A Lesson from Herod

The central focus of the Nativity is obviously the birth of Jesus Christ, however one of the other characters in the story that interests me is that of Herod in chapter 2 of the Gospel of Matthew. My interest in Herod comes primarily from my interest in politics and government.

In Matthew’s account, we read that Herod “was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him.” Although Jerusalem would have been concerned about the birth of the king of the Jews, because of the political turmoil of the time, Herod’s concern is presumed to be out of selfish ambition. The later actions of Herod (Matt 2: 16) to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem shows that he would go to any lengths to eliminate any challenges to his government. This action truly embodies the proverb: ‘Power corrupts; absolute power, corrupts absolutely.’

It is not surprising that we need to be very cautious of anyone who craves powers to the extent that they would do anything to maintain it. Yet in our own way, are we at risk of wanting to be so in control that we end up preventing Jesus taking his place as Lord and King in our lives? This control might be as simple as choosing to do something for ourselves rather than attending worship on a Sunday or hoarding up more evenings to ourselves rather than volunteering at the local youth club or other opportunity to serve.

Let us worship God instead through the words of Psalm 99: 1-3:

The LORD reigns,
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
Great is the LORD in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name—
he is holy.