A Tale Of Two Kings

Introduction:

A. Today I want to begin by talking about The Scrooge and The Grinch.

1. Personally, I have always enjoyed the story of the Grinch more than the story of the Scrooge, probably because of the humor of the Grinch and his little dog dressed up like a reindeer.

a. The Grinch also has a really catchy song – “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch!”

B. I’m sure you remember the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly old man who believed that Christmas is just an excuse for people to miss work and for idle people to expect handouts.

1. He didn't believe in all of the good cheer and charity that the season promotes, and he made sure everyone knew it.

2. One night, Scrooge was visited by the ghost of his former business associate, Jacob Marley - a man who was as greedy and cold as Scrooge.

3. Marley warned Scrooge that if he continued to live so selfishly, he would spend eternity wearing the chains that his greed had built.

4. Three ghosts then visited Scrooge in succession: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

5. They showed Scrooge the error of valuing money over people.

6. Scrooge was frightened by the bleak picture of his life and promised to change his ways.

7. Finally, Scrooge awoke on Christmas morning a new man.

8. He became jolly and charitable, and truly turned into the man he promised the ghosts he would become - He carried the spirit of Christmas with him all the year round.

C. In like fashion, the story of the Grinch is the story of a bitter and hateful creature who hated Christmas.

1. Every year the Grinch was irritated at the thought of the Who in the nearby village of Whoville having a happy time celebrating Christmas.

2. So disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he raided the village to steal all the Christmas things.

3. He thought that the village was sure to have a sad Christmas with all the Christmas things having been stollen.

4. But when the community celebrated Christmas even without all the stuff, the Grinch was at first confused, but then was changed by what he learned.

5. Listen to the end of the story in the words of Dr. Seuss:

“Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,

Was singing! Without any presents at all!

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"

And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

And what happened then...? Well...in Who-ville they say

That the Grinch's small heart Grew three sizes that day!

And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,

He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light

And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!

And he...HE HIMSELF...! The Grinch carved the roast beast!

D. Both of these stories are heartwarming stories because the cold, selfish, bitter person changes.

1. They are redemption stories, where the “bad person turns good,” and we all like those kind of stories.

2. This morning I want to tell you the story of someone who’s story does not end quite so positively.

3. I want to tell you about a man who hated Christmas even more than the Grinch and Scrooge combined.

4. Only this man is not a make-believe character - He’s for real.

5. This man hated Christmas even though he had even heard the word.

6. He’s the man history calls Herod the Great and his story is told in Matthew 2.

I. King Herod the Great

A. Herod was born into a politically well-connected family and was destined for a life of hardball and power brokering.

1. At 25 years old, he was named the governor of Galilee, a high position for such a young man.

2. The Romans were hoping that Herod could control the Jews who lived in that area.

3. In 40 B.C. the Roman Senate named him “King of the Jews” - it was a title the Jews hated because he was anything but religious, respectable, and Herod had been forced on them.

4. Herod was the embodiment of the ultimate villain - he exhibited 4 classic characteristics of a self-absorbed despot: power, prestige, possessions, paranoia.

B. Herod had a preoccupation with power – actually, he was addicted to power.