King Herod, who ruled Judea when Jesus was born, was a brutal man who killed his father-in-law, several of his ten wives, and two of his sons. He ruthlessly suppressed any challenge to his rule. Herod’s heavy taxes, used to pay for lavish projects, forced an unfair burden on the Jewish citizens who were in a state of groaning over the oppressive Roman rule.
To top it all off, when Herod heard that a king had been born in Bethlehem and realized that three wise men from the east weren’t going to oblige him, he became so exceedingly angry that he sent soldiers to put to death all the male children in Bethlehem who were two years of age or younger.
One has to ask, why the rage? Why the anger over Somebody who claimed to have authority from an invisible Kingdom, but who also said to his followers, “Put your sword into the sheath”?
Why the antagonism towards One who told His followers, who wanted to call down fire upon Samaritans of a certain village, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of”?
Why the bitter venom towards One who was to simply “go about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil”?
I believe that Jesus was a threat to Herod’s kingdom, as He is to all tyrants who have been motivated by the love of power. Conversely, Jesus is motivated by the power of love.
In Herod’s kingdom, authority was based on controlling others. In Jesus’ Kingdom, authority is based on serving others. In Herod’s kingdom, greatness was determined by how many serve one. In Jesus’ Kingdom, greatness is determined by how many one serves.
In Herod’s kingdom, trust was put in the power of the sword. In Jesus’ Kingdom, trust is put in the power of the cross. Herod’s kingdom sought to control human behaviour through intimidation and domination. Jesus’ Kingdom seeks to transform lives from the inside out.
Herod’s kingdom was based on force. Jesus’ Kingdom is based on consent. Herod’s battles suppressed human enemies and battled other humans. The adherents of Jesus’ Kingdom were taught to love their earthly enemies and to bless those who cursed them, to wrestle only against the cosmic spiritual powers of this present darkness.
Christians are never to impose their faith, but are to bring the internal government of God based upon serving others into the external authority structures of our land, which are impersonal and control people from the outside in.
Jesus could easily have chosen to become a political and military leader to throw off the Roman yoke by force. Instead He chose to trust His Father to ultimately give Him the kingdoms of this world by way of the cross and transformation from within. May we choose Christ, and honour the King of kings, this Christmas.
