Paranoid and Power Hungry: King Herod
Read: Matthew 2:16-18
As word of Christ’s birth spread, not everyone was thrilled with the news.
When the wise men showed up at King Herod’s palace, inquiring about the location of the new King of the Jews, Herod was disturbed. He liked being king, and he thought he was good at it. He was proud of the temple he’d built and of the fortresses and cities he had constructed. He liked ruling over others, and he had a history of ensuring that no one could take that power from him.
So Herod plotted in secret to find this new King in order to remove the threat to his power. “When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him,” he told the wise men (Matthew 2:8).
They didn’t, and Herod couldn’t track down the child. He was jealous at the thought of a new King who might someday unseat him from his throne. This led him to order a horrific slaughter of all the boys under age 2 in the area of Bethlehem.
And this is why Jesus had to come—so that humans might be rescued from sin and darkness forever.
Reflect
In a way, Jesus is a threat to everyone. He threatens your desire to be in control, to be the kings and queens of your own lives. You either let Him be Lord, or you try to remove His influence, to your own detriment.
Pray about It
Ask God to reveal the areas of your life in which you don’t really want to give up power and to help you trust in His will and His ways.