what did he say?

I was absent from my home church this morning due to my niece's baptism. In the sermon the phrase "put the 'Herod' back in Christmas" ushered from the lips of God's servant. My ears perked up almost instantly.

Typically we hear people talking about putting Christ back into Christmas instead of "replacing" Him with a subtle X. (Personally I see no problem with the X because long before people used it to "remove" Christ, X was understood to be an abbreviation for "chi," which stands for Christ in Greek. The X simply made copying easier for the scribes in the olden days. I actually find the use of the X in today's culture to be rather ironic. God must chuckle when we do things like this with the mindset that somehow we have finally fooled Him. Ah, the foolishness of man.) Anyways, putting Herod back into Christmas seems awfully close to heresy or some other gross error. He was a wicked tyrant who killed multiple members of his own family in order to preserve his kingship. Why would a tyrant be an important piece to remember in the Christmas story (and the redemption story at that)?

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. ~Isaiah 9:6-7

One sentence interpretation: Jesus Christ came, lived, left, and will come again as King, the only King. Matthew tells us that Herod knew this. He decision to put to death all males born in Bethlehem was a reaction of terror and fear. He feared the One "born king of the Jews." This King would overthrow Herod before Herod knew what hit him. Obviously, Jesus did not lead a revolt against the established authority, but He did something much greater. He life, death, and resurrection placed Him as King over all of creation once and for all, subsequently declaring every earthly authority utterly powerless against Him.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~Philippians 2:9-11

This King is the one born to a virgin and placed in an animal's feeding trough. To an extent our reaction should equal Herod's. Our hearts should tremble at the coming of this King. He may seem weak, but the Bible is clear about His absolute sovereignty over all creation (see Colossians 1:15-20). This includes the lives of both those who submit and rebel against Him. For those who submit, how much of your life do you allow Christ to reign over, all or parts? He's not a King who shares authority, but demands all of it. He is deserves that much considering who He is AND all that He has done for His rebellious people. For those who rebel, would you rather submit to His Kingship now or when you have no other choice? As stated by Paul in the above passage, all will recognize His Kingship. It's simply a matter of when.

So in this Christmas season, let us rejoice that Immanuel (God with us) has come. We no longer must live under the yoke of sin and slavery. Let us also confess where Christ is not King in our hearts and start living as if He was. Then let us rejoice because His Kingdom is forever, and He is a good, gracious, and loving King.