* * *
Herod had, with the help of the Roman empire, taken the title of King for himself, and wasn’t about to let anything (even God’s plans) get in the way of his own.
* * *
In about 37 BC the Romans gave Herod the title King of the Jews. At that time Herod was by no means the King of the Jews, Judaea was ruled by the Parthians, but the Romans wanted it for themselves. They recognised Herod’s military charisma and skill and used him to conquer Jerusalem for themselves.
Having received the title from the Romans, Herod, armed with ambition, political will, his military skills and Rome’s backing made the title effective after three years of intense fighting. He was a self made King, governing Judea on Rome’s behalf for 33 years as a ‘loyal friend and ally’ of Rome.
Although he had a good relationship with Rome, he was never really accepted by the people of Judea as their King – for all 33 years of his rule he would have to use all his military might and some of his political wisdom to keep the peace in Judaea.
So he ruled with an iron fist, squashing quickly any signs of rebellion.
* * *
Herod also cleverly used religion in an attempt to gain favour with the people, and with Caesar, he was Jewish among Jews – but when he travelled to foreign lands he took their religions as his own… What he did – it seems he did for the sake of appearance.
He even went so far as to build the magnificent temple at Jerusalem, the remains of which still stand in Jerusalem today.
In spite of his political efforts to befriend some of the Jewish people – he remained very unpopular…
* * *
Herod had many enemies, and he suspected many more people of being his enemy – probably with good reason. He even had two of his sons killed whom he suspected of plotting against him.
Considering all this – it comes as no surprise that he ordered the murder of children in Bethlehem, the place from which Micah prophesied the Messiah would be born.
* * *
The mention of the infamous King Herod, the murder of the children of Bethlehem, and Jesus’ narrow escape set the scene for the gospel which Matthew writes.
Matthew is showing that something new is happening in the world – as John the evangelist says: “A light shines in the darkness…”
Something new is happening – and not even the murderous, powerful and infamous Herod the Great is going to stop it.
* * *
Today we baptised three children… In baptising them we acknowledged that something new is happening in the world… We (the church and their parents) promised to help raise them to be followers of Christ.
* * *
I am not sure whether they have been born into a world that is any crazier or less crazy than the world into which Jesus was born…
There are still people like Herod around, clinging to power at the expense of others – even killing them to get their way.
Sometimes directly – in the case of violent dictators and warlords, sometimes indirectly – as people continue to ignore the plight of the environment in order to make bigger profits; as we ignore the widening gap between rich and poor – one which future generations will be left with the burden of mending.
On the other hand, in spite of all the evil that is around there are still people like Mary and Joseph. People who would go to any length to protect their children – to bring them up in such a way that they become ‘light’ for the world rather than darkness.
In obedience to angels who guide them Mary and Joseph travel into exile to protect their child; even though they are poor and it is incredibly difficult they move from place to place in order to protect the precious gift of Jesus Christ who is the hope of the world.
* * *
As I read this text I ask who are we going to be in this story? I know most of us would choose to be the angels that appear to Joseph, commenting from the sidelines telling him what to do and where to go.
Perhaps some of us would like to be Jesus, at this stage of his life – nurtured and held… but I don’t think these parts are open to us.
Perhaps we need to think critically about the role that each of us will play…
Will we be like Herod in this nativity scene – or will we be more like Mary and Joseph?
* * *
It may seem a bit harsh to compare ourselves to a villain like Herod; surely none of us are that evil?
But quite simply, Herod is busy with his life, doing what he knows how to do and he is extremely good at it (in his own terms – very few Kings managed to rule a nation like Judea and all the territories his Kingdom encompassed for as long as 30 years).
Herod is successful because of his stubborn resolve to do what he wants to do – so when he hears rumours that God is doing something new, that God has other plans for his Kingdom – he immediately sets out to squash them…
Herod has his own idea about what he should be doing – and holds no room for God and what God might be doing.
His response is a lot more violent and less subtle than ours would be, but what he does is simply set out to destroy what God was trying to do.
* * *
If we put Herod’s actions in this light we realise that we are a lot more like him that we would like to think.
When has God been doing something in our lives and we have simply said “No – I will have nothing to do with it…” and shut those doors.
When have we sensed God calling us to do something, to say something, to be something; and we have simply rejected the notion – unwilling to make the sacrifices that obedience requires.
Perhaps the Herod in us – is that part of us that simply doesn’t want to hear what God is doing and do what God calls us to do. It’s that part of us that prefers to maintain the status quo without risking our own comfort.
Maybe we’re more like Herod than we thought.
* * *
On the other hand Mary and Joseph are willing to have their lives turned completely upside down with the arrival of Jesus… not only do they have a new baby to care for (which is difficult enough), but this baby has powerful enemies and they have to go on long and inconvenient journeys – living in a foreign land as refugees – in order to protect him…
For Herod who is rich and powerful it is easy to avoid inconvenience – he simply destroys (or tries to destroy) those things or people that threaten to inconvenience him and his plans.
For Mary and Joseph – it is the opposite – they humble themselves and do what god has called them to do. Their obedience to God is the action that allows Jesus to grow up to be who he will be; the one whom God has created him to be.
Instead of using their power and stubbornly refusing to hear God’s call, Mary and Joseph are simply obedient… nurturing what God is doing, instead of setting out to destroy it.
* * *
I wonder how often we as church have not been the nurturing community that we are called to be – but instead we have acted more like Herod and destroyed the dreams and calls which God has placed in our and other people’s hearts?
I wonder if we can learn to be a bit more humble and flexible like Mary and Joseph, going where we’re called to go – nurturing the precious gift which God has given us this Christmas?
* * *
Parents who’s children were baptised this morning – will you be nurturing people to your children, growing them up, allowing them to be the people that God has created them to be?
As a church who has received these children – will we do all in our power to nurture them to be the people that God created them to be – to help their parents do what they have promised to do?
* * *
When we learn to act a little more like Mary and Joseph – nurturing what God is doing, and a little less like Herod – so obsessed with power and the status quo that we destroy what God is doing – then I believe we will begin to see the Kingdom of God in this place.
Amen
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