December 1998 Issue

Matthew 2:1-23

There are two sides to a coin and two sides to every story. And there are two sides to Christmas. One side is the loving side with its story of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and Anna. The other side is the hateful side. That's the side most of us preachers are mute about. After all, at this special time of the year, who wants to talk about the innkeeper, Pharisees, and nasty old King Herod?

Yet their story is a portion of the Christmas narratives, included there by God because there is light in it. So, to make our Christmas bright, let's take time to study Herod and the other side of Christmas.

Who Was Herod?

First, let's ask who Herod was. His name is not Jewish, as one might expect, but Greek. It means "sprung from a hero."

When Rome conquered Israel in 70 B.C. there was a scramble by local leaders for power in the new and Roman political order. In 63 B.C. one named Herod rose in the ranks, ruling until his murder in 43 B.C. This first Herod had established his two sons in government. Upon his death, a son of his took charge. Ruling between 37 and 4 B.C. the son became Herod the Great. So successfully did he court Roman favor that he eventually presided over all Jewish territories and was given the right by Rome to be called "King of the Jews."

This Herod was a grand builder. He added on to the temple in Jerusalem, built a shrine over Abraham's tomb, and erected magnificent palace-fortresses in Jericho, Bethlehem, at Masada, and in Jerusalem.

Historians teach that Herod the Great was absolutely unscrupulous in matters of his own interest and security. For instance, Herod executed one of his wives and two of his sons because he thought they might threaten his rule. A contemporary joke had that it was safer to be one of Herod's dogs than one of his sons.

A modern psychiatrist examining Herod concluded that he was really a paranoid with two souls. On the one hand he had the soul of a modern ruler, cultured in Greek civility, and longing to retire to the wilderness to reflect. After all, every palace-fortress he built was on the edge of the desert. His other soul was that of a despotic ruler with messianic aspirations.

So, what do we know of Herod? His father was murdered. He was a Roman puppet king ruling Israel for Caesar between 37 and 4 B.C. His Jewish followers were called Herodians, materialists really, who believed that by collaborating with Rome they could at least get on in the world.

So, it is against this backdrop that the Christmas story begins with the visit of the wise men. And now we turn from who Herod was to what it was that Herod did during Christ's nativity.

What Did Herod Do?

In the second chapter of Matthew's gospel wise men came from the east saying, "Where is he who is born the king of the Jews?" Can you imagine blundering before a paranoid despot to ask a question like that? Definitely not too wise!

"We have seen his star," the visitors continue.

"Star?" Herod reddens. "Star? He gets a star at his birth? Even I didn't get a star!"

So, this king who'd already murdered his wife and two sons because they threatened his throne is confronted with yet another crisis.

Matthew 2:3 says Herod was "troubled" and all Jerusalem with him.

In case you haven't guessed it, the wise men were really not wise men at all, but likely something like astrologers. Probably practitioners of the Zoroasterism religion. From their flat-topped pyramids called ziggarets in Iraq and Iran many astronomers today believe they witnessed a comet or planetary conjunction or even something especially sent by God which lured them curiously to Jerusalem to ask questions.

Actually, we are never told how many wise men came. Tradition has it that there were three, largely because of the three gifts given the Christ child.

At any rate, when the wise men venture before Herod and unwittingly inquire, "Where is he born king of the Jews? We have seen his star and come to worship him," Herod became cat-like in his cunning.

So, assembling his priests and scribes he asks where the Jewish Messiah King is to be born. His scholars answer him from Micah 5:2. In Bethlehem, and that is only six miles away!

Then in verse 7 Herod secretly summoned the wise men asking what time the star appeared. The secrecy was to keep from the public the idea that there was any other king in his region.

"Go! Search! Find him," Herod urges. "And when you've succeeded, bring me word that I, too, might come...and...worship him!" So, add this to Herod's character profile. He is a liar!

The wise men go to Bethlehem, find the nativity, and worship the child, giving him rich gifts. Gifts which, by the way, Joseph was to perhaps use to pay for his family's unexpected trip to Egypt.

Being warned in a dream, the wise men do not return to Herod, but go home by a different way. Herod, when he realizes he's been duped, becomes "enraged." Not only can he not control his temper, the man is totally irrational. After all, he is an old man king who will be dead inside two years. Why should he be threatened by a newborn baby who, if he does indeed become a king, will do so long after Herod is gone. Nevertheless, Herod is "troubled" and "enraged."

Add this to Herod's character profile: He is a murderer. Not just of wives and sons. But of innocent babies. For he sends his soldiers into Bethlehem and has them kill every male child from birth to two years, probably 18 or more children by best estimates.

Why Did Herod Do It?

So far we've asked, who is Herod? And what did he do? Now, we must ask, why! "Why did Herod do these things?"

Zoologists point out that animals have what is called a fight-flee line. If you approach a bear in the woods he will likely run from you. You've crossed his flee line. But if you somehow manage to sneak closer to him, when he sees you, instead of running, he will turn and attack you. You've crossed his fight line.

We, too, as humans have our own sense of turf. I'm thinking of the business world and a certain man in the lighting fixture business. When a rival store opened, the man felt threatened. So to protect his turf, he attacked. Discovering who leased to the rival, he secretly bought the building, refused to renew the lease, and thus put his competition out of business.

It is the same in ministry as well. You've a jewel of a ministry going on campus or in a prison. Then another group begins and you feel threatened so you begin to criticize, to slander. What we are doing is protecting our turf.

Now with all this in mind, understand that of all else Christmas is, it is primarily an invasion of your and my privacy. It is God becoming flesh, walking onto our turf, crossing our fight-flee line. God comes threatening our little kingdoms, encroaching on my time, talents, and resources. Jealousy is not an uncommon response on our part.

It's like five-year old Tommy who was asked about his new baby brother. "He's got Mom's eyes, Daddy's forehead, and my bed!" Tommy said.

The key to understanding Herod's response comes in understanding stewardship. Is all this mine or does it actually belong to God?

Scripture is quite clear. Everything I have came from God, it is God's right now, and it will most certainly return to God. Therefore, I possess nothing. I only manage all of this for the Lord.

That means I hold all things in an open palm. But when I begin to squeeze it, to mutter the word "mine," then is my soul in danger.

Such was the soul of Herod the Great, and such is the history of the human race.

The Bible opens with individual sin rebellion against God's authority. Next, entire families rise in rebellion against God until only Noah's family is saved. Next it is city-states covetous to possess it all. Nimrod and his nation say, "Come, let us make a name for ourselves and build a tower to the heavens!" Sadly, the Bible ends with Armageddon and the nations of the world assembled to fight against God's rule.

Like animals, we have our fight-flee line. When God the Lord approaches, we run or fight! Adam and Eve ran. Jonah ran. Israel wrestled with God. So did Herod. Like an irrational animal devoid of all spirit, Herod fought to save his little physical kingdom from encroachment.

Aren't We Each Like Him?

The Herods still walk among us today in the great and small. World leaders are sparring for control. Even religious empires slander and unleash murderous emotions when turf and contributors and allegiance are at stake.

I saw a sign in a business office recently. It read, "In the end cunning and ruthlessness will overcome ability and youth." You see wherever people get together there is a pecking order, turf, little kingdoms of self, and conflict between who will rule.

The Bethlehem innkeeper was making money off the big crowd come to town for the census. He was raking it in, building up his own little empire so that he had no room for a peasant woman and a carpenter.

Herod was ambitiously expanding his reign. Two kings would never do. One would have to go. Most certainly!

Lest you grow discouraged entirely with those who fight or flee God's incarnation among us, let me hasten to point out that there are those who welcomed Jesus, who loved his appearing.

John the Baptizer is one. He'd attracted a huge crowd when his cousin Jesus began his own ministry. Suddenly most of his followers went over to Jesus. "What will you do?" John was asked by a disciple. John replied, "He must increase while I must decrease."

Barnabas is another. Acts tells us he was sent out along with Paul on the first mission journey. Barnabas in charge, they first went into his own country, the island of Cyprus. But by the end of the mission journey, Paul, the assistant, became the primary leader. For the good of the kingdom of Christ, Barnabas moved over.

Then there are the wise men, three kings of the east. They sought Jesus! Think of it. A king seeking another king that he might worship him! Upon finding him, they gave him gifts —gold, a present fit for a king; frankincense, a gift due a priest; and myrrh, an offering used to anoint the dead. Again, we actually see persons loving Jesus, giving up their own turf to his rule!

Conclusion

So, we've asked who was Herod? What did he do? Why did he do it? And we've come to the inescapable conclusion that each of us is more like him than we at first might like to admit.

Yet the fact remains. God's kingdom has come to the kingdoms of this world. God has invaded our turf, crossed our fight-flee line.

And what shall we do? Fight? Flee? Or love?

Did you hear about how Wally ruined the Christmas play over at the Christian Academy last year? Little eight-year old Wally and the part of the innkeeper. So when Joseph and Mary knocked on his door late one night saying, "We need a place to stay," Wally responded with a well-rehearsed, "I'm sorry! There is no room; you'll have to move on!"

Then Joseph argued, "But my wife is expecting a baby!"

"Move on!" Wally sternly recited.

Then as Joseph put his arm around Mary's waist and together they slowly began to walk off, little Wally's eyes welled up with tears, "Wait! Wait!" he called after them. "Don't go! You guys can have my room!"

So, may it ever be in your life, in my life, this Christmas season, and everyday throughout the year.

Stephen M. Crotts