Of Jesus' birth and leaders who still behave like King Herod

What is political power for? What is its essence? What qualities should a leader have? These and many other questions will be the subject of homilies across many Christian traditions that celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the Counsellor, the Lord, the King of Kings. But let me stay with the concept of “King.” Who is a king?

A king is a leader. He has powers over people. He is well protected. A king makes major decisions that affect millions of people. Just one decision can bring joy to millions of people. But a king’s one decision can also bring misery to tens, hundreds, thousands or even millions of people. Here is a historical example.

Herod was the Roman-appointed King of Judea when a baby boy named Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in a manger. This poor couple lived in a foreign land. The child was delivered as they were on a journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. This journey was prompted by a decree from Caesar Augustus requiring a census of the entire Roman world (Luke 2:1-5). Being of the house and lineage of David, Joseph had to return to Bethlehem, the city of David, to be registered. During this time, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:6-7).

An angel of the Lord first announced the birth to the shepherds. The shepherds quickly made haste to pay homage to the child, whom they had been told would be a King. So, they brought with them gifts. Upon getting to Jerusalem, they did not know exactly where the child Jesus was. They had to ask.

Herod the Great, King of Judea, felt threatened when the Magi—wise men from the East—arrived in Jerusalem asking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). Disturbed by the news of a new king, Herod summoned the chief priests and teachers of the law, who confirmed that the Messiah was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Herod deceitfully asked the Magi to locate the child and report back, pretending that he too wished to worship Him.

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The Magi, guided by the star, found the baby Jesus with Mary in Bethlehem and overjoyed, worshipped Him, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:9-11). However, being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi returned to their country by another route. Enraged by their failure to report back, Herod ordered the Massacre of the Innocents—killing all male children under two in Bethlehem and its vicinity (Matthew 2:16). Joseph, warned in a dream, fled to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, saving the child from Herod's murderous intent… (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15).

Over the centuries, many leaders have behaved like King Herod. Ordering the killing of innocent children and young people because they feel their power is threatened. The genocides that have occurred around the world, the political conflicts that have resulted in hundreds of people losing their lives, the negligence of essential services like health and education that put lives at risk and the millions of people displaced from their homes because some King somewhere feels threatened to lose power remind us of the misconception of what leadership is about.

A leader’s power lies in the ability to inspire followership. Its essence is to enable followers to achieve their collective aspirations. A leader, therefore, is an instrument for the people to realise their general will. In Herod, we see a self-seeking, ontologically insecure leader not worthy of Kingship. The primary quality of a leader is virtue. Gangs, terrorists, and corrupt heads in organisations and institutions that cause misery to children and young people are not virtuous.

Aristotle, the great philosopher, reminds us that a virtuous person reasons well, is morally and intellectually virtuous and aims to bring “eudaimonia”, that is, happiness to the people. A leader enables others to be fully human.

Merry Christmas!

Dr Mokua is the executive director of Loyola Centre for Media and Communication