CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS - Herod

Herod the Great

One of the key players in the story of the arrival of God the Son on earth is King Herod. Although his part seems minor in the whole story and he is often overlooked I wanted to take a closer look at this man. The Bible refers to him as King Herod, history knows him as Herod the Great.

Herod was born in 73 b.c. to an Idumean man named Antipater and a woman named Cyprus who was the daughter of an Arabian sheik. Antipater became a political ally to Julius Caesar, for which he was rewarded with an appointment as regent and received the Roman citizenship in 47 b.c. He soon secured the appointment of his son Herod as governor of Galilee. 

In time despite his political savvy, Antipater was killed. But with some Roman help, Herod killed his father's murderer and was named king of Judea by the Roman Senate in 40b.c. By 37 b.c. Herod had crushed all opposition to his rule with Roman help. He was wealthy, politically gifted, intensely loyal, an excellent administrator, and clever enough to remain in the good graces of successive Roman emperors. He also patronized the Jews by directing money to their cities and towns. He remitted taxes on the people when the times where tight, and when a famine struck in 25 b.c. he melted down his own gold plate to pay for bread and other supplies for those who were in in need. The Jews never really accepted Herod because he was appointed as king by the Romans, yet he was not Jewish himself. Although his father had been a pious man and sincerely worshiped the Jewish God he was not Jewish so the Jews thought of him as impure and unacceptable as their king.

Caesar Augustus

Toward the end of his time as king he became suspicious to the point of paranoia of everyone around him including his own family. He executed his own sons, Aristobulus and Alexander, whom Antipater, his son by Doris, had accused of plotting to kill him. He also murdered his favorite wife Mariamne, her mother and later, his eldest son Antipater who was accused and convicted of having prepared poison for his father and executed. Before Herod died he gave orders to have the men of influence in the country arrested and brought to the hippodrome at Jericho and slaughtered as soon as he had passed away. He knew that no one would shed a tear when he died but he wanted to be sure that tears where shed when he died. His orders were not carried out and instead the Jews celebrated his death. Caesar Augustus, the Roman Emperor, who for years had confidence in Herod, finally acknowledged that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than his son.

When I think about the neurotic paranoia that Herod displayed towards the end of his time as king, the extreme to which he went to be sure his throne was secure, I have to wonder why God sent his Son when he did. Jesus could have arrived just a couple of years later and had the same impact. Maybe his father could have had cold feet and delayed the marriage for a season or two. Why did God send his son to the doorstep of a delusionally paranoid ruler? Of all the places and all the times Jesus could have arrived why at a time when the ruler of the region is likely to do whatever it takes to keep is kingship intact, including murder?

Upon reflection, I suppose God demonstrates that no matter how difficult the circumstances appear on the surface, no matter how unlikely the desired outcome seems, God is present in the difficulty and the darkness. When the angel appears to Mary, he says the baby who would be born would be called Immanuel, which means God With Us. God came to earth when times were tough so that humanity could feel his comfort in those tough times. God did not come when it would be easy, He did not come when he could have all kinds of fame and global name recognition through social media. He did not come at a time when there was some assurance that he would not face difficulties or challenges. He came in dangerous times, to no name parents, in a small hamlet of a town in an undesirable region.

All this so that you and I could know that no matter how small or seemingly insignificant we feel, and no matter how overwhelming the challenge may seem, God can say I know what it is like, I've been there. Whether it is cancer, or a pink slip, or another week of not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from the God of the Gospel is Immanuel. 

Jesus arrived at Herod's doorstep so that we could be assured that we won't go through anything that God himself would not also go through. Not only that, but He says he will go through it with us.

Just a Meandering Thought...

JUSTICE Part 1 of 2

Most of us would say that justice is a good thing; it is one of the values that make America, America. We want justice to be served. When we are wronged or a crime is committed what we want is justice. We want someone to be responsible for the wrongs, the injustices. Then we fight for justice. That is who we are as Americans.

When the towers fell on September 11th, 2001, the entire nation reeled at the massive injustice that had been brought to our soil. We grieved, we searched, we pulled away rubble, we sifted through ashes. Even if we did not personally know someone who died, we still somehow felt the gaping hole. In the days following we learned who was responsible and soon we were in the fight - for justice.

The last ten years will likely go down in the history books as a decade that America sought closure and justice. For the lives that were taken from us, we wanted justice; for the hearts that were broken for their loss, we wanted justice; for the nation that was attacked, we wanted justice; for the memories that were seared into our souls of two towers burning and collapsing, we wanted justice. On May 1st, 2011 justice was served with an American bullet (66 years to the day after Hitler died from his own bullet).

It has been said that justice is about giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. To the 2992 people who died in the attacks (minus the perpetrators) our voice on your behalf has been heard. We never forgot you. We all wanted justice for those who lost their lives. Yet if we were to receive justice ourselves for even the little things we have done we might think twice. Justice is a liberating event when you are the one wronged.

2000 years ago justice of a different kind was served with a cross and some nails. But you and I don't get justice, instead we get mercy. We don't get what we deserve, we get what He paid for. Because God never forgot or abandoned us. He hears the voice of those who call to him. I know this for sure, God is present in the places where injustice happens - to comfort those who have to walk that road. He sticks around to see that justice happens. Whether it is justice he accomplishes on our behalf, or just his presence in the stairwells of collapsing towers, God does not leave us but gives a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.

Just a Meandering Thought...

BARUCH

I have been doing a little reading on a Biblical character lately named Jeremiah. As an Old Testament prophet he is a fascinating character study. He told people what they did not want to hear, so almost no one wanted to be associated with him in any way. He experienced humiliation and agony for trying to make his point to people who were not even listening. All the other "prophets who were around in his day were presenting messages that contradicted his, which really made him look foolish. He was ridiculed, imprisoned, black listed and ignored for his very unpopular messages but for some reason he kept on going. Why??

There was one person who stood by his side - a little known character named Baruch. Baruch was the guy who wrote down Jeremiah's messages. When Jeremiah was in prison Baruch even carried the messages and read them aloud to their intended audience. Baruch is at least partly responsible for giving us the book of Jeremiah. Even though Baruch was just the writer/messenger he, at times, suffered side by side with Jeremiah. He experienced punishment he did not deserve because he chose to be associated with someone who was constantly pushing the envelope; he chose to be associated with someone who dared fierce obedience to God. Jeremiah suffered through some tough times, but he always had Baruch. I dare say that without Baruch, Jeremiah would not have been the prophet that we know today.

Moses had Joshua, Ruth had Naomi, David had Jonathan, Paul had Timothy, Jesus had twelve guys around him. It seems only right that we should not try to do this thing we call life on our own - separated from people who could carry us in those times when we cannot carry ourselves. We all need a Baruch in our lives who is there when no one else is willing to be there. Who do you have??

Just a Meandering Thought...