Advent: December 18

Yesterday, we reveled in the fact that God was sovereign over all the details of the Christmas story. The Magi got just where they needed to be at just the right time. It may seem strange to acknowledge, but the Magi had somewhere else they needed to be before they could find the christ-child.

The first place they were ordained to be was in Jerusalem at the palace of Herod. It may have seemed to the wise men that they were off-track somehow. I’m sure it was strange to them that Herod, being the king of the area, had no idea what they were talking about when they asked about Christ's birth.

Shouldn’t he know that such a great king had been born here in this area? How does he know nothing about him?

There are six Herods in the New Testament, five of them are descendants of the first who is the Herod in the Christmas story. He was known as Herod the Great, though there was very little 'great' about him. 

Interestingly, Herod was from the Hasmonean dynasty, that is to say, he was a descendant of Judas Maccabee the pious Jewish revolter who cleansed the temple, destroyed pagan altars, and reestablished traditional Jewish worship after fighting the Seleucid armies. Hanukkah is the Jewish festival that celebrates the rededication of the temple and the lighting of the menorah that happened at this time.

Herod may have had a rich religious heritage but he, himself, was far removed from his ancestor's devotion to God. Herod was instead known as a Jewish puppet-king. At the time of Christ’s birth, he would have been in his late 60s, and suffering from deteriorating health. He had a reputation for cruelty and death, and did't hesitate in killing large groups of people anytime his throne was threatened. He killed family members(3 sons and his favorite wife) and anyone with any power to oppose him. 

In fact, it is an interesting note that Herod had once been called the “King of the Jews” in Rome. This was due to his relationship with Mark Anthony and Octavian Caesar when he was young. 

So when the wise men ask specifically, "Where is he who is born King of the Jews?" Herod naturally assumes they were speaking of himself. But they are not talking about Herod. They were looking for the Christ, a baby who would become a greater king than any who have ever been born; one who was prophesied to come and rule the whole world. Can you imagine Herod’s anxiety?

Verse three says, “The king heard this and was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. “

Why is Jerusalem troubled? 

Because they know their king and have suffered under him repeatedly. Herod was bloodthirsty and evil and would stop at nothing to protect what he sees as his- no -matter -the- cost. 

Can you feel the tension? It is as though everyone, even those closest to Herod, is holding their breath.