Give Him Power and Glory

16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18“A voice is heard in Ramah,

weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children

and refusing to be comforted,

because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18)

Thoughts: Bethlehem even today is a small town.  There were not thousands of babies there, maybe not hundreds.  So we should not expect archaeological evidence of this atrocity. The Roman historian, Macrobius, records that he had boys under two killed in the region of Syria (the Roman Province that included Judea).  Herod was known for his building.  He totally renovated the Second Temple (which became one of the wonders of the ancient world for a few years), he built the port of Caesarea, the fortress of Massada, and the fortress of Herodium.  Herodium was a huge mountain plateau overlooking Jerusalem.  Herod was eventually buried there.  Herod killed the 45 wealthiest Jews in a play to preserve his power.  Herod killed his wife and his son in a fit of jealousy to preserve his crown.
    Herod had asked to find out where Jesus was born so that he could worship him.  In reality, he wanted to kill him.  To fake love for God and in its place have hatred is the ultimate evil thing.  Herod was not interested if God had sent a righteous king, he was concerned that his power be preserved.  In the end, we should seek God's will more than our own will.  In contrast to Herod who did anything to keep his crown, is John the Baptist who readily pointed to Jesus and said, "He must increase and I must decrease."  Let us choose to lay our crowns before Him. 

Prayer: Lord, keep me from lusting for my own power.  Instead, help me to be willing to give up everything in order to please you.    

Below: Bethlehem (see Church of Nativity) with the mountain of Herodium in center top; rt- Herodium from above

12-10-13 Herod the First Grinch who Would have Stopped Christmas

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18)

Thoughts: Herod was the first Grinch who wanted to stop or steal Christmas.  He wanted to kill any challenger to his temporary throne.  Jesus, however, was not out for Herod's temporary throne.  He bypassed that entirely to claim a bigger prize- the Prince of Peace.
     Herod killed his own son and wife because they threatened him.  So he tried to kill Jesus.  Many scholars think the reference to the dragon trying to eat the woman and her son in Revelation (12:1-6) is a reference to Herod's trying to kill Jesus when he was a baby.
      There are always people who want to silence the message of hope, the person of Christ coming to earth.  A few weeks ago The American Humanist Society threatened a lawsuit against a school in South Carolina and a school in Colorado who were going to provide Operation Christmas Child boxes for needy children in another land- who would normally get nothing for Christmas. These boxes contain health items like soap, toothpaste and tooth brushes, as well as toys and drawing material.  The threat of the lawsuit stopped the children from sending Christmas boxes.  But when the Humanists were asked what they personally were doing to replace the boxes for needy kids they were unable to give an answer (See interview transcript here).  It is one thing to criticize or destroy the Christian message- but the better question is what do you replace that message with?  The message of no hope, no joy, no one to call on for help, no reason to be good is a message of death and meaninglessness.  That kind of thought is akin to Herod's kingship- all about this world's power and glory.  Jesus comes as a helpless baby- who just by his existence gives hope and peace.  

Prayer: Help me not to be a person of destruction and criticism, but a person who builds others up, Lord.