War Of The Star Pt 2 (Herod) - Christmas Is Hunting Season For The Dragon
Introduction
Have you ever looked at a nativity scene and pictured yourself as one of the characters? Have you imagined yourself within that scene, a character in the unfolding drama of Christmas? Perhaps a shepherd, drawn by the celestial announcement; a wise man, guided by a star to a King; Joseph, steadfast in his devotion; or Mary, mother of God? Each role offers a powerful perspective on the miraculous birth of Christ. But there's one character I doubt many of you readily identify with: Herod. The bloodthirsty tyrant, the oppressor of the Jews, a figure so steeped in darkness that he cast a shadow across the joyous light of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem.
This morning, as we dive into Matthew Chapter 2 for the second time, into the chilling narrative of Herod’s response to the birth of Jesus, I invite you to consider a challenging, uncomfortable question: Could you be like Herod in some small way? Not in the scale of his atrocities, of course—no one here aspires to such depths of depravity. But the seeds of Herod's darkness, the same corrupt soil from which his evil sprang, lie dormant within us all. Herod saw the star, the heralding of a new King, not as a sign of hope but as a declaration of war, a threat to his power. He reacted with violence, with ruthless efficiency, to safeguard his throne. And haven't we, too, felt threatened by the things of God and responded defensively, even aggressively, when our own sense of power or comfort is challenged?
Herod was vigorously selfish and violently paranoid. His evil is undeniable and not wholly his own doing. He is morally responsible, yet demonic forces amplified his internal darkness. So, too, our inward darkness is amplified by dark forces. Even during the holiday season, we are susceptible to satanic temptation. I would like for you to consider how your inner darkness may be enticed and tempted by demons during Christmas. After some deep reflection and brutal honesty with ourselves, we will find that there are some small ways in which we are like Herod, having corrupted interests that the devil and his forces target during the holiday season.
Big Idea: Christmas is hunting season for the Dragon. Herod's grotesque evil was a confluence of internal corruption—his selfish ambition, paranoia, insatiable thirst for power—and external instigation—the temptation of the adversary, the darkness that exploits our vulnerabilities. We, too, are vulnerable to this dual assault, to the insidious growth of internal corruption and the seductive pull of external temptation. Let us examine Herod's actions and consider how his story mirrors, on a vastly different scale, the struggles we all face in our own lives during Christmas.
Herod was Troubled, Matthew 2:1-6
Matthew 2:1-6, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
The arrival of the Magi, bearing their testimony of a newborn King of the Jews, sent a tremor through the heart of Herod. Herod, the Edomite, the Roman appointee, the self-proclaimed convert to Judaism, felt his carefully constructed power base crumble beneath the weight of this divine revelation. Herod shows his knowledge of Judaism by asking about the “Christ” when the Magi brought up the idea of a new “King.” The Magi didn’t mention the arrival of the “Christ.”
Herod interpreted the question about a “King” as referring to the “Christ.” He knew, as a supposed convert to Judaism, that he was not a candidate for the Messiah because he was not from the line of David. His immediate response wasn't one of awe or curiosity, but of fear and suspicion. As a convert to Judaism, he should have been excited about the coming of the Messiah. The Jews had been waiting thousands of years for the Messiah to be born and to restore God’s people.
He, the supposed steward of the Jewish faith, summoned the chief priests and scribes, seeking confirmation or, perhaps, a way to dismiss the threat posed by this child. His knowledge of Scripture and apparent piety masked a deep-seated insecurity, a desperate clinging to power. He was informed of the prophecy of the Messiah’s birthplace. The proximity of Bethlehem to Jerusalem—only five or six miles—amplified his unease. The new King was right on his doorstep. The Messiah was foretold to lead His people like a “shepherd.” This word picture implies guidance, care, and compassion, traits utterly antithetical to Herod’s own rule of oppression and violence. A better King had just been born down the street, and Herod felt he had to destroy him.
Herod's Plan, Matthew 2:7-8, 12
Matthew 2:7-8, 12, “7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him…12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
Herod’s subsequent actions are calculated and deceitful. He pretends to be holy, requesting information on the star's appearance so he can “worship” the child. His true intentions are far from devout. His plan is to locate and eliminate this potential rival. You may wonder why he didn’t send an armed guard with the wise men to kill the child upon finding him. Open aggression like that may have alerted them to his true motives and caused them to cease cooperation. Herod relied on cunning, manipulating the situation to his advantage, rather than brute force. It was subtle and deceptive. And it's only through God's intervention, a divine warning in a dream, that the wise men escape Herod's trap, defying his orders and returning to their country by a different route.
Herod’s Attack, Matthew 2: 16-18
Matthew 2:16-18, “16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
When Herod realizes he’s been outwitted, his rage knows no bounds. His response is an act of unspeakable brutality: the massacre of innocent children. He orders the death of every male child in Bethlehem, two years old and under. In a town with an estimated population of 1,000, this would be about twenty children. Sadly, this brutal act was not out of character for Herod. In his later years, Herod became highly paranoid about losing his power. He shed a lot of blood to appease his paranoia, including that of three of his sons, whom he saw as a threat to his throne.
This massacre, however, is not solely the work of Herod. The Book of Revelation paints a vivid picture of the spiritual forces at play.
Revelation 12:3-6, 3’ And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.”
John uses vivid imagery to speak of the spiritual dimension behind the killing of the innocent children of Bethlehem. The child is said to “rule all the nations” and having been “caught up to God” and “his throne,” these are clear indicators that John is speaking about Jesus Christ. The dragon tried eliminating the child, just like Herod did the Messiah. So, the complete picture of the massacre of the baby boys of Bethlehem was that both Herod and Satan were responsible. Herod’s actions, then, are not just the result of human depravity; they are a manifestation of demonic influence, a tangible expression of the spiritual battle raging between good and evil. Satan's involvement, however, doesn’t absolve Herod. He remains responsible for his actions, even when amplified by demonic forces.
The concept of demonic influence might seem far-fetched, a narrative reserved for biblical figures and historical villains. We might dismiss it as irrelevant to our modern lives. But the subtle temptations, the insidious growth of selfishness, and the quiet surrender to darkness are all manifestations of the same spiritual struggle. While we may not be susceptible to the same degree of demonic influence as Herod, our hearts are still vulnerable, particularly as we are doing the thing Satan hates the most: celebrating Christ. Satan is the ultimate Grinch, and he is trying to rob Christ of his glory.
Conclusion:
Christmas is hunting season for the Dragon. We are not Herod, but the seeds of darkness reside within us all, and we are all prey to the evil one. We would be foolish to think that the Dragon is hibernating during Christmas. He is active and alert to how he can alienate your heart from worshipping Christ. His strategy against you is not as outlandish, demonstrative, and vile as the scheme he enticed Herod to be a part of. My guess is that he is subtly shifting your focus away from Christ and maybe slightly distorting good intentions into distorted realities.
Steps:
As a follower of Christ, has your focus on your family during the holidays turned into the exclusion of those longing for community and needing a relationship with Christ? I was talking with a pastor friend of mine about this. He confessed that his focus on family during Christmas unintentionally led him to forget about those around him who were in spiritual need. He felt like he needed to allow God to disrupt some of his traditions in order to partner with God in leading people to himself during the holidays. Christmas is the time when many are thinking about attending church services. The holidays are an excellent opportunity for the people we love to hear about the hope of Jesus Christ. Please consider who you can invite into your Christmas Eve tradition. We are hosting three services on Christmas Eve, where we will be mindful of those who are spiritually open to being introduced to the true wonder of Christmas. Would you consider giving one of the greatest gifts, an invitation to meet with Jesus, to one of your loved ones this season?
Maybe you are here and would not yet call yourself a follower of Christ. You may still be searching for answers. I applaud your curiosity and am honored that you have allowed us to be a spiritually safe place for your journey. I hope you see that there are spiritual forces at play in your curiosity. God is drawing you to Himself, just like He did the Wise Men. Satan is also trying to keep you from worshiping Christ, just as he did in a violent way with Herod. I pray you will see that your greatest need this season is not for a physical gift. Our greatest need is forgiveness and fellowship: forgiveness for our sins and restored fellowship with God. Christmas is about how God provided the gift of forgiveness to the world through His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ was born, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins, and He rose again. This gift is accepted by faith. Faith in Christ is expressed by admitting that we are sinners, believing in Christ's death and resurrection, and confessing Him as the Lord of our lives. My prayer is that you will come to faith this Christmas season.
Life Level Application
Head: Read Matthew 13:1-23. Herod’s "conversion" to Judaism was superficial. Consider the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23; what is the difference between hearing the Word of God and actually bearing fruit? How can we discern genuine faith from merely outward conformity?
Heart: Read 1 John 2:15-17. Herod's fear stemmed from a perceived threat to his power. How does this relate to the warnings in 1 John 2:15-17 about the love of the world and its opposition to God? What are some modern things people may prioritize over God?
Hand: Read 1 Peter 5:8. The devil is described as “prowling around like a roaring lion.” What is the significance of this imagery? What does it suggest about the devil's methods and tactics? How can we be “watchful” against the devil's attacks, especially during Christmas? What practical steps can we take to maintain spiritual vigilance?
Habit: How can God use you to bring those around you closer to Christ during this holiday season?