Herod and the Wisemen

As Herod entertained his next guests in his elaborate Roman palace, there is no question that what he heard next was not what he expected. These well-traveled, sandy star-gazers were claiming he was no longer the King. Rome had not informed him of this change, his kingship over Judea and subsequently the Jewish people had, up until that morning, been blessed by Rome. And yet as Herod hears the inquiry of the magi seeking to find a newborn king of the Jews, his heart is troubled. One is not simply born a king. It is earned. And now his throne is threatened.

Herod’s natural response to the magi is to devise a plan to protect his pride and power. After hearing that the magi had returned home another way after visiting the newborn king, Herod sanctions the death of young boys in the region. This is rightly condemned by our modern reading of the story, and yet, to Herod’s defense, it was done to protect his reign.

Not unlike Herod, the birth of Christ at Christmas marks the first return of the King of the universe to dethrone all of our desires to rule and reign. Hebrews writes that Jesus upholds the world by the word of his power. And yet, what little power and pride we have, we often hold on to and claim as our own, well-deserved and earned.

Perhaps remembering the birth of Jesus this Advent would cause us to see the King of Kings having come down from his throne to displace us all, claiming back what is rightfully his from eternity past. Perhaps we might consider that God incarnate means we are no longer the lord of our lives and that one way or another, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, will see to it that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that he alone is King.

Reflect:

1. What might you be holding on to this season that should be surrendered to the reign of King Jesus?
2. Herod’s desire to “come and worship” Christ masks his pride and jealousy towards Jesus. Why is it that you desire to come and worship Jesus this season?
3. King Jesus will return again one day to establish his kingdom forever. Have you bowed your knee in life to his rule and reign? Would you do this today?