Approaching the King Invites Death (Xerxes Throne Room Policy)

What was the most dangerous place you've ever been? Was it in a storm on the open sea? Was it driving in a blizzard? Was it a situation of wrong place, wrong time? Was it something like a situation from a book that is dangerous? Was it from a book that you thought was safe? 

An image from a scene in the 1984 adaptation of "The Neverending Story"

For Esther, the most dangerous place she ever could go was into her husband's presence without permission.  Esther recounts the rules for approaching King Xerxes in chapter 4:11:

4:11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

To enter into this king's presence uninvited was to invite death. Mordecai throughout chapter 4 had sought to persuade Esther to take action on behalf of the Jews. Mordecai's suggested course of action was:

to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. (4:8)

Esther was put into a horrendous position. She had to choose how she would live out her remaining days. Her days were numbered if she stayed silent. Eventually she would be discovered to have Jewish lineage, and thus she would be killed under the law of Haman. If she chose to follow Mordecai's suggested course of action, her days may be even shorter. Xerxes wasn't a patient man. Throughout the book Xerxes has been impetuous, discourteous, rash, spiteful, drunk, and willing to legalize genocide! Esther was in quite a bind with the situation she was placed. She may choose to leap out of the proverbial frying pan, but she would then end up burning in the fire. 

1662 Rembrandt painting of Xerxes, Haman, and Esther feasting

For the moment, let us turn our attention from Esther, Mordecai, and their predicament. Let us consider Xerxes and his throne room policies. This is another moment of great contrast in the book of Esther. This time the contrast is between the throne room policy of King Xerxes and the throne room policy of King Jesus. 

Xerxes' Policy was: Practical

Xerxes policy had practical usage. Xerxes was, after all, the king of all of Persia. His time would have been incredibly valuable. We have already seen that an audience with the king can lead to empire wide proclamations (Esther 1 with Vashti's disposal, and Esther 3 with Haman's plot). We all only have 24 hours in a day, and Xerxes hours could not be wasted with having the common riff raff take up his time. Xerxes sought to funnel his energy towards only the most desirable, dignified, and respectable of subjects. 

Xerxes' Policy was: Protective

Beyond it's practicality, Xerxes policy was protective. Xerxes had previously had an assassination attempt on his life (Esther 2:19-22). The history of Persia is filled with assassination attempts (and successes). When Xerxes first took the throne he had to deal with a usurper in Egypt and a revolt in Babylon (where he had governed during his time as heir to the Persian throne). Xerxes placed a high value on his own life and is the definitive picture of placing value on himself above that of others. 

Xerxes' Policy was: Proud

Lastly Xerxes' policy was proud. His word was law. Every utterances of his mouth were potential laws. Every emotion he felt had the potential to turn into empire wide implemented code. Xerxes throne room policy made sure that anyone and everyone knew the balance of power when in the presence of the king. Josephus, the Jewish historian of the first century AD, wrote that: 

men, with axes in their hands, stood round about his throne; in order to punish such as approached to him, without being called. However, the King sat with a golden scepter in his hand: which he held out when he had a mind to save any one of those that approached to him, without being called. And he who touched it was free from danger. (Josephus Book 11, chapter 6:3.)

It was a life or death proposition to exist in the same room as Xerxes. Anyone who dared enter his presence was risking a swift and immediate end to their hubris. Only Xerxes could come and go as he pleased. The difference between life and death were decisions made by this proud king.  

Xerxes throne room policies were pragmatic, protective, and proud. Let us look at three ways Jesus' own throne room policy is in contrast with Xerxes. 

Jesus' Policy was: Invitational

While Xerxes could not be bothered with the common riff raff, Jesus allowed his short ministry to be filled with people who were nameless, held no rank, and were otherwise despised in their own society. Jesus actively sought out those who were tired, weary, broken, downtrodden and proclaimed an invitation to them:

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

We all have 24 hours in a day, and Jesus chose to use his hours to live for those who were undesired, undignified, and disrespected. In Mark 5:21-43 we're told of numerous crowds that gather and "pressed around him". In Mark 6:30-44 we're told about Jesus taking time to feed the five thousand. When Jesus came to Bethsaida, he took the time to speak with a blind man, lead him outside the village, and heal his sight (Mark 8:22-26). Xerxes only would take time for the most noble of subjects, but Jesus took time with the smallest of subjects: 

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell  you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)

In Mark the words in Greek that are often used to describe the "crowds" or the "many" people gathered are πολύς (polys) and ὄχλος (ochlos). They occur 50 and 36 times throughout the book! While Xerxes is continually pictured with individual conversations, Jesus in the gospel of Mark is continually pictured with a host gathered around him! While Xerxes didn't have a moment to spare, Jesus chose to give his very life to crowds. 

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes 
by Lambert Lombard 1505-1566

Jesus Policy was: Selfless

While Xerxes kept armed guards around him. Jesus kept fishermen, whores, lepers, blind, paralytics, tax collectors, gentiles, and beggars around him. Jesus was no stranger to death threats. Soon after his birth Jesus was already the target of an assassination attempt by the local thug ruler Herod. Xerxes went through enormous precautions to protect his own personal well being, Jesus knew that his death was coming and freely gave himself to it. The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Philippian church described Christ's selfless attitude this way: 

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)

Jesus had much more right to armed guards and protection! Yet he set his eyes upon the cross and humbled himself towards his end and ultimate passion. When his disciples did seek to use force on his behalf on the night of his betrayal, Jesus rebuked them! Jesus had his own version of axe wielding guards he references in Matthew 26:52-53:

52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

Jesus throne room policy wasn't to protect himself, but rather was to give himself, for the benefit of those who would follow him in faith. 

Jesus' Policy was: Humble

While Xerxes was proud, Christ Jesus was meek and lowly. While Xerxes was heir of Darius and lived a life of pampered decadence, Jesus was born with little to no royal pomp or circumstance. The Son of God, and yet his only homage paid on his birth was from shepherds and foreign Wiseman. The Roman soldiers in charge of Jesus during his trial mocked him in a wide variety of ways, yet Jesus did not rise up in pride. Jesus quietly submitted to their abuse (Mark 15:16-20). Xerxes was all about projecting his pride in positions of power, Jesus said: 

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it." (Mark 8:34-25)

Denying himself was Christ's life pattern. It then extended from his example as a rule of behavior and attitude for his followers. When Jesus' disciples sought positions of power in his kingdom, Jesus rebuked their pride and spoke to them about serving rather than being served:

"Jesus called them together and said, 'you know that those who are regarded as 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 slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45)

Rather than demand subjects to serve him, Jesus came to be a servant to his subjects. Jesus' own description of himself was one of humility:

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:29-30)

This is a strange paradox, normally when a person claims humility, that instantly disproves their humility. Yet Jesus in his life exemplified what it meant to be gentle and humble in heart. He had every right to rule the universe (Romans 11:36), and yet he set aside what was rightfully his, to conqueror sin and ransom captives free! 

Xerxes throne room policies were pragmatic, protective, and proud. Jesus own policies were invitational, selfless, and humble. Approaching Xerxes invited death. King Jesus has extended an invitation to all who have ears to hear. Approaching King Jesus invites life abundantly!