A Tale Of Two Kings Series

The Imitation of Christ is a Christian devotional book written by Thomas Kempis, a man of German-Dutch descent who lived in the 15th century. The Imitation of Christ is perhaps the most widely read Christian devotional work next to the Bible, and is regarded as a devotional and religious classic. However, despite its popularity, one wonders how many people follow in imitation of Christ. A good way to answer that question would be to examine two kings—Jesus and Herod—and see who we imitate more.

Herod, also known as Herod the Great, was a Roman client king of Judea, which was often referred to as the Herodian kingdom. He has been variously described as a madman, a murderer, an evil genius, a criminal with unbounded ambition and a killer of innocents and they all stand true.

Herod possessed certain traits that are common to many highly ambitious men: a desire for power, possessions, and prestige.

Power, Possessions, Prestige.

Herod was a man who sought power. He had remarkable clarity of vision and purpose and was determined to become king. Using influence, some shrewd political maneuvering, and a great deal of savagery, he became governor of Galilee when he was only twenty-five years old, not a small feat by any means, especially given there were equally power-hungry men around him.

The Roman leaders noticed this ambitious young man and appointed him “King of the Jews”, putting him in charge of the Jewish population, believing that he would control them. And control them he did, often using ruthless and cruel measures. He thought nothing of killing anyone who stood in his way or opposed him.

In addition to a desire for power, Herod had an inordinate desire for possessions, constructing seven palaces for himself and filling them with every imaginable luxury and amenity.

He also set about rebuilding the Temple of Jerusalem, not so much because he was religious, but because he sought prestige as well. Marrying into seven wealthy families also helped him attain this and eventually he was called “King Herod the Great’, a title many believe he gave himself.

Paranoia

Paranoia is the natural consequence of any obsessive pursuit of power, possessions and prestige, especially when obtained through any means, and Herod lived a terrified life afraid that he would lose it all one day. It didn’t help that his father was poisoned and he believed that there were people out to kill him too. He probably wasn’t entirely wrong because he was a hated man. To protect himself, he had a personal bodyguard of 2,000 soldiers and secret police monitoring the feelings of the general population; he ruthlessly put to death anyone reported as conspiring against him.

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. And once attained it is like an addictive drug that one cannot live without. Look at any dictator, past or present, to see the truth of that assertion. They will do anything and everything to retain the power they have, even at the expense of countless innocent lives, including those near to them. Saddam Hussein put close family members to death because he was afraid that they were trying to kill him.

That’s why Herod tried to kill Jesus, which brings us to another king: Jesus. And what a study in contrasts he presents.

Jesus could have been born anywhere, to anyone. He could have been born to nobility and lived in the lap of luxury; after all he was the Son of God. But he chose instead to be born of a young woman who had no claim to fame in a town that nobody had heard about in circumstances that are best described as humble.

Why did he do this?

Because he wanted us to understand that his kingdom was not of this world (cf. John 18:36) and the principles in his kingdom were very different from those of the world. He would explain many of these principles in a wonderful sermon he gave on a mountain side. He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:3-11).

It was a stunning reversal of everything that anyone had ever believed in and for many he became the most dangerous person on the planet who had to be silenced. To a king who had murdered and manipulated his way to power he was dangerous from the time he was born.