The Prince of Peace subdued all nations under His feet by the rule of love. We who have grown up in the faith take for granted how absolutely absurd such a savior sounds to those who have only known the realm of human kingdoms. The recurring story throughout human history is that earthly dominion must be taken by force and lorded over the weak. The one who is worthy to rule prefers “to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking”1 because fear can be forced upon his subjects, whereas love relies on powers beyond his control.
The successful prince must, by any means necessary, maintain control of the state. This will make it necessary to flood public media with propaganda, to spy on citizens, and, at times, to break with conventional morality for the greater good. He will lie, steal, cheat, murder, and subject men to all manner of cruelty, if only to keep “the herd” in unity and at peace.2 At the same time, however, he must appear to be a religious man, full of mercy, who magnanimously rules only for his people’s happiness and comfort. Thus, he will be praised as a virtuous monarch, or even hailed as deity, by the masses. Only a very few will perceive that he is truly a despotic wolf in sheep’s clothing.
I know your mind wants to go to American politics (or is it just me?) but this is a reflection on Advent. Focus, people! The point is this: King Herod was the quintessential despot into whose kingdom the Christ-child was born. Less than two years later, news reached the king that magi from the east were inquiring about a “King of the Jews” who was born quietly within his sovereign realm. Taking a page right out of the despot’s playbook, Herod feigned devotion to this baby who is called “Christ” (“chosen/anointed one” – just hear that title through his ears!), the “Lord,” but with murder in his heart. When that lead ran cold,3 he issued a sweeping edict commanding all male children two years and younger in Bethlehem and surrounding districts to be put to death.4
Into this black-ink night stepped the light of the world. Many believed He would come wielding the sword and a superior sociopolitical clout. But His was a rescue mission first and foremost. And for that purpose, He assumed our flesh, sorrows, and temptations, committing no sin–even against the authorities who reviled Him, the Lord’s anointed. He did the impossible: He crushed the head of evil itself, satan, along with every earthly authority that lived under his curse of death by the rule of love.
He calls us to come to Him this day, and again with all His people on Sunday, not under threat of punishment but under the victory-banner of His love. We have a King who has conquered every power that would rise against us in this life and the next. And He has done it all for our good, unto the praise of His glory. Praise Him with me (in the words of Psalm 34):
1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Your brother,
Ryan
1 Machiavelli, The Prince, Chapter 17.
2 Nietzsche’s term.
3 As an aside, I think it’s an interesting rabbit trail to think about why God allowed the magi to raise Herod’s suspicions and only then sent an angel to rerout them. See Matthew 2.
4 “You must, therefore, know that there are two means of fighting: one according to the laws, the other with force; the first way is proper to man, the second to beasts; but because the first, in many cases, is not sufficient, it becomes necessary to have recourse to the second.” (Machiavelli, The Prince, Chapter 17)