Herod: The Manipulative King of God's People

2. The “King” of God's people manipulated seekers of Jesus for the protection of his own reign.

3. Herod was the head of a “client state” “One of the most prolific users of client states was Republican Rome which, instead of conquering and then absorbing into an empire, chose to make client states out of those it defeated, a policy which was continued up until the 1st century BCE when it became the Roman Empire. Sometimes the client was not a former enemy but a pretender whom Rome helped, Herod the Great being a well-known example.” Herod was all about power, position and prestige Those who seek the Messiah must wade through a sea of manipulators.

4. How Herod came to power • The Romans had a special interest in Judea because their general Pompey the Great had conquered Jerusalem in 63 BCE, thus placing the region in the Roman sphere of influence. In Rome, Herod was unexpectedly appointed King of the Jews by the Roman Senate • Herod's father was an edomite, descendants of Essau, whose ancestors had converted to Judaism • Herod was raised a Jew

5. Herod held the title King of the Jews Herod had the ancestry and upbringing to be a God fearing Jew Herod was sought as the authority on Jewish matters by the Magi But Herod was a fake Herod was a leader of God's people without knowledge of God's revealed Word

6. 1. He pretended to want to worship the King 2. He had no desire to bow down to anyone else 3. Herod thought he could control the destiny of a “newborn king” 4. Herod spoke with his mouth but his life and actions didn't match his words. Herod was a fake

7. Mt 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

8. 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” NIV

9. Paid Pastors (I am one) Promoting the “successful” Very large churches can easily feel like a “kingdom” Climbing the denominational ladder “Church” becomes a job Crank out one more message, make one more call or run one more program It is easy to lose sight of the person who simply wants to meet Jesus There is a danger in the way we do church in North America

10. “We just want to see Jesus” Ego gets in the way “If you want to meet Jesus you need to come through me” “My baptism is the only baptism that counts” “I am the one who built this church” “People come to hear me” Power, position, prestige The pressure of Pastoring hugely successful churches has resulted in many disappointed followers

11. Just a few years after Herod's reign, Jesus formed the church; a new leadership of God's people

12. 1 Tim 3:1 Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. The “new” qualifications for a leader of God's people

13. not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. Not a recent convert Now the overseer is to be... • above reproach, • faithful to his wife, • temperate, • self-controlled, • respectable, • hospitable, • able to teach, • not given to drunkenness, • not violent but gentle,

14. Send them on their way? Arrogance? Or suspect? Just tolerant? Brushed off? How are seekers treated at Living Hope? • Willing to guide them? • Humble leadership? • Honored background? • Hospitable? • Treated gently?

15. Some are on a lengthy journey They use whatever guides they know to find Him They are willing to give all When they encounter those who represent Jesus, they sense “slickness” More and more are put off by the kingdom mentality They seek the unadorned, the quiet, the humble Wise men still seek Him! (and wise women)

16. It's about time, it's about changes and it's about time There's a light in the Vatican window for all the world to see And a voice cries in the wilderness and sometimes he speaks for me I suppose I love him most of all when he kneels to kiss the land With his lips upon our Mother's breast he makes his strongest stand Lyrics by John Denver

17. So What? • It's about time for the church to repent of it's corporate, kingdom mentality (not of size) • It's about time for the church to repent of arrogance • It's about time for the church to welcome and assist seekers • It's about time for the church to welcome people from foreign lands It's about time for the leaders to bow before the king that seekers discover