Christmas Through the Eyes of Herod
December 11, 2015 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement | Tags: Herod, Magi, new creation, Roman Empire
Can you imagine experiencing the Christmas story as Herod? You probably have no desire to be in Herod's shoes since he was so selfish and evil. I believe, however, that Herod provides for us a glimpse into the darkness of a sin-filled heart and how Jesus either redeems that heart for eternal life or condemns that heart to eternal punishment. Let's survey what we know about Herod and consider how he would have experienced Christmas.
1. Herod was a usurper and manipulated his way to the throne. The land of Judea enjoyed independence for about 100 years under the rule of the Hasmonean family (142-63 BC). Herod's family was not purely Jewish and so did not have rights to the throne or influence. Herod, however, latched himself to the rising power of the Roman Empire to gain positions of authority and rule in the Judea region. Eventually, Herod was able to convince Rome that the Hasmonean line was not to be trusted and he was appointed king of Judea. All the male representatives of the Hasmonean died or were executed. Herod took advantage of the tumultuous formation of the Roman Empire (Julius Caesar to Antony to Octavius) for his own gain in Judea. The Jewish people did not like how much he catered to Rome.
2. Herod ruled in fear of being usurped. Herod's mother-in-law was a member of the Hasmonean family. Herod came to fear that she, with his wife, would conspire against him. He had both his wife and mother-in-law executed. Later in his reign, near the time of Jesus' birth, Herod had his three oldest sons executed, fearing that they would kill him to take the throne. Anyone who opposed Herod were punished or executed; those who took his side were rewarded with favors and honors.
3. Herod perceived the birth of Christ as threat to his rule. When Jesus was born, Herod had just executed his third son, his health was failing (he dies about a year after he learns of Jesus' birth), and questions were swirling around Jerusalem about who would succeed Herod. When the Magi arrive from the East seeking the newborn king of the Jews, Herod felt threatened. The people of Jerusalem were troubled as well (Matt. 2:3) because they knew how volatile Herod could be. Perhaps this explains the indifference of the chief priests and scribes when they unveil the prophecy of Micah 5:2 (Matt. 2:4-6). They do not follow up on the report of the Magi that the messiah has been born out of fear of Herod (think about that: the Old Testament scholars of Jerusalem do nothing when a highly unusual caravan of Magi arrive from the East talking about the birth of the messiah!). The killing of the infant boys in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16-18) would not have startled anyone in Judea. Herod had been acting like that his entire reign.
Herod’s life and actions demonstrate that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (Jer. 17:9). Herod is not the only one with a wicked heart, “All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:12). In our sin, every single human is a throne usurper, the throne of our hearts and lives. In our sin, we reject the rule of God and seek to be our own rulers. Jesus is perceived as a threat to the rule of our lives. In our sin, we fight against King Jesus.
Thanks be to God, though! Jesus did not come only to be king in our lives, he came to conquer our hearts. In the covenant work of Christ, God promised to give his people a new heart (Ez. 36:26). “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). Our love for the selfish and sinful rule of our lives is quieted by God’s love for us by pursuing our good in Christ.
The story of Herod is contrasted in Matthew 2 with the arrival and adoration of the Magi. They provide two pictures of how people respond to the birth of Christ the King. Which picture resembles your heart and life?
