“Be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.” – Romans 13:4
Herod’s Sword of Authority
The magistrate has the privilege and responsibility of bearing the sword. The authority to expect submission and the power to enforce. If wielded according to God’s intention, the sword would be a source of protection to those that abide by the law and a deterrent to those that don’t. But when the wicked rule, chaos ensues.
The Sword and the Babies
“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men” (Matthew 2:16). If you like understatements, Herod the Great had issues. He had three of his sons put to death on suspicion of treason. He had ten wives and killed his favorite (wonder how he treated the others) as well as a mother-in-law. He invited the high priest down to Jericho for a swim and drowned him in a game of water polo (rough sport). He also killed several uncles and a couple of cousins. Augustus said of Herod the Great, “I would rather be Herod’s pig than his son.” Quite a character if his pigs had a longer life expectancy than his sons. Along come three wise men looking for the One who has been born King of the Jews. Herod is paranoid. When the wise men do not return to Herod with the whereabouts of Jesus, Herod becomes furious and orders the execution of the male babies. Innocent voices silenced by the sword of Herod.
“Weeping was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
The Sword and the Baptist
“He sent and had John beheaded in prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother” (Matthew 14:8). With the death of Herod the Great, the sword was passed to Herod Antipas. Antipas divorced his first wife and married the ex-wife of his half brother Philip. John the Baptist was outspoken in his condemnation of this arrangement, leading to his arrest. While his father struggled with depression and paranoia, Antipas struggled with sensuality and cowardice. Herod made a foolish oath. The temptress danced for him. John the Baptist was beheaded. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, silenced by the sword of Herod.
“What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.”
The Sword and James
“About that time, Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:1-2). The sword of Herod was now wielded by Agrippa. Agrippa was a nephew of Antipas. Although related, they were not on friendly terms (surprised?). Agrippa exposed his uncle as a conspirator and had him exiled, thus assuming his position. According to Josephus, Agrippa was “recklessly extravagant”. He was deeply in debt and arrested for a sum of money owed to the Treasury. His father Aristobulus IV was strangled at the order of his grandfather Herod the Great for fear of treason (alluded to above). It has been said that Herod Agrippa was raised with a strong Jewish identity. It is obvious that the Herod obsession with blood was prevalent with Agrippa. Perhaps seeing the young Church as a threat to peace, Agrippa arrested some of its members, including James. But this alone wasn’t satisfactory to Herod or the Jews he ruled. Herod thus had James beheaded, just as the Baptist was. The voice of a son of Thunder, silenced by the sword of Herod.
“And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed Him.”
The Sword and the Savior
“At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to Him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ And He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish My course” (Luke 13:31-32). Herod the Great put to death innocent babies with the sword. Herod Antipas put to death John the Baptist with the sword. Herod Agrippa put to death the Apostle James the Greater with the sword. When news came to Jesus that Herod Antipas wanted to kill Him, Jesus called him a fox and said that His work was unfinished. In the Jewish culture, a distinction was made between lions (great men) and foxes (lesser men). There was a famous expression in a Jewish Talmud, “There are lions before you, and you ask foxes?” A fox threatening the Lion of the tribe of Judah! Didn’t work so well for Herod. Jesus put him in his place. Tell that fox that while he is wielding the sword, I am casting out and curing. My end is in my own control. I will dictate how and when. Your sword may silence others, but it will never silence me.
“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!” – Luke 12:4-5
The Savior’s Sword
We are to respect Herod and his sword. We are to revere Jesus. We are to pray for Herod, we are to pray to Jesus. Herod can kill our body, Jesus alone can save our souls. Foxes like the Herods come and go, there is only one Jesus, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Because of the blood of Jesus, the babies of Bethlehem, John the Baptist, and James the Greater will spend eternity in Heaven. No more wicked rulers. No more chaos. No more tears for Rachel; her children live. The Baptist is in the presence of the water of life. James, the son of Thunder is before the throne from which come, “flashes of lightning, and rumbles and peals of thunder.” Herod may have a sword, but he will never have the last word.
“In His right hand He held seven stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full strength.” – Revelation 1:16
“The words of Him who has the sharp two-edged sword. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.” – Revelation 2:12b, 16