Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:1-6)

Matthew chapter two gives us the tale of two kings. In the first part of that chapter, we are introduced to Herod the Great. Herod served as king of Judea under the rule of the Roman Empire. To solidify his position, he married a woman from the family of the previous Judean rulers who had been quite popular. The marriage didn’t last as Herod had her executed because she was more popular than he was. He also had three of his own sons imprisoned and executed.

He was, it appears, very paranoid about losing his power and was willing to go to great lengths to keep it. We see that on full display in Matthew chapter 2. As the magi come and inquire about the one who was born “The King of the Jews,” Herod begins to seek a way in which to prevent this new king from ruling. He planned to use the visitors from the east to find the location of this new king so he could put a stop to this. When that plan failed, he ordered the execution of all male children in Bethlehem who were two years old or younger.

Matthew also introduces us to a completely different kind of king. This king was born to two very ordinary, poor Jewish people, a teenage girl and her betrothed husband. This king arrived without a lot of fanfare, was born in a room with the animals and had a manger for his first bed.

The contrast between these two kings could not be starker. The types of lives they inspire could also not be more different. The choice that we have is which of these two will serve as the model for our lives.

The Herod model is one of holding on to our own authority and power by all means necessary. It is one that fits nicely into our need for control. It is one that will use religion, and/or religious people to accomplish our own ends. And it is one that leaves a lot of damage in its wake.

The Jesus model is quite different. To follow him means giving up our control and putting our lives under his authority. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

It is a life of humility and looking out for the good of others, all others, even our enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers,what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

It is a life that calls for us to be completely different from the world around us. It is a life that calls for us to look at things in an entirely different way. From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”(Matthew 4:12)

It is the only life that offers real hope. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:38-39)

The choice seems pretty clear. We can remain on the throne and continue to seek our own power and control. That way didn’t end well for Herod, and it won’t for us either. Or, we can humble ourselves and put our lives under the control of Jesus, allow him to lead and to change us, to be truly human the way God intended and have real hope. Which will we choose?