, glory, and might.<\/p>\n<h2>The contrast between Herod and Jesus could not be more stark.<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-8980\" title=\"Herodium Map\" src=\"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Herodium-Map.jpg\" alt=\"Herodium Map\" width=\"468\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Herodium-Map.jpg 468w, https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Herodium-Map-200x128.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/>Herod\u2019s fortress and all the wealth and strength it represented was contrasted by the poverty and weakness of Joseph and Mary struggling to make their way to Bethlehem where they were not even able to find a room to sleep in.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Mary had to give birth to her son in a dirty stable, surrounded by animals, and the only clothing she had for Him were some strips of linen to wrap Him in.<\/p>\n<h2>But this is the way of God and His Kingdom.<\/h2>\n<p>This Advent season, if you think that you are too poor, too weak, or too insignificant for God to use, remember Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. Their beginnings could not have been more humble. God loves taking the poor, the weak, and the humble people of this world, and using them to bring glory to Himself.<\/p>\n<p>This is an excerpt from <a title=\"Scripture on Advent\" href=\"http:\/\/scripture-on.com\/advent-luke-2_4-7\/\">A Scripture on Advent: Luke 2:4-7<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The way of the Kingdom of God and the way of Herod the Great could not be more starkly contrasted than in the early chapters of Matthew and Luke. 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