“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.'”
—Matthew 2:16-18 (ESV)
In our study of the Christmas story, we’ve found numerous reasons why Advent is a wonderful time of year, as it should be for Christians. Because Jesus has come into the world, there is hope, there is gladness, and there is warmth in a cold place.
But when we study the Christmas story in Scripture, we see the season differently from our culture’s holiday. Christmas is not about sleighs and reindeer. It is about the clash of light and darkness, the war between God and the devil, and the arrival of the Savior who would defeat the enemy.
King Herod was a key participant in this still-ongoing war. Herod lived for his own glory. When he felt threatened, everyone around him felt his wrath—the tragic effect of his undisciplined temper.
The wise men did not return to Herod as he had asked. They practiced wise civil disobedience (having been warned in a dream). Their action infuriated the king, and he reacted in ferocious rage. He ordered that all the little boys—who were two years old or younger and lived in or near Bethlehem—be killed. In Herod’s anger, we see the dark side of the Christmas season. But God had a glorious plan!
Herod’s action failed. He did not succeed in killing “Jesus, Son of David” (Luke 18:38). Further, he spilled all this blood without an understanding of the nature of Jesus’ kingship. Jesus was born to overthrow the reign of the devil, not to unseat King Herod.
Herod’s horrific example teaches us this: when we choose not to follow the path of life—God’s wise way—great pain will come to us (and others). Most tragically, we will completely miss the glorious reality of the Christmas story. Jesus did not take on flesh to attack sinners but to free us from our sins.
Prayer: Father, we see ourselves in Herod. We confess that—in our own personal ways—we too struggle with anger and jealousy. Where it matters to us, we don’t want anyone to outshine us. We ask for Your forgiveness, and we pray that You would conquer our unruly tempers. Help us not to live like Herod. Help us instead to be peacemakers, and people who rejoice in others’ successes. In Jesus’ name, amen.
