What Herod Didn't Know

When Jesus was born, wise men followed a star and came to Jerusalem, desiring to worship the King of the Jews. Herod became aware of this quest and took action. He researched to find out where the Messiah was to be born. He called the wise men to gather information, and he enlisted them as informants. When his surreptitious plans failed, Herod took drastic action, killing all male babies in the entire region.

Herod involved himself in this situation because he viewed Jesus as a threat. He did not understand all that was going on, but he had heard the disturbing news that a king of the Jews had been born. Placing some credence in this frightening report, Herod took steps to protect his position as king, probably believing he was saving his own life as well as those of his sons. It is not at all surprising that a king who felt threatened would take action, but Herod did not realize that his fears were baseless. Jesus was not a threat to him. Sadly, many babies died as a result of the perceived threat, and decades later Jesus Himself was killed because the idea of a threat persisted. The irony is that in contrast to being a threat, Jesus actually came to conquer the greatest threat known to mankind: death as the penalty for sin.

Jesus was not a threat to Herod's kingship at the time of His birth, nor was He a threat to Pilate or the Herod who ruled at the time of Jesus' death. Although there were people who wanted Jesus to be a revolutionary, He was not trying to take over any earthly position of leadership or government. Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting . . . but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm" (John 18:36). Only one of Jesus' followers made any attempt to defend Jesus with a sword, and Jesus promptly put an end to that (Luke 22:51). Jesus did not come to overthrow an earthly kingdom; rather, His reasons for coming were spiritual.

Jesus came not to harm, but to heal.

"For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" (Luke 9:56). "I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world" (John 12:47). "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:17).

Jesus came to perfectly fulfill the Law.

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17).

Jesus came to do His Father's bidding.

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38).

Jesus came to bring light.

"I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness" (John 12:46).

Jesus came to bring grace and truth.

"For this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth" (John 18:37). "Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).

Jesus came so that man can know God.

"And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true" (I John 5:20).

Jesus came to preach the message of salvation to sinners.

"Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God" (Mark 1:14). "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32). "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (I Timothy 1:15).

Jesus came to give His life as a sacrifice.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). "But for this purpose I came to this hour" (John 12:27).

Jesus came to give eternal and abundant life.

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever" (John 6:51).

Jesus came to reconcile man to God.

"He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:11-12). "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law" (Galatians 4:4-5).

There is only one aspect of Jesus' coming that could seem threatening. Jesus said, "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law" (Luke 12:51-53). Even in this scenario, Jesus is not a threat to any government or even to any individual. The negative consequences are not toward those who oppose Jesus, but rather a statement of realistic preparation for those who follow Him.

Far from being a threat, Jesus is the source of hope, life, redemption, freedom, and all that is good. Herod was unnecessarily frightened, but the coming of Jesus to earth ought not to bring any fear. Rather, with the knowledge believers have of Jesus' true mission, they can abundantly rejoice in the coming of the promised Messiah.