The Man Who Didn't Like Christmas

He didn’t like Christmas! He didn’t want Christmas! If he had had his way, we wouldn’t have had Christmas! His name? Herod. We read about him in the new Testament, in Matthew Chapter 2. Matthew records it was “in the days of Herod the King “that “Jesus was born”1. The wise Men came to him with their question: “Where is HE that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him”.2 Herod’s response – immediate and illuminating. “He was troubled”3. The word used for “troubled is very strong. HE was filled with fear. He was seized with panic. Why would this be? The explanation is easy! Herold was the king. HE had taken to himself the title:” King of the Jews”! but he was not even Jew. There was no royal blood in his veins. He was an imposter, A usurper. Then he heard from the Wise Men that another King had been born. A real King. The rightful King. Herold felt his position threatened – and so sought to take extreme action. He had previously ordered the death of others he regarded as posing a challenge. Now he orders the death of Christ – but a wicked plan that failed. Christ and Joseph and Mary were already safe in Egypt. The part played by Herold in the Christmas story is a sad one. He realised the challenge of Christ. He resented the coming of Christ. He rejected the claims of Christ. That was Herold’s response. He was but the first of many who opposed the Lord Jesus. “He came unto His own, and His own Received Him not”4. On various occasion, men sought to take His life. Eventually, they conspired against Him and crucified Him at Calvary. Their attitude? “We will not have this man to reign over us “5. In the eyes of so many, He was the unwanted Christ! They thought that was the end of Him, but they were wrong! He rose from the dead. He returned to Heaven. Listen t His own words: “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore”6. All these centuries later, HE confronts and challenges us. He is the Saviour. That is why He was given the name “Jesus”: “He shall His people from their sins”7. How does that make us feel? Do we accept that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”?8 Are we prepared to confess our sins? Is our cry:” God, be merciful to me, a sinner”?9 Are we willing to show “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”?10 If we do so, He will save us. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”11. “through this man is preached… the forgiveness of sins”12. Or, will we continue in our sins, to “die in our sins”13 and then to face God in our sins? How solemn! “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.14 The Lord Jesus is the Sovereign. The king of the Jews and the King of the Ages. He “is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”15 He sits on the throne of Heaven – and HE seeks the throne of our heart. God’s desire is that “in all things He might have the pre-eminence”16. Are we prepared to repent and trust the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins at Calvary, as our Lord and Saviour? If so, He will rule and guide and direct our steps, all the way to Heaven. The bible Declares: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and salt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”.17 Or, like Herod, will we seek to silence Him, to subdue Him, to shut Him out? So many follow the example of Herod, but His story teaches us the futility of opposing Christ in Matthew 2, but it was Christ who lived and Herold who died. Those who reject the Lord Jesus ultimately do not prosper. How much better to follow the example of the other Kings in the Story. The Wise Men themselves. They “fell down and worshipped Him”18 and enjoyed the blessing that He alone can give. Such is the Challenge of Christmas! Fraser A. Munro Bible Reference: 1) Matthew 2:1. 2) Matthew 2:2.3) Matthew 2:3. 4) John 1:115) Luke 19:14. 6) Revelation 1:18. 7) Matthew 1:21. 8) Romans 3:23. 9) Luke 18:13. 10) Acts 20:21. 11) Acts 4:12. 12) Acts 13:38. 13) John 8:21. 14) Hebrews 10:31. 15) Hebrew 12:2. 16) Colossians 1:18. 17) Romans 10:9. 18) Matthew 2:11.