Part 2:​ Alive In The ​ Adventure ​ Of Jesus 16: Keep Herod in Christmas

“Keep Herod in Christmas” !?!? McLaren seems to be specializing in topics that preachers prefer to sidestep! “Keep Herod in Christmas” !?!? “Herod is a scheming, frightened, insecure, troglodyte who puts a hit out on a toddler.” Nadia Bolz-Weber (Patheos.com,12/12/14) http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber/2014/12/the-slaughter-of-the-innocents-of-sandy-hook/#ixzz3Lie3TMoW

Matthew 2 1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 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.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.

8 He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” … 16 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, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation. Rachel weeping for her children. She refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”

“This Christmas story of a despotic ruler slaughtering children out of little more than his personal insecurity somehow never makes it onto wrapping paper or Christmas cards. Yet the slaughter of the Holy Innocents is as much a part of the Christmas and Epiphany story as are shepherds and angels.” Nadia Bolz-Weber

Nadia Bolz-Weber So why do we keep Herod in Christmas? “The story of Herod and infanticide reveals a God who has entered our world as it actually exists, and not as the world we often wish it would be.” “God slipped into the vulnerability of skin and entered a world as violent and disturbing as our own.” Nadia Bolz-Weber

This is profoundly good news This is profoundly good news. There are SO MANY people in our world who use their power responsibly, and work for good. We are deeply indebted to them, and grateful for their service.

There are also an unconscionable number of people who are “scheming, frightened, and insecure” and use their power to harm. Some of them are public servants, and we are horrified by the incidents of torture and racial violence that have filled US news feeds in recent weeks.

Global news tells us that Herod is still in charge in too many places to count. Parents are still refugees. Children are still dying simply because they live in the wrong place at the wrong time. God have mercy.

Why do we keep Herod in Christmas? God walked into a world that was just as violent as ours. God took on the most vulnerable of all human flesh. And evil did not overcome him. God indeed has mercy.