The Magi Re-visited

There's more to the story of Herod and the Persians who came to see Jesus than has ever been explained to me. Understanding the back story, as writers call it, makes the story so much easier to understand.

Twenty plus years before the magi walked into Jerusalem Herod had a run-in with the Persians. (By the way, Parthians and Persians seem to be synonymous.) Apparently, Jewish loyalists who were trying to get rid of Herod and his family enlisted the help of Persians. In the process Herod got out of Jerusalem while the getting was good and headed straight for Rome. He convinced the Roman Senate to acknowledge him as king of the Jews.

Of course, once Herod return to Judea he had to fight some battles for the right to keep the title. By battles, I mean he killed those he felt were a threat to his title, including two of his sons.

Some versions read that the magi came asking for the ‘true’, or ‘legitimate’, King of the Jews. I would bet that Herod was livid and saw these rich men with their rich gifts as a slap in the face. You see, in those days, it was considered good and proper to bring gifts and greetings to a new king. To not do so was quite an insult, a slap in the face so to speak. Considering Herod’s history with the Persians, we can assume they didn’t bring him any gifts when Rome gave him his title. Thus, the country had already previously given him quite an insult.

Yet, he put on a happy face and told them he wanted to also acknowledge this new king. Notice he did not go with them. I always wondered why he didn’t go with the magi and find out where Jesus was himself. How easy would that have been for him? Now, I know, that would have meant he was accepting Jesus’s place as King of the Jews.

Can you imagine how different things would have turned out if Herod had gone with the wise men? Herod would have lost his power...the people would have revolted against him...placing Jesus in the palace...Joseph, Mary, and Jesus would not have redeemed the stay in Egypt....Jesus would not have been raised in the quiet countryside away from the politics of Jerusalem...crucifying Jesus would never have happened. He would only have been God Incarnate. He would not be our Sacrificial Lamb understanding all the ways men fight temptations and deal with the struggles of life.

How awesome to have a friend like Him who choose to take the hard road for the greater good.