Disturbed King

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. (Matthew 2:3)

The scripture says Herod was “deeply disturbed” when he heard the news from the star scholars who had traveled to Jerusalem from regions far east of there. Why?

As the story unfolds it becomes obvious: because some unknown baby (no one had told King Herod this was coming!!) was going to be king. In his territory. Over his kingdom.

So after initial research with the scholars and experts to find out where Messiah would be born, he took steps to wipe out that possibility. Ruthless steps, including infanticide like the world has rarely seen.

He couldn’t accept God’s plan; it didn’t mesh with his plan.

He couldn’t accept God’s announcement that this would happen. There was no place for a known rival.

He didn’t understand that the baby King Jesus was ruler of a kingdom that he would later say was “not of this world.” Herod heard “king” in one context, and that meant of an earthly, political kingdom. So, Herod would be opposing a king of an entirely different realm.

Makes me think: in not using the term ‘disturbed’ as mentally ill, but as ‘genuinely upset’, how does the Christ Child disturb people today? They can’t accept him; he doesn’t fit their plan for their lives or their own scholarly or philosophical position. Makes me think of the guy on a talk radio show this week that I heard saying that “Christianity is a fairy tale”. Is he sure about that?

One way to “take care of Jesus” (which is a historically failed plan of action) is to approach him like this: “Jesus is planning to upset the apple cart (of our lives) in a big way; so let’s stop Him and we won’t be upset!” (Really? And be sure and tell us how you are planning to stop him.)

I speak here rather directly, and I do so I believe, with a heart of compassion for those who oppose him in our current times. I’m convinced there are many such people in the world. We need to be careful, friends, how we respond in a “disturbed way” to the Creator of the Universe who voluntarily became one with us in humanity, and whose kingdom “is not of this world.” It’s hard to believe, but he actually invites and welcomes our questions and any list of things we don’t understand or accept. The Creator God is not afraid of or resistant to the arguments of the ones he created. It’s helpful to remember that the One with whom we argue, is, as C.S. Lewis said, “the One who gave us the very ability to argue.”

We’ve got to be careful not to succumb to what I call the Herod Syndrome; that is the mental condition in which we reason that if we can just shut down Jesus, we can get on with our lives with us being in charge. There is no historical proof that has ever been successful. I wouldn’t advise trying it.

What I would advise is to take the opposite approach of Herod: find the King Jesus, embrace the King, worship the King, follow the King. There is no genuine peace on earth for us until we do.

“Father, please keep us from falling into any mindset that opposes you and your plan and your work!”