What Herod Knew

Introduction

Merry Christmas to all! It is again the advent season where we celebrate and remember when God Himself took on flesh and dwelt among us. While this is a time of great celebration where the eggnog flows and gifts are exchanged, it is important to remember that Christmas is not simply a time for holiday cheer. The Christmas story is not just a cute tale of a baby peacefully sleeping in a feeding trough. It is a tale of high stakes. It is a gritty story. There is real good fighting against a real evil, a hope in one of the darkest moments, and joy in the midst of great sorrow.

Do not get me wrong, it is good and right that we celebrate during this time. However, while we celebrate, we must not forget the great cry in Ramah and Rachel weeping for her children (Matt 2:18). The barbaric slaughter of infants and toddlers is not a pleasant thought. It is the last thing we want to dwell on during this time and yet, it is inescapable when we consider the narrative during the first years of Christ's life. Herod’s soldiers are just as much a part of the nativity scene as the wise men or shepherds.

What are we to make of King Herod? For many years I thought that the king’s actions were irrational and completely unfounded. In my mind, Jesus was no threat to Herod’s throne. Jesus came to save souls not conquer kingdoms, the kingdom of heaven is not of this world afterall. Herod's massacre of the innocent was all a big misunderstanding on Herod's part. Perhaps some of you have similar thoughts.

But what if King Herod was more intelligent than we gave him credit for? So often in our modern enlightenment we tend to look down upon the ancients as ignorant superstitious people. Can it be that Herod fundamentally understood the significance of the birth of Jesus more than we do? Herod was no fool, the moment the Magi appeared in Jerusalem inquiring about a king, Herod began to research.

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born - Matthew 2:3-4

Herod went to the Jewish priests and scribes and inquired about this King. Where do you suppose you got his answer from? Most assuredly Herod came to his conclusions regarding Jesus from the Old Testament. Make no mistake, Herod did not misunderstand the times. He knew from Scripture exactly who Jesus was and it enraged and terrified him to the point that he slaughtered infants and toddlers in the hope of destroying the Messiah. So this begs the question, what did Herod know?

A Mighty King

The answer behind Herod’s radical response lies within the truth of Christ that he learned. When the Magi first show up in Jerusalem they inquire about a king.

Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him - Matthew 2:2

This is important. The Magi did not come asking for the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, as John the Baptist proclaimed, they came asking for the King of the Jews. Who was the current king of the Jews? Herod was. He was king over Jerusalem, the capital of the nation of Israel, the Jews were his subjects and now his rule was being challenged by some Hebrew infant. Herod then has his fears confirmed when he inquiries of the chief priests and scribes.

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel - Matthew 2:6

This quote is from the prophet Micah. In Micah Chapter Five, we read about this Ruler who will shepherd the people of Israel. He is a King of might and deliverance. He is a King over not just the nation of Israel but over all nations.

And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth. This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, when he tramples on our citadels, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight leaders of men. They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and He will deliver us from the Assyrian when he attacks our land and when he tramples our territory. Then the remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on vegetation which do not wait for man or delay for the sons of men. The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, among many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which, if he passes through, tramples down and tears, and there is none to rescue. Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, and all your enemies will be cut off - Micah 5:4-9

It is no wonder that Herod was greatly troubled when the Magi brought the news that the King of the Jews had come. Surely he had heard of the might of the God of Israel, and all the wonders He had done. Now that same God promised a Ruler to come in the strength of the Lord to trample down His enemies and empower His people in the nations. Herod’s heart must have melted like the Midianites before Gideon. He knew that a grown up King of the Jews would be unstoppable, so he tried to take out the threat to his throne when his enemy was vulnerable and defenseless.

An Authoritative King

This idea of Christ being King is one that is quite easily misunderstood. It was misunderstood by the Jews in Christ’s day who wanted a military king to free them from the oppression of Rome. Yet if we are not careful, we may also misunderstand by limiting the scope of Christ’s lordship. We believe that the kingdom of God is merely a spiritual kingdom that does not have authority over the kings and nations of this world. Satan is the ruler of this world some would say, so we should not expect the nations to obey.

Beloved we must understand that when Jesus was born something radically changed. Christ’s incarnation was the launch of a full assault on the kingdom of darkness, an assault that would result in the conquering of death, the binding of Satan, and the overthrow of the principalities and rulers of this world.

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him - Colossians 2:15

When Christ came to the world He created, He was claiming lordship over it. That is why when Jesus was evangelizing His sermon was,

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel - Mark 1:15

The kingship of Christ is far more than just a spiritual thing. Christ does not just have authority over the Christians. Christians are not the only ones that are to obey. If Christ is King over everything that means that all people, even kings, are required to obey Him. In fact, Herod’s son who was king after him discovered this when a bold messenger of God openly rebuked him.

When Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her” - Matthew 14:3-4

The birth of Christ is fundamentally about Him ruling the earth with truth and grace, making the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love. He gives the option to all people to follow Him and partake in the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and blessings of His rule.

The Fate of the Opposition

Herod understood that if Jesus was King, then that meant he needed to submit and he chose to oppose the rule of the newborn King. He was a tyrant that pursued the wickedness of his heart to rule according to his own desires and, by thunder, no incarnate child from Bethlehem was going to get in his way. In consequence, the soldiers were sent and the little ones of Bethlehem two-years-old and younger were slain. A great cry went up, but Mary was not among the weeping mothers.

Behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son” - Matthew 2:13-15

The plans of God are not thwarted; Herod failed to stamp out the light of the world. He died and Jesus Christ, the very King he tried to murder, is the one who passed judgment upon him.

All those who rebel against the Most High share in the fate of Herod. Read the Old Testament, and look at what happened to Pharaoh, to Og, to Goliath, to Jezebel, and to many others. All throughout Scripture the theme is the same, the wicked shall not stand before God.

God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation every day. If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready - Psalm 7:11-12

There is no neutral ground. Every knee will bow before King Jesus. You will either willingly and freely bow in service of your King or you will be forced to bow, but one thing is certain, you will bow.

What Shall We Say to These Things?

How are we to respond to the Christmas story? What should we do in the light of our incarnate Lord? Our Lord has given us the answer.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” - Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus Christ is the King. The King who Isaiah says rests the government on His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6) and the increase of His government shall not end (Isaiah 9:7). In light of this reality, we go.

We are the army of the Lord, we are called to conquer the earth for our King. That might rub some people the wrong way so let me clarify, we are not commissioned to conquer by force. After Jesus fed the five thousand the crowds sought to make him king by force, and how did Jesus respond?

So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone - John 6:15

We do not conquer by a show of force, for our King did not conquer by a show of force. Instead how did our King conquer? By dying on a cross and rising again. When Christ gave us our marching orders how did He instruct us to conquer? By making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places - Ephesians 6:12

Do not be deceived, we are in a real war, a war that takes place in the unseen realm. When we contend, we contend for the faith. We are in the process of storming the gates of hell and the Gospel is our battering ram.

As we go bravely into battle, there is a danger that we must be on guard for. Our enemy the devil does not fight fair, and he has trained his children who oppose God to do the same. Remember, Herod slaughtered infants and toddlers in opposition to the King. If you read any of church history you will realize that Satan and his children fight dirty against the church through persecution. Many who have gone before us have been tortured, imprisoned, executed, slandered, fired from jobs unjustly, have had their assets seized, forced to flee their homes, have had their businesses shut down by the government, and have suffered many other atrocities for the cause of Christ. Nothing has changed today, all over the world violence is committed against the church. Even in the west, though our persecution is much lighter than others, we still endure persecution.

My beloved brothers and sisters, though we are sore oppressed by those who hate us we must not retaliate in kind. Vengeance belongs to the Lord He will repay (Rom 12:19). We are called to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us (Matt 5:44). Why? Because that is what Christ did for us. He loved us even when we were His enemies. Jesus came to the world He created in the form of a helpless babe so that God and sinners could be reconciled. This Child was born in a manger to become the sacrificial lamb so that He could buy back the wayward people the Lord gave to Him.

Jesus came so that He could be our God and we could be His people. That is the Gospel and we are to share it with everybody and love everybody with the same love we have been shown. This includes the Herods of the world. Who knows, perhaps the Lord may use you to save your persecutor. There is a day of judgment coming and if we truly love our enemies we should be concerned for them. We should wish for them to join us and experience the mercies of the King. Therefore, during this Christmas season, sing praises to the newborn King, be prepared for the cheap shots of the enemy, and proclaim the Gospel of repentance and peace. Be the means our Lord uses to make His blessings flow as far as the curse is found.

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Works Cited

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.