Passion Week – The Rest of the Beginning

Most people know the basics surrounding Jesus’ birth, including the manger where he lay and the visits by the shepherds and the Wise Men.  What some may not know, and what we sometimes ignore, is what happened after the Wise Men left.

When the Wise Men inquired of Herod about the birth of the Jewish King, Herod feigned interest so that he could worship the newborn king.  Fortunately, God alerted the Wise Men to his true intent, and they avoided him by taking a different route (Matthew 2:12). 

Unfortunately, that did not stop Herod in his ruthless quest for power.  He had killed multiple family members and was ready to take on anyone who challenged his rule—even a toddler.  From the conversation with the Magi, he knew the child was no more than two years old, so he ordered the murder of every male child in Bethlehem who was two or younger.  The prophet, Jeremiah, had foreseen Satan’s attack long before it took place (Jeremiah 31:15), but I’m sure that was little comfort to the grieving parents. 

Bethlehem was a small village, so the number that were slaughtered was probably small, but the effect on the families would have been tremendous.  The thought of a soldier ripping a child from a mother’s arms is terrifying, but for the parents, it would have been devastating.  Did those parents blame God for saving His child and not theirs?  When Jesus began His ministry, did they realize that He was that child? 

The slaughter in Bethlehem was Satan’s feeble attempt to destroy the Savior of the world. Thankfully, God stepped in to stop him. Today, Satan continues his attacks on the Lord’s Church, as millions around the world are faced with loss of family, jobs, homes, freedom, and even their lives.  God still sees the pain and continues to provide the strength to persevere.  Our faith prevails because we’ve read the end of the Book and we know that we win in the end! 

Read: Matthew 2:1 – 18

Food for Thought:

• How do you view God when bad things happen to those you love?  Do you seek shelter in His arms, or do you rage against Him?

• How can we find peace in Christ even when the world seems to be spinning out of control?  How can we help others to do the same?

• How can we learn to trust God more, knowing that He sees the “big picture” and is working all things out for our good?

For a fictional perspective on the grieving parents of Bethlehem, read Chapter 4 of The Shepherd’s Quest, by Elaine C. Duncan, available on Amazon.