King Herod is a big part of the Christmas story.
One of the less mentioned characters in the Christmas story is King Herod. Throughout his life Herod had been a driven man. He rose to power first as a military general and a governor before eventually being appointed king of the Jews and of all Judea by the Roman senate.
Despite his title the Jews never respected Herod as a king. They considered him to be a half-Jew, a foreigner, and an outsider. They despised him because he didn’t fully embrace Judaism. He mostly only paid lip-service to the Jewish faith and lacked any serious religious conviction. Like many in our day he was spiritually dispassionate and irreligious. He was also extremely immoral. His reign was filled with scandal, deceit, murder, and lies. His life was a soap opera. The Jews saw him as a ruthless, barbaric, and terribly insecure leader who would stop at nothing in order to gain power.
Throughout his reign Herod’s ambition was to build a great name for himself. He attempted to manipulate and redirect the Jewish expectations for a messiah toward himself and toward his political party so that he could gain even more power. He built large towers, a temple, and a palace to honor his own name. He sought to establish his own kingdom, to live by his own rules and his own standards. Those who opposed him or threatened his rule were burnt at the stake. At the time of Jesus’ birth, King Herod was almost seventy years old. He was dying of a severe kidney infection. Gangrene was destroying his lower body.
Herod is the great antagonist.
In the Christmas story as detailed in Matthew 2 Herod is the great antagonist. It all started when the magi from the East began following a star that they believed pointed to the birth of a future king. The magi were most likely first century astrologers, adept at interpreting the meaning of comic disturbances.
The Christmas star led the magi to the city of Jerusalem, the general region in which they believed a king was about to be born. In Jerusalem they begin asking questions, assuming that those in Jerusalem knew where the one who was to be born, this king of the Jews. The magi were naturally directed to Herod because Herod was the resident king. When the magi shared their interpretation of the star, Herod, along with all of Jerusalem, became deeply disturbed. He didn’t know anything about any king! He was the only king and only someone in his family could be the successor!
Herod immediately called upon the chief priest and teachers of the law to question them about the supposed birth of a new king. He asked them where the Christ, this messiah, this king was to be born .Herod quickly discovered that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem. Based on the appearing of the star he also knew the approximate time that Jesus was born. So Herod ordered the magi to conduct a thorough search of all of Judea until they found the king.
What is interesting is that Herod initially conceals his intentions. He tells the magi in Matthew 2:8 (NIV), "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." Herod was notorious for such deception. But he had no real intention of worshiping the Christ, the king of the Jews. He wanted to capture Christ and have Jesus executed before he could pose a serious threat to his kingdom.
In the Christmas story, the magi continue following the star until it stops over the place where Jesus is being born. There they encounter the baby Jesus in a manger, in a stable, and in the hands of ordinary people. No royalty are present. There is no fanfare. Just straw, barnyard animals, and a cold winter breeze. The magi offer their worship to the King Jesus. Shortly afterward, the magi are warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. Likewise, Joseph and Mary are warned by an angel not to go back to Jerusalem or to the surrounding area, but to instead flee to Egypt.
Back in Jerusalem a desperate and insecure Herod grows more and more frustrated as he tries to locate the baby King Jesus. He is so threatened by the thought of a new king being born, and so desperate to stop Jesus’ birth, that he impulsively orders the execution of over fourteen thousand Jewish baby boys living in and around Bethlehem, the rumored zip code of Jesus’ birth.
Herod was the first in a long line of people who sought to eliminate Jesus Christ.
When I read about King Herod’s actions, I thought of a verse in Romans 1:18 (NIV). "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." Herod was the very first in a long succession of people throughout history who have sought to eliminate all mention of Jesus Christ and have attempted to suppress his name at Christmas. History of course testifies that Herod was unsuccessful. Herod failed to suppress the truth of Christ. The light of Christ shined forth in the darkness of the first Christmas night sky just as it continues to shine today, two thousand years later.
It is interesting though, how year after year history seems to repeat itself. There are those in every age who have sought to suppress the true meaning of Christmas. There are those who have sought to snuff out the heartbeat of the one who was born at Christmas to take away the sins of the world. There are many self-made kings who seek to suppress the truth of Christ instead of bowing in worship and in submission before the king of the universe.
This Christmas as we gather with our families, as we spread Christmas cheer, it is up to us to reject Herod’s godlessness by honoring the name of Christ. We must let the light of Christ shine forth in the darkness and not suppress him.
This Christmas I encourage you and your family to look toward the manger and embrace the true meaning of this Christmas season. This morning I want to offer you a few meditations on the manger in which Christ was born. I encourage you to this morning to simply absorb the meaning of Christmas.
The manger signifies God’s generosity.
This week I was deleting my e-mails when I came across a Fox news editorial written by David Asman. The editorial was written after rock star Bono and comedian Chris Rock began complaining that we are not doing enough about the millions of Africans who are dying of AIDS. Asman admits that all of us could do more, but in his editorial he reacts against all the moaning and groaning about American selfishness from the Europeans, Africans, and others by pointing out, "There is no country on the planet more generous than we are. No one even comes close."
He then quotes some astonishing figures. "Last year Americans gave over $160 billion to worthy causes. Foundation grants totaled $25.9 billion. Those mean, greedy corporations threw in another $9 billion. And folks who died in 2001 willed over $16 billion to the charities of their choice. That’s a total of more than $210 billion given by Americans to charity." This doesn’t even compare to the billions of tax dollars that Uncle Sam takes and redistributes throughout the world to improve the quality of life. Asman concludes, "Can we do more? Should we do more? Of course. But we don’t need any instructions on how to give. The world could help those in need not by lecturing us about giving, but by following our example."
Christmas isn’t about the generosity of Americans. Nor is it about following our example. At Christmas we follow God’s example by giving generously, sacrificially and selflessly to others. At Christmas we remember that God’s generosity in Christ is what ultimately supplies the world’s needs. John 3:16 (NIV) tells us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Philippians 2:7 (NIV) tells us Christ, "made himself nothing." The Greek language there suggests that he poured himself out or emptied himself.
We are generous at Christmas, but our generosity doesn’t even begin to rival God's. Our gifts are but simple reflections of a much greater, infinite, eternal reality. The reality of course, is to be found in Christ. This Christmas as you unwrap the generous gifts those you love have given you, remember the generosity of God. He also loves you. He gave you the farm.
The manger signifies God’s humility.
In his book The Jesus I Never Knew Phillip Yancy contrasts the arrival of Christ on Christmas Day with the arrival of Queen Elizabeth to the United States. Queen Elizabeth strides throughout the world with pomp and fanfare. She is surrounded with bodyguards and has a flourish of bright clothes and flashing jewelry, much like the pope in Rome. When Queen Elizabeth II visited the United States, reporters had a field day reporting all the logistics and arrangements that were involved.
"Her four thousand pounds of luggage included two outfits for every occasion, a mourning outfit in case someone died, forty pints of plasma in the event of a fatal injury, and white kid leather toilet covers. She brought along her own hairdresser, two valets, and a host of other attendants. A brief visit of royalty to a foreign country can easily cost twenty million dollars."
I guess I shouldn’t complain whenever Lara packs a big suitcase.
In contrast to Queen Elizabeth, Jesus was born in a manger, among farm animals, in poverty, and in obscurity. Jesus was bornin simplicity, without fanfare, without lavish preparations, without parades, lights, decorations, outfits, and gourmet food. Jesus arrived clothed in simple, unadorned humility. The first Christmas stands in stark contrast with the Christmas celebrations that many of us will be having.
I sometimes wonder about all the hype surrounding Christmas in our culture. What are we really celebrating? What does it all mean? What is behind all the lights and fanfare? What is really in all the presents and under our Christmas trees? Can we, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle and hurry, with endless Christmas lists, checkout lines, chores, preparations, and mounting debt, remember that Christ came in simple, unadorned humility? Can we let the simple, unadorned humility of Christ fill our Christmas as fully as it filled the first Christmas night two thousand years ago, or must we dress up Christmas in order for Christ to give it meaning? Could our Christmas still have meaning if all the trappings and trimmings and frills were set aside for a day?
The manger signifies God’s empathy.
This past week I was at a store purchasing a gift. The place was packed. Everyone was impatient. The lines at the checkout were ten people deep. After waiting in line for ten to fifteen minutes, I put the gift I was buying on the counter. As the people stood behind me sighing, tapping their feet, checking their watches, and shifting their weight from one foot to another, the price on my merchandise came up thirty dollars higher than the price advertised. The guy behind the register panicked and said, "I don’t know what to do. I’m new."
Well, being in the Christmas spirit I graciously stepped out of line and went back to the shelf where I picked up the merchandise. I spared all those people the wait. As suspected, I was right about the price. The item was to be thirty dollars cheaper than what I was charged. I quickly grabbed a semi-intelligent looking guy and told him the price wasn’t coming up right on the register. Together we walked to customer service to get the right price. Well the service department didn’t cut us any slack. Even he had to wait in line some ten to fifteen minutes in order to get the price corrected.
While standing there the man said, "You know, we have been standing in line for quite some time so that you can save thirty dollars. I would have to work here 5 hours in order to earn what you are saving by standing in line thirty minutes. It would be so much better for me to have stayed on unemployment."
As we stood there I did my best to empathize with the man whose name was Ray. He was from Chicago and had lost his job. He came to Springfield hoping to find work, but cannot even make ends meet. I couldn’t do much for Ray, but one thing I did was empathize with him. I listened. I showed concern. I got to know him a little. He felt understood. I told him that the very same thing had happened to my dad recently, and that I understood something of what he was going through.
Christmas is about empathy. It is about us identifying with the needs of others, but it is also about God identifying with us in our need. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 2:17-18 (NIV) that, "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Because Jesus became like us in every way, he is able to empathize and identify with us and help us. God is not indifferent to us. He doesn’t apathetically watch us from a distance, turning a cold shoulder to our prayers and needs. He became like us to reassure us and to offer us a personal relationship with himself through faith. This is what the Christmas manger signifies.
The manger signifies hope.
Yesterday I shared a day with Lara’s family on her Dad’s side in southern Illinois. Lara’s grandmother Betty has been suffering with cancer for almost a year. Last week they did a CT scan and discovered that the cancer is spreading rapidly throughout her kidneys and liver. They estimate that she has about four months to live. The entire day she sat quietly in her chair and never got up even once. She seemed to be taking everything in, enjoying herself, but deep down knowing that her days were numbered.
As I sat next to her I kept trying to put myself in her shoes. This will be her last Christmas. What does she think about that? But then I thought, wait a minute. Some day I will be in her shoes. Some day I will have to face the reality that I may never see another Christmas with my family. I know what you are thinking. It is depressing to think about such things. But the fact that Christmas is approaching takes the sting out of such thoughts.
Christmas is about hope and promise. Christ came as a light shining in darkness to give us a hope beyond the grave and to conquer death by giving his life for all of us. That changes everything for all of us at Christmas.
At Christmas an ailing King Herod tried to suppress the truth of Jesus Christ. He violently attempted to make the first Christmas a Christ-less Christmas. King Herod never grasped the meaning of the manger. The manger never became a positive factor in his life. He never grasped its significance, its meaning, its generosity, its humility, its empathy, or its hope. King Herod so badly wanted to be king and to protect his kingdom that he missed the one true king and the greatest kingdom of all. He missed the kingdom of Christ.
This Christmas as you gather with your family, as you spread Christmas cheer, it is up to you to reject Herod’s godlessness by honoring the name of Christ. This Christmas I encourage you and your family to look toward the manger and embrace the true meaning of this Christmas season. Embrace the generosity of God, the humility of Christ, the empathy of God, and the hope of Christmas.