As we approach the Western church celebration of Epiphany on 6th January, PAUL CLARK looks at the role Herod played in the story of the birth of Christ…
In the Christmas story we are faced with a stark choice of what kind of world we want to live in, that is as relevant today as it was when the story was written.
Soon after Christmas the magi visit. They go via Herod’s palace to try to find baby Jesus. Their arrival in Jerusalem isn’t appreciated at all. Matthew, chapter two, tells us Herod was ‘deeply disturbed’ when these wise guys start asking about a baby born to be ‘King of the Jews’, and all Jerusalem with him.
The magi meet with King Herod as described in the Gospel of Matthew. Detail from an illustration published in ‘The Life of Christ’ by Louise Seymour Houghton (American Tract Society: New York) in 1890. Digitally restored. PICTURE: Christine_Kohler/iStockphoto
Why was Herod, and all Jerusalem, packing it over a baby born in the backblocks of Judea?
The back story is important. King Herod was himself declared ‘King of the Jews’ in 40BC by Mark Antony. Herod had taken this duty with gusto, first laying siege to Jerusalem (he had to conquer the land before he could rule it) then going on a spending spree to turn Jerusalem into a city worth ruling.
“He wasn’t simply a secular king. Herod’s family were Jewish converts who publicly followed the Jewish ways. It seems Herod worked hard to project himself as a faithful Jewish King, even if behind closed doors he followed the Roman excesses of the time. It even seems he was trying to fulfill the prophecies of the Messiah by rebuilding the temple and ruling like David. Numerous Jews thought he might be the Messiah. Were they likely to find a better candidate?’
He rebuilt the Jewish Temple, also building palaces, theatres, marinas and aqueducts. He raised the money needed to do this through higher taxes, which the people disliked. Yet the jobs and prosperity of his building program the people liked. Interestingly, he also saved the Olympics in 12BC.
He wasn’t simply a secular king. Herod’s family were Jewish converts who publicly followed the Jewish ways. It seems Herod worked hard to project himself as a faithful Jewish King, even if behind closed doors he followed the Roman excesses of the time. It even seems he was trying to fulfill the prophecies of the Messiah by rebuilding the temple and ruling like David. Numerous Jews thought he might be the Messiah. Were they likely to find a better candidate?
But most Jews didn’t like Herod. He was a tyrant who used religion, and ignorant religious people, to maintain power. His sexual sins numerous and his meddling in the affairs of the priesthood – appointing his own men as high priest – discredited him. To quote others, Herod the Great, “the evil genius of the Judean nation,” was “prepared to commit any crime in order to gratify his unbounded ambition.”
Towards the end of his life Herod even organised the murder of three of his sons, trying to ensure the right children would sit on his thrown to extend his dynasty. Caesar Augustus apparently quipped, “Better to be Herod’s pig, than his son” given Herod’s pious Jewish front that didn’t eat pork, but his maniacal heart that stabbed kin in the back.
Into this environment walked the Magi asking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2 NIV UK). Talk about bad timing. I can imagine Herod thinking, ‘Excuse me! I’m the King of the Jews and I’ll decide who the next king will be.”
We know the story, Herod feigns interest in worshiping this child, all the while plotting its demise. We get why Herod is disturbed. All his work and efforts to build a dynasty could be undermined by some wild religious prophecy, and anything that disrupts power is going to disrupt commerce. So all of Jerusalem – the seat of power – feels Herod’s agitation.
What we have in this story is a cosmic challenge to Herod’s claim to be King of the Jews. It’s not just written in Scripture, but the stars, that a true king had come.
What I want us to realise is that this isn’t simply some esoteric, theoretical choice between two historical figures for our spiritual gratification – this is a real and tangible choice the world continues to face about who our leaders will be.
Will we keep choosing Herodian kings, or will we demand our kings be Christ-like?
Herodian kings will get things done! They will bring prosperity on the back of a sword. They will betray their family, and yours, and compromise any and every conviction to maintain power. They will say one thing and do another to make our countries great again. They will lay siege to land (and elected roles) not their own, and use religion (and it’s fools) as a tool for their glorious ambitions. Their ego will demand the death of babies if they see a threat. Oh, the insecurity.
Or do we want a king, secure enough to be laid in a manger? To become a refugee in Egypt. A king who never lays siege to any land or position. Who never swings a sword in anger. Who wears no crown but thorns, and sits on no throne but the cross?
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We have for a long time as a society, expected our leaders to show Christ-like character, integrity, sacrifice, and humility even if we’ve forgotten where these values came from. But with the rise of autocratic leaders world-wide, culture wars and Christian nationalism, we seem to be prepared to accept Herodian leaders, even believe they are the only way to rescue our society, willingly turning a blind eye to their maleficence as the cost of ‘winning’.
I’m here to say “no way”. Have we forgotten that the means is the message? Believing we can establish a ‘Christian’ or ‘good’ society through ‘bad’ methods shows you haven’t understood the message of Christianity, or reality. You become what you practice.
Jesus said He was the way and invited us to follow Him along the way of the cross. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection was a cosmic challenge to our assumptions that might was right, that violence wins, and that death is unstoppable. The church, and as a result the Western world, has been at its best when we’ve promoted and supported Christ-like leaders, not Herodian wannabees.
We need to face this disturbing news again. To see “the Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven” we must reject our ingrained desire for Herod and kneel at the manger. This embrace of Christ must be wholistic and tangible in our daily life, and whom we choose as leaders.
Correction: The image of King Herod has been replaced.
