Paranoid King
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a madman and tyrant was on the throne. The king was Herod, also known as Herod the Great. Furthermore, the Roman Senate had made him the ‘King of the Jews’ because of his rule over the Jewish people. No wonder he became edgy when the Magi showed up looking for the Jewish king, but we’ll return to this in a bit.
Herod was a prolific construction builder. During his reign he initiated many elaborate and large-scale building projects. This included cities, fortresses, palaces and amphitheatres. In order to gain the favour of the Jewish people, who held him in contempt, he was responsible for the reconstruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
In one sense Herod brought some stability. The Jews were granted an official exemption status from the Roman state religion. This was in recognition that they would not conform to worshipping the pagan Roman idols. However, this privilege came at a cost with a specific punitive Jewish tax.
On the other hand, Herod was tyrannical and acted out of paranoia fearing that people were out to get him. He put to death leading rabbis and appointed his own High Priest for the new temple. In fits of rage he killed his wife, mother-in-law, three sons, and other family members. These actions caused even the emperor Augustus to say of him: ‘It is better to be Herod’s dog than one of his children.’
Slaughter of the Innocents
When the Magi from the East1 appeared looking for “He who has been born King of the Jews”, Herod’s paranoia was naturally triggered. He wanted to find out who this baby – and potential threat – was! After the Magi were divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, Herod fell into another rage and commanded that all the male children under the age of two should be put to death.
A Second Exodus – Jesus in Egypt
Joseph is instructed in a dream to leave the country and flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt. Why is this significant?
In his gospel account, Matthew goes to great lengths to show that Jesus’ birth, life and death, are rooted firmly in the Old Testament. In the first two chapters he highlights Jesus’ genealogy (He is the new ‘genesis’) and that He was born of a virgin (fulfilling Isaiah 7:14). He was born in Bethlehem (fulfilling Micah 5:1-2). And he was sought out to be killed by Herod (fulfilling Jeremiah 31:15). Now Matthew quotes Hosea 11:1, “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Matthew 2:15).
Jesus as the New Exodus & True Israel
It may seem strange that Matthew records this before Jesus even goes to Egypt. In Hosea 11 Hosea is explaining why God will soon punish Israel. God will punish Israel because even though God called Israel his son and brought him out of Egypt, Israel still rebelled against God. They are therefore going back into Egypt, the place of slavery and captivity to foreign rule, and wait for the Messiah to come and deliver them. When Jesus was born, Israel was still in captivity under Roman rule. Jesus going into Egypt is an advance sign of His purpose for coming to Earth in order to redeem and deliver mankind.
In completing and fulfilling the Israel story, Jesus becomes the new Exodus! In the first Moses is spared from Pharoah’s order that every baby boy be killed. Now, Jesus is spared Herod’s decree by hiding in Egypt. The work of deliverance that began in the Exodus of Israel is now brought to a climax with the birth and incarnation of Jesus Christ. God sends His Son to do what natural Israel could not do.2
He is the true Israel. The true Light of the World. The true Lord, Saviour, Redeemer and Deliverer. The true Emmanuel – God with us.
1 The Magi from the East are sometimes referred to as wise men or kings, and translated as astrologers or sorcerers. They probably came from Persia, but we don’t know how many made the long journey. Three is often assumed because of the three gifts that are presented to Jesus – gold (symbolising kingship), frankincense (deity), and myrrh (death). Contrary to the typical nativity scene, scripture highlights that they didn’t join the shepherds in a stable but they came to a house (Matthew 2:11), some time after Jesus’ birth but before he was two years of age.
2 Matthew continues to retell the story of Israel with Jesus as the true Israel. As Israel crossed the Red Sea after leaving Egypt, Matthew records Jesus’ passing through the waters in baptism. Just as Israel then spends forty days in the wilderness, Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days and nights. In Matthew 5-7, Jesus ascends a mountain and gives His Kingdom manifesto, a parallel to Moses’ giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.
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