Herod the Great and Christ

Perhaps, a more cunning, clever, powerful and capable man could not have been found to contest God at His incarnation. Caesar reportedly said it would be safer to be a pig than one of Herod's sons. This is in reference to Herod having killed three of his sons in fearing a conspiracy and the fact that pigs are safe in "no pork-eating" Israel.

Recently, our Christmas season message on the KOSMOS brought to the surface the great contest between the "world" and Christ. Large signs on the sides of buses in the UK and on highway billboards across this country financed by atheist organizations declare, "Are you good without God? Millions are." 

This is a great time of year to recognize the conflict between Herod and Christ. Times have changed, but not the conflict. With all our hearts, we celebrate the great grace revealed to us sinful people through Jesus Christ. Not all hear as we are told, and we pity those embracing Herod's world, which will one day vanish like dust and wind. Where is he today? 

So we rejoice and weep. We rejoice for our salvation and the contagious sense of joy in our hearts. It is unbelievable, in a sense, that God would come to save us, but actually it is the only believable answer for our present state. Who has an answer for our sin? Who has an answer for death? Who has an answer for our loneliness and "lostness"? Only Christ. We weep for the blindness and the severity of those who are on the wrong side of the conflict.

Why is the world rejecting Him? Does He not bring to light, like no other, our motives? John 3:19 says, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Herod, threatened by the birth of another king, gave it his best shot. He ordered the murder of all children less than two years of age. 

We see the repetition of this murder through history. What desperation and insecurity! Are we surprised at what lengths the human heart will go to protect itself? Do we realize that Christ came for this reason - to save us from ourselves?

Shift to His side of the conflict. He is the Winner, the One and Only. Who else is there? "Merry Christmas!" could not be said with more passion, sincerity and love when we see Him in the context of this ongoing conflict.

Lord, please open eyes, ears and hearts this Christmas season. Bless our hearts with the joy of knowing what we have! It will then be shed abroad.