Introduction
Every story has its bad ‘guy’ it seems. Whether its Cinderella’s evil stepmother, Snow White’s jealous queen or 101 Dalmatians ‘Cruella De Vil’, the evil one plays a part that amplifies the drama. However, as we have discovered, the trend in these classics seem to be a bad ‘gal’! This morning as we consider again the Christmas Story as recorded in Matthew 2, we will look at the character of Christmas that doesn’t play the most favourable role. Not too many moms are anxious for their child to play the part of the callous innkeeper or the threatened king at a children’s rendition of this story. This morning our focus will be upon the threatened king.
Who we ‘are’ certainly is exposed in the ‘bumps’ of life. If a cereal box is dropped to the floor, we would be most surprised to see a cheesecake fall out! If a coke bottle is tapped, we would be alarmed if Tropicana Orange Juice flowed over the top and down the sides! And what would be said if you bit into what you thought was a chocolate covered decadent cookie only to discover a brussels sprout or some other unappreciated veggie? Usually when ‘bumped’ or jolted or walloped, the content of who we are is laid bare. As we take a closer look at the threatened king featured in the Christmas story of Matthew 2, we will find him this morning as a man with an:
1) Unguarded heart, with an
2) Unacceptable scheme, and finally with an
3) Unavoidable finish
Is there a message for us as we look at the life of one who is not found occupying the stall, one who has not gone with haste to worship the Christ-child, one who has not arrived bearing gifts of significant value? As we observe the ‘questionable’ character, may we see the damaging effects of enthroning ‘self’, the downward spiral of sin, and the inevitable end of the race for each of us. May the ‘reason’ for the Season, still outshine all the other characters and clamour of Christmas that we might encounter.
In Matt. 2 we begin:
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during
the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to
Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been
born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east
and have come to worship him.” When King Herod
heard this he was disturbed…”
Entering the stage is King Herod…the threatened king…the man, first of all, with an:
1) Unguarded Heart
We are taught through study that “Herod the Great was a descendent of Esau and, therefore, a traditional enemy of the Jews. He was a convert to Judaism, but his conversion was perhaps politically motivated. It was toward the close of his reign that wise men from the East came in search of the king of the Jews.” (Believers Bible Commentary) Even in the commencement of our searching to understand who Herod was, we already see a glimpse of a man whose heart is not safeguarded. The ‘door’ has been swung wide open and far-reaching to any and all outside influences.
Someone has said, “If you live in a graveyard too long you stop crying when someone dies.” You grow immune to death and all it represents, when you dwell in the final resting place of the dead. You grow immune to sin and all it represents, when you allow your heart exposure to the dark shadows. Herod’s heart has become cold and hard as he settles in the place that is void of life and light.
Herod is disturbed at the news of ‘the birth of the king of the Jews’. Any king would be anxious about such a newsflash. The possibility of someone else being born for the throne brought out the royal ‘eebie jeebies’ in Herod. Dr. William Barclay, theologian and writer, teaches that people are in three categories in connection with Jesus. We are where Herod was…in a state of hostility and hatred. Fearful that Jesus would interfere with his plans and purpose and so he made effort to destroy him. Or we are where the chief priest and scribes were….indifferent. He meant absolutely nothing to them. Or we are where the wise men were… approaching Christ in worship, bringing Him finest gifts. The question worthy of personal reflection and response this morning would be ‘where do you find yourself’? Do you feel ‘one’ with the threatened king, ‘one’ with the chief priest and scribes, ‘one’ with the wise men?
Ebenezer Scrooge is a fictional character in Charles Dickens novel of 1843 entitled “A Christmas Carol”. Dr. Seuss created another with a similar distaste for Christmas in the character, the Grinch. It has been said that King Herod was the forerunner for both Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch. Long before the day the world came into contact with the selfish, hard-hearted Scrooge and the grouchy Grinch, there was one who had distanced himself from the ‘reason’ for Christmas.
A great proverb has been written and is recorded in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” “Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.” (NLT) How true this is.
Not only is King Herod the man with the unguarded heart, but also the man with the:
2) Unacceptable Scheme
Schemes are conjured up every day it seems – some good and some not so good. One such harmless scheme that probably even brings a chuckle from within is the one of two-year-old Sarah and her 13-year-old sister who had been fighting a lot. Sarah’s parents, trying to take advantage of her newfound interest in Santa Claus, reminded the 2-year-old that Santa was watching and doesn’t like it when children fight. This had little impact.
"I’ll just have to tell Santa about your misbehavior," her mother said as she picked up the phone and dialled. Sarah’s eyes grew big as her mother asked "Mrs. Claus" (really Sarah’s aunt; Santa’s real line was busy) if she could put Santa on the line. Sarah’s mouth dropped open as Mom described to Santa (Sarah’s uncle) how the 2-year-old was acting. When Mom said Santa wanted to talk to her, she reluctantly took the phone.
Santa, in a deepened voice, explained to her how there would be no presents Christmas morning to children who fought with their sisters. He would be watching, and he expected things to be better from now on.
Sarah solemnly nodded to each of Santa’s remarks and silently hung the phone up when he was done. Mom asked, "What did Santa say to you, dear?" Sarah sadly said, "Santa said he won’t be bringing toys to my sister this year."
The mother’s scheme may or may not have been considered successful, but we have to credit her with one thing…a desire to make a bad situation, not so bad!
On a more serious note, we look to Herod’s unacceptable scheme included in Matt. 2. After we read of Herod being disturbed of the news of the birth of the King, we see his scheme unfold. “Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” The Magi, favourably called the wise men, were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. Then in 2:16 we see, “When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious…” So furious, the verse continues, “he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under.” What an unacceptable scheme! An unimaginable plan! Who would even envision it? Only one whose heart is unprotected, reckless, unguarded.
George A. Buttrick, professor and writer, does a comparison of Herod and Jesus. “Herod had magnificence; Christ was born in a manger. Herod had energy; Christ was a helpless babe. Herod had power and used it to cruel ends; Christ had compassion and a different power. Herod was crafty; Christ guileless. Herod had all Jerusalem with him, and Jesus seemed almost unbefriended. The enigma (puzzle/perplexity) of history is this: How does goodness survive when badness has both conspiracy and the sword? The answer is in a governance of history above and beyond the wit of wicked men. Right may be on the scaffold and wrong on the throne, but ‘standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own’. (quote – James Russell Lowell) (The Interpreter’s Bible) We see this over and over in Scriptures – perhaps you have seen it in your own life. “Right may be on the scaffold and wrong on the throne, but ‘standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.’
Herod was a man with an unguarded heart, an unacceptable scheme, and finally, like us all, an:
3) Unavoidable Finish
Whether we like it or not, our days are numbered, our number will be called, our calling will be to an unavoidable end. Herod’s death is briefly mentioned in vs. 19 in the same verse where the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream giving him further instruction of what he is to do next. Herod the Great, the name often attached to him, drew his last breathe just as numerous others before and after him. It will be our fate as well.
It’s not Herod’s final breathe that we are troubled by, but the many breathes taken in his lifetime, the life he lived. We see much of who he was outlined in Matt. 2, this morning’s text. Study tells us much more of his antics. It has been said “(Herod) was so jealous of his favourite wife that on two occasions he left orders that she would be killed if he failed to return from some dangerous engagement. Then he finally killed her anyway, as well as her grandfather, mother, brother-in-law, and three of his sons, plus hundreds of his subjects. Caesar Augustus observed once that he would rather be Herod’s pig than his son.” (James Montgomery Boice (a reformed theologian and pastor) – ‘The King has Come’) What a legacy King Herod left.
We read of Herod’s life and the lives of so many others who openly engaged in cruel intent and our jaw can hit the desk – our palms go sweaty with fear – our hearts race faster and harder to think that one could be so cold, callous, uncaring, unyielding. And then we think of that innocent Child – the Christ-Child! “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21) It is for the likes of Herod, of you and I, that Jesus came! Oh that we would live in the light of that love! One day we will give an account for the lives we lived.
Conclusion
It wasn’t only on the first Christmas that one was brazen enough to try and kill Jesus and destroy the true ‘Christmas spirit’. Through the years numerous attempts have been made. Along with this have come the equal endeavours to ‘keep Christmas’. As we wrap up our ponderings for this morning, I give you one more thing to think upon.
We all have various Christmas traditions. Few of us probably have a tradition quite like the Robynson family’s. In his book Crazy Love, Francis Chan shares their story (their effort to keep Christmas and to exude the true Christmas spirit):
This family of five, with three kids under the age of ten, chooses to celebrate the birth of Christ in a unique way. On Christmas mornings, instead of focusing on the presents under the tree, they make pancakes, brew an urn of coffee, and head downtown. Once there, they load the coffee and food into the back of a red wagon. Then, with the eager help of their three-year-old, they pull the wagon around the mostly empty streets in search of homeless folks to offer a warm and filling breakfast on Christmas morning.
All three of the Robynson kids look forward to this time of giving a little bit of tangible love to people who otherwise would have been cold and probably without breakfast. It is no question that that family would feel ‘one’ with the wise men, bringing the ‘finest’ to a watching world.
May our hearts be kept for Christ this Christmas season. May our schemes be God-honouring. May we live this Christmas and every day, mindful of the fact that the Suckling in the stall, the Christ on the Cross, our Risen Lord - is coming again – our Saviour, our Lord, and our King!
