Final Confrontation (8 page)

“Oh that one,” said Herod. “It seems this particular star has brought in all sorts of interesting people from many places: oracles and prophets and a seer from the desert…” He reached for another goblet of wine. “And of course a few frauds who were whipped and driven out of the city. That star has been a great source of trouble to me. But my own sages assure me it is beginning to wane. Isn’t that right, Archelaus?”

Herod’s son and heir answered as if startled from a dream.

“Why yes, father,” he said. “That is their belief.”

“So you see, gentlemen, the star that brought so many to Jerusalem—looking for everything from great treasure to great destinies—will soon disappear.” Herod smiled. “It always amazes me how people run to this or that sign in the heaven. My own wise men believe it to be a harbinger of good will for my kingdom—the beginning of a glorious new season for the throne of Judea. I hope they are right.”

He looked in the direction of the star as if he could see it through the palace wall. He seemed to sink back in a moment of private reverie.

“It is indeed a beckoning star that has caused dreamers as well as drifters to go looking for something larger than themselves. Somewhat like my father—a dreamer who found practical politics much more convincing than stars in the sky. He never trusted seers…”

Herod suddenly had a suspicious look in his eye.

“Pray tell me what is it the star had you searching for?”

“A King, sire,” said Melchior.

Herod laughed and indicated himself.

“You have found him! The star was correct in bringing you here!”

The room burst out in laughter.

“We seek a very special King, majesty,” said Caspar. “Not of this world.”

“Oh?” replied Herod coldly. “Indeed? A King not of this world…”

He looked at his advisors who merely shrugged.

“Someone marvelous, your majesty,” said Caspar, convinced Herod would share his joy. “We are searching for the One long foretold in your own faith. We are seeking the King of the Jews! The star was only a sign to us. It was a starting point. But your Lord spoke to us that this King was to be born around the time of the star’s appearance. Surely your own priests have realized the star’s significance?” He paused and added with a sense of one who has uncovered a great secret. “A King has been born in Judea!”

Herod could hardly control himself. He snapped an order for more wine. The terrified steward brought him another goblet. Herod drank, warily eying the magi who were awaiting his response.

“A King of the Jews?” he finally said. “In my kingdom?”

“Yes, sire,” said Caspar. “But let Balthasar tell you. He was the one to whom the meaning became clear.”

“Yes, please do,” said Herod. “But first allow me to convene my own holy men. They will be interested in this I am sure. And as you have pointed out, they certainly could not have missed the significance of this incredible sign in the heavens.”

He ordered his aide to summon all of the scribes and chief priests. The aide bowed and left. Within a short time he returned, and with him were several of the higher- ranking priests of the land, including Matthias, the chief priest who had just completed evening prayers at the Temple.

They all listened as Balthasar recounted how their journeys began independently of each other. All of them had been stirred by the strange new star in the east. And all had researched the ancient texts, but could find no record of any previous appearance by this particular star.

“But one evening, as I was reading the texts from the holy pages of other lands, I came across the writings of your own prophets. As I read I heard a voice directing me to Jerusalem where a new King had been born. I immediately knew this new King was the One whose coming was foretold by your own prophets. This was the King of Kings—the Messiah! That was when the significance of the star became clear to me.”

Several men in the room muttered the word ‘Messiah’ with astonishment. Herod looked at his own holy men who were either complete fools for missing such an event or wise enough to realize that these magi were in error.

“And so, majesty, we came to your city to ask you where we might find the One born King of the Jews so we might worship Him.”

Herod rose with a pensive look on his face. He paced distractedly, drinking in all of these words. The magi watched as he drew near his priests. Finally, he turned back to them and spoke.

“My lords, I would be honored to help you out in this wonderful mission,” he said. “But I only ask that you wait in your rooms while I confer with my council. This is, after all, a matter of sacred as well as national interest and I shall seek an audience with my high priest. We shall then see you off as quickly as possible so you might fulfill your holy task.”

The magi were escorted back to their rooms leaving Herod alone with his council in the reception hall. Once all of the servants had also departed, he turned to the high priest and demanded of him what this was all about.

“Is this star a sign or not?” he asked. “Are these magi to be trusted? Tell me, high priest—where is the Christ to be born?”

The high priest deferred to one of the scribes, who walked before Herod and declared, “When the Christ is born we should look for Him in Bethlehem, O king, in Judea. It is so written by the prophet.”

The high priest looked at the other priests with a puzzled expression. He made a motion and priests huddled together to discuss the particular scriptures that related to the Messiah’s birth.

“Bethlehem?” Herod said. “The Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem?”

He laughed at the thought of such an insignificant town being the birthplace of Messiah. Suddenly one of the priests began to quote the prophet:

“And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”

“Bethlehem,” Herod repeated. “David’s city. It might just be…”

“I must caution your majesty that this is perhaps not Messiah,” said Matthias. “While there have undoubtedly been many male children born in Bethlehem since the star’s appearing over these last months, it does not mean this is the Christ.”

The priests watched as Herod sat down on his throne.

“Of course we might send to Bethlehem, my king,” offered another priest. “We might inquire as to any newly born boys in the region…”

“Get out, all of you,” Herod snapped. “It took men from another land to recognize that the Messiah might have been born just a few miles from here. Go and study some more—all of you!” He then added, “You, high priest—you shall remain.”

The priests left the room. Herod called his aide in and had him send for the wise men. Perhaps he might gather more information from them. Within minutes the three men reappeared. Herod stood to greet them with an animated expression.

“Wonderful news, my friends,” he said, stepping down from his throne. “The young King is to be found in Bethlehem!”

“Bethlehem…the house of bread,” said Caspar. “How fitting!”

“Yes,” said Herod, quelling his anger. “But before you leave, you must tell me how long you have been on this quest?”

“Sire, we have been inquiring of this for nearly two years—when the star first appeared. But we only recently understood the meaning of it all and began our journey.”

Interesting,” mused Herod. “So the Child might be up to two years of age?”

“I suppose so,” agreed Melchior. “But one never knows until one sees the Child.”

“Yes, well be off with you and have a wonderful and blessed journey!”

“Thank you sire,” said Melchior.

The three magi thanked the king for his hospitality and his information. They bade him farewell and turned to leave.

“Also…”

“Yes majesty?” answered Caspar. “Was there something else?”

“A king’s time is never his own or I would accompany you,” said Herod. “For I, too, wish to come and worship the new King of the Jews.” He sighed. “But urgent business holds me here in Jerusalem.” He then looked up as if inspired. “Unless…”

“Yes?” inquired Caspar, warily.

“Unless when you have found Him you might send word to me. That way I can come and worship the Child myself at a more opportune time.”

“Of course, King Herod,” said Melchior. “We shall be delighted to send word to you when we have found the King. Your heart must be overjoyed that the true King of Israel has been born.”

“Indeed,” said Herod. “There is only one King over Israel.”

Demas was a spirit of control who had been assigned to Herod. He had thrown in with Lucifer at the last moment of the insurrection in Heaven when he discovered he fell out with some of the other angels at the Academy. He had become a skilled and discreet seducer of humans, and was able to inflame their ambitious natures. He was therefore also influential with Matthias, whose position as high priest was less pious than political.

Now the spirit was following Herod and the high priest into a private room where the two went into conference. They sat at an informal lounge area where Herod put his feet up on a pillow. He sipped his wine.

“Well?” demanded Herod. “I didn’t give you this position so I could be made a fool in front of visiting dignitaries.”

“Nor do I enjoy being made a fool of in front of my priests,” said Matthias.”

Herod smirked at his hand-picked holy man.

“The Lord appointed Aaron,” said Herod. “But I selected you. He kept Aaron.”

Matthias understood the subtle threat. Herod continued.

“I must know. Is this the Christ? I have lived with that fable all my life…a coming King. It’s every ruler’s nightmare—especially in a nation of religious misfits.”

“Sire, I cannot answer you,” Matthias said. “If these men truly heard from the Lord, then who can say? But why should the Lord speak to these men who worship pagan gods and not to his own high priest? This matter is of such importance.”

“Perhaps pagans can hear him better,” said Herod, who was playing with a flower he had pulled from a vase. “Still, I cannot risk the chance that they are right. I want someone to follow the magi to Bethlehem. Find the house where they enter and discover whether or not the Child lives.”

“It will be done,” said Matthias. “But in any case, majesty, when these holy men report to you from Bethlehem you’ll have your answer. Then you can go and worship this new born King.”

“And so I shall,” said Herod smiling. “I will worship in my own way.”

Demas grinned at the turn of events. He could sense the anger and desperate fear rising inside Herod. This would bode well for Lucifer’s desire to see something done about the Christ. He left immediately to find him.

Lucifer, Pellecus and Kara listened with great interest to Demas’ report. It appeared that finally Herod would discover the whereabouts of the Child. Then is would be only a matter of time before he sought to kill Him. They congratulated Demas on his work.

“For now we shall keep close watch on the family,” Lucifer answered. “The only humans who were clever enough to recognize His presence thus far are the shepherds who were with Him on the night of His birth, and Simeon and Anna, who prophesied over Him at the Temple.”

“And these magi,” said Pellecus. “They are even now with Herod.”

“Yes, well, I think you’ll find by introducing Herod into the equation the solution may find itself.”

“Herod is right about one thing,” said Pellecus, as they strolled about a new level of the Temple recently completed. “His own priests were unable to discern the times. To think they missed the very One they have been waiting for! This marvelous Temple will be wasted on them.”

“The Jews have been missing the Most High for years,” sneered Lucifer. “Their holy men have become corrupt religionists like every other human who dons a priestly robe. The sacrifices are a mockery. They have been so bent on their own traditions they no longer know what genuine faith looks like!”

One of Kara’s spies suddenly appeared in the room and stood nearby waiting to be addressed. The angel, Rhedi, was one of thousands in Kara’s network. He looked to Kara, who in turn nodded approval for the angel to approach the trio.

“Well?” asked Kara. “Report.”

“The magi are nearing the home of Mary and Joseph,” said Rhedi. “The star ever draws them.”

“Excellent!” said Demas, in a rare outburst. The others looked at him with contempt for speaking. “Herod’s spy should also be nearing the house as well. This means his agents will not be far behind!”

Lucifer looked at Pellecus and Kara with a hopeful expression.

“I do have other news,” said Rhedi.

Demas did not like the manner in which Rhedi spoke these words and looked at him.

“It seems Herod’s spy was misdirected by three of Gabriel’s angels posing as the magi,” he added. “They took the man around the other way and led him into an alley. They then vanished before his eyes. The poor man almost died of fright and is at this moment on his way back to his hometown. Rather than face Herod with such news, he has deserted him.”

Demas looked at Rhedi bitterly, and then to the others. He was quite unnerved at what Lucifer’s reaction would be.