The Baby versus the King: A Christmas Revolution

Herod thought he understood power.

For him, power meant control—the ability to force people to do what he wanted, whether they wanted to or not.

That’s the kind of power people expected when they looked for the Messiah. They envisioned someone who would crush the Romans, dominate their enemies, and restore Israel to glory. But instead of a conqueror, what they got was a baby.

The story of Herod and the baby Jesus reveals two very different ways of understanding how authority works. Herod relied on fear and force, the hallmarks of many strongmen throughout history. Yet the truth is, those who rely on coercive power never last. They come and go, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. In contrast, the baby in the manger demonstrated a power that endures forever—a power rooted in love and sacrifice.

Psalm 72 foreshadowed this revolutionary King, saying, “May the King’s name endure forever; may all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.” The wise men, coming from the east, understood something profound. They didn’t bow before Herod in his palace; they bowed before a toddler in a simple house. The Christmas star, a divine light in the sky, led them not to a throne but to a place of unexpected humility. Herod’s story is only remembered because it intersects with Jesus’. Herod is a bit player in Jesus’ story—not the other way around.

One of the things I love about the Bible is how the deeper you go, the more layers of meaning you uncover. The story of the wise men isn’t just a quaint Christmas tradition; it’s a call to see the revolutionary power of God’s plan. Jesus wasn’t found in the palace but in a house—probably a couple of years after his birth. The wise men bowed to a toddler, not a reigning king, showing that true power often looks completely different than expected. Their gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—symbolized Jesus’ kingship, divinity, and suffering. Their willingness to defy Herod and return home another way demonstrates the courage required to seek and follow the truth. The wise men remind us that following God’s truth often requires defying worldly authority and risking everything for what is right.

Herod thought he could secure his legacy by building a massive temple, one of the world’s wonders. Yet even that wasn’t enough to solidify his importance. In the end, the humble arrival of a baby in Bethlehem overshadowed all of Herod’s achievements. Herod’s paranoia drove him to massacre innocent children in a desperate attempt to maintain his grip on power. Yet, his kingdom faded into history while the name of Jesus continues to bring hope and transformation worldwide. Herod’s power was temporary, tied to his relationship with the Romans. In contrast, Jesus’ reign has strengthened over the centuries, and His name brings hope to every nation.

Psalm 72 doesn’t just describe a King whose reign will last forever and outlines the kind of leadership that pleases God. “He will rescue the poor when they cry to him. He will help the oppressed who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and needy and will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.” The Bible teaches that the glory of God is always reflected in how the weakest members of society are treated. Herod was all about Herod—his power was self-serving.

In contrast, Jesus embodied the glory of God, a glory defined by justice, mercy, and compassion. God’s choice to enter the world in vulnerability reminds us that true power isn’t about domination but about self-giving love. If you’ve ever felt unseen or misunderstood, you need to know this: your life is precious to him.

The Christmas story is deeply connected to the promises of the Old Testament. Psalm 72 takes the promise in Genesis 12—God’s call to Abraham to bless all nations—and shows that this King, Jesus, would fulfil that promise. The prayer of Psalm 72 is, “May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.” Most kings, like Herod, spent energy beating up bad guys and proving their dominance. Jesus, instead, came to lift the weak, redeem the oppressed, and bless the nations. The wise men’s journey shows us that authentic leadership isn’t about dominance but blessing others.

If there is a danger in our culture right now, it’s the modern heresy that says your source of truth is your internal feeling world. The whole story of the Bible, starting in Genesis 3, is about choosing God’s truth over our own. Herod believed his truth was the ultimate authority, but the baby showed us a better way.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer captured the true nature of Christmas better than anyone I know when he said, “Who will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, all honour, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger.” There are two approaches to the world. There is Herod’s approach, where you get as rich and as powerful as possible so you get to do what you want. Or there is the baby’s approach, which comes and stretches its arms open and demonstrates what love looks like.

This baby redefined what it means to lead, rule, and love. The name of Jesus has endured forever because it was never about domination—it was always about love. God chose to enter the world in the most fragile way possible, as a helpless baby dependent on human care.

Christmas isn’t just about looking back at what God did; it’s about stepping into the hope of what He’s still doing today. The Christmas story invites us to lay down everything that keeps us from the life Jesus offers. Bonhoeffer’s words echo through the centuries: “Lay it all beside the manger.” What are you holding onto? What ambitions, fears, or relationships need to be surrendered?

Herod’s way—the way of control and self-advancement—leads to emptiness. But the baby’s way leads to life. Christmas reminds us that God’s light is breaking through no matter how dark the world seems, offering hope and renewal. A baby redefined power, justice, and love.

The question is: will we follow him?