Thursday 28 December 2023
- Bible Book:
- Matthew
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under. (v. 16)
Background
So we come to a part of the Christmas story that we tend to gloss over or ignore because it is hard and painful – the massacre of the innocents.
Mary, Joseph and the Christ child have headed off into Egypt. The wise men have visited them, presented their gifts and returned home but have left information in the hands of a dangerous, jealous, power hungry and paranoid man – Herod, who was king of the Jews.
It had come to Herod's attention that the wise men had been asking "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." (Matthew 2:2) Seeing this child as a threat to his power, Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. (Matthew 2:7) Using this as a guide, he drew up his plans.
The appearance of the star could have meant the child Herod felt so threatened by had already been born or its transition across the sky could have measured time in order to bring the visitors to the newborn. Either way Herod’s calculation gave him a margin of two years. (We forget how long those travellers may have been on the road!)
He gave the order to kill all male children born in and around Betlehem who were two or younger. He wiped out a significant part of the male population because he was fearful of what this new ‘king’ might mean for him and his power and status.
We read the tale with horror or gloss over its details quickly but I feel it’s important to remember that, although this tale is 2000 years old, we still see the slaughter of the innocent where there is conflict, war, prejudice, hatred and power-mongering around the world today. You only need to turn on the news to see the images of broken lives, flattened homes and dispersed communities to begin to realise that the ‘Herods’ of the Bible are still at work today responding in fear, hatred and paranoia without thought for the pain they cause to gain what they want for themselves.
To Ponder:
- What image or story of this type of behaviour sticks out most in your memory from this past year? Why is that?
Prayer
Lord, help me to see the need and humanity in others and be prepared to stand up for justice, truth and peace. Amen.