Posted on by Wade McRoberts

Herod

Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.  Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:“A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.”  (Matthew 2:16-18, NASB)

The great tragedy in the Christmas story is the “Massacre of the Innocents,” when Herod the king murdered all the little boys in the area of Bethlehem. 

The magi, the wise men from the east, saw the star of the King of the Jews, and traveled to Judea to honor Him.  They were granted an audience with Herod, and inquired as to where they could find the newborn King.  Herod sent them off in search of the Child, and instructed the magi to report back to him “so that I too may come and worship Him.”  (Matthew 2:8)  The magi then went to visit the Holy family, and worship the newborn King.  “And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.”  (v. 12)

Herod was appointed king over the region of Judea by the occupational Roman government.  He was quite paranoid over any challenge to his authority, and any threat to interruption to the kingly line of his heirs.  When he realized the magi had not come back to him, Herod was “very enraged.”  He “sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.”  (v. 16)

File:Rubens - Massacre of the Innocents - Art Gallery of Ontario 2.jpg
“Massacre of the Innocents,” by Peter Paul Rubens, between 1611 and 1612. Found at Wikipedia Commons, commons.wikipedia.org

Meanwhile, Joseph had been warned by God in a dream to take his family to Egypt, as Herod would try to kill the Child.  They remained in Egypt until Herod’s death. 
This was yet another attempt by Satan to thwart God’s plan of redemption.  Ever since God announced His plan in the Garden of Eden (“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head,And you shall bruise him on the heel.”  [Genesis 3:15]), Satan had tried to interrupt the ancestral line between Adam and Christ.  This time he tried to kill God’s Son Himself before He could grow up and go to the cross. 

So Herod the king slew all the male children two years and younger in the Bethlehem area.  Despite the birth of the Christ Child, an atrocity like this still occurred.  This tragedy is a part of the Christmas story to remind us of the evil that takes place in the world still today.  Jesus told His disciples that there would always be troubles in this world.  But He gave us hope, because He said He had overcome the world.  He defeated Satan by completing His mission on earth.  He went to the cross and took the punishment I deserve so that by accepting His sacrifice, I can have eternal fellowship with God the Father! 

The “Coventry Carol” is a beautiful, but haunting piece about the “Massacre of the Innocents.”  Whenever I hear it I’m reminded of the injustices that remain in this world.  How God calls us to seek justice and love mercy.  And how we won’t see injustice done away until Jesus comes back again.  We spend Advent and the Christmas season preparing our hearts for His birth.  Let’s prepare our hearts for His return! 

“Coventry Carol,” performed by Clamavi De Profundis

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