My grandson calls all the people who walk in the park behind our house, “bad guys.” He is only two years old. How does he know? How do we know? As children we played games in which we were assigned roles. I wanted to be on the good guys team. In real life, how do we tell who the good and bad people are? Another shocking revelation seems to hit the headlines nearly every day. A person who I assumed was on the right team, turned out to be living a double life. This makes me sad. As my mom taught me, “There but for the grace of God, go I.”
As I began my doctoral studies, I spent one summer session reading about the Herodian dynasty with Robert Reid at Baylor. Mr. Reid was the best lecturer I had in any course, and an exacting doctoral teacher. There are four generations of Herods in the New Testament, and as far as I can tell, they were all bad guys. When Jesus was born, the patriarch, Herod the Great, killed children to protect his dynasty. Later he killed some of his own sons. His grandson Herod Antipas was the one who killed James and arrested Peter. When he found out Peter had escaped, he put all the soldiers to the sword.
We may admire decisive leaders who wield their authority masterfully. But God’s plan for his people does not exactly line up with the world’s definitions. Jesus said to his disciples “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28). For believers, the end does not justify the means. Might does not make right. Jesus showed us the way. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give life, not to take the lives of others. He is the true “good guy.” Accept no substitutes. Let’s follow him today.
