Too Much to Lose

Just a few weeks ago, I was writing about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, so I guess it should come as no surprise that reading about the visit of the Magi* I’m struck by the contrast between Herod’s and John’s responses to the coming of Jesus. After all, their situations have a striking parallel: both of them understand that they will be eclipsed in some way by Jesus. Both will see their own power and influence wane as Jesus’ star rises, but their reactions are nearly opposite: John stands by with humility and awe, while Herod starts immediately scheming, desperate to hang on to his position.

Maybe it’s not a fair comparison. Maybe John was raised with the knowledge of his important role in preparing the way for his cousin and thus had the opportunity to recognize the significance of his own life and work in the context of the greater plan, helping him to accept the inevitable. In contrast, the news was sprung on Herod by strangers who summarily announced that he was going to be replaced. Maybe if Herod could have seen the bigger picture, his reaction would have been different.

But perhaps their reactions differed because Herod just had so much more to lose. John was out in the wilderness living a bare-bones life, subsisting on what he foraged, proclaiming truth regardless of his audience and therefore running afoul of religious and political leaders alike. Meanwhile Herod was living his best life, enjoying as much luxury as he could while working away at building projects that would improve life for his subjects in Jerusalem and around Judea – and also perhaps burnish his legacy in the process.

When I look at my own life, I am forced to question whose story it resembles more: John or Herod? How might I be missing the good news because I, too, have too much to lose?