Grinches at Christmas

We have almost made it to Christmas. It seems like it comes around quicker each year. Christmas brings with it many wonderful things: lights and decorations, songs of joy, presents, and get-togethers with family. As the old song says, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year!”… or at least it should be.

Sadly, just as there is the presence of these wonderful things, we are far too often reminded that there are also “Grinches” or “Scrooges” that are present.

As we continue our Christmas series called “Unforgettable Christmas,” I would like to look at an event that took place that not many talk about during this season. It is not merry and bright at all. In fact, it was one of the darkest moments in history. As we look at this event, I want us to see how we can deal with the “Grinches” that may come our way during this Christmas season.

Matthew 2:13–15 CSB

After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.

Matthew 2:13-

Last week, we looked at how the Magi came to see the newborn King. This event that we are looking at today comes right on the heels of that great moment. Isn’t it strange how when something good takes place, there seems to be something that arises and tries to steal the wonder of what happened?

The Magi had come from far off to see Jesus. They first went to King Herod in Jerusalem to find out where this precious child was. As they left Bethlehem, they left by a different path because of a warning from God through a dream.

Herod had told them to return to Jerusalem and let him know where this “newborn king” was so that he might also go and see him. The problem was that Herod had no intentions of worshipping Jesus, but rather to bring harm.

Matthew 2:

Matthew 2:16–18 CSB

Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men. Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.

What would cause a person to react in this manner? Why in the world would a leader like a king order the slaughter of thousands of children?

Christmas reminds us of a battle between kingdoms

While Herod should have rejoiced at the news that the Messiah had come, he was not happy. In fact, he was outraged. The news of another “king” sent him into a fit of rage.

One truth about Christmas is that it reminds us that there is a battle going on between kingdoms. Christ did not come to be part of any kingdom here. He came to set up God’s kingdom.

The thing that bothered Herod so much is that the coming of Jesus infringed on his own kingdom that he was trying to build. If we are not careful, we can be guilty of building our own kingdom as well. We have our wants and desires, and many times there is no room for Jesus.

We cannot serve our kingdom and God’s kingdom as well. Jesus told us that each person will either be devoted to one or the other.

Hurt people hurt people

We are not told what it was in Herod’s past that caused him to act the way that he did, but there was evidently something that had caused a deep wound. It may have been nothing more than the hurt of the sin that was in him. Whatever the case, this hurt caused him to hurt others without a second thought.

Sometimes “Grinches” come about because they have been hurt themselves in the past. If you remember the Jim Carrey movie, the grinch had secluded himself because he was mistreated in his younger years because he was different. The hurt that he felt caused him to push everyone aside, build up walls around his heart, and hurt anyone who bothered to try to come close.

Sometimes we come into contact with people who have been deeply wounded in the past. The reasons behind their sourness is more of a defensive mechanism that they have developed.

Sometimes we ourselves are hurt in deep ways. We close off our hearts to other people and push them away at any cost all the while thinking that we are protecting ourselves.

The apostle Paul reminds us in that our fight is not with flesh and blood, but with the powers of darkness that are in this cruel world. We must be careful that when we come into contact with someone that seems to want to spoil this wonderful time of the year, it may very well be that someone else has ruined it for them in the past.

God’s plan cannot be stopped

Even though Herod carried out this cruel plan and tried to stop what God was doing, it did not work.

Matthew 2:19

Matthew 2:19–20 CSB

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because those who intended to kill the child are dead.”

There are times when we cannot see past the trouble or hard times that we are going through. It seems that there is no end to the storm clouds that are filling our lives at the moment.

The Bible reminds us strongly that God’s plans will not be thwarted.

Job 42:2 CSB

I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.

Matthew records for us that while Herod was seeking to kill the Christ child, he met his own end.

No matter what problem that you are going through, God’s grace is at work. It is longer, higher, and deeper than anything that might come your way.

God had a plan in sending His one and only Son to earth - to pay for humanity’s sins and conquer death. No plan or scheme of man or even Satan would stop that plan from being carried out.

God has a plan that He is wanting to carry out in your life as well. He is working all things towards that end. We may not see how all the pieces fit together, but we can trust that they will. When it is done, it will be a wonderful masterpiece.

Conclusion

Christmas should be a time of rejoicing. The king has come! God’s plan for our salvation was completed through Christ. Sadly, there are those who have not experienced that and may try to rain on the parade. We do not need to let that happen.

Realize that there is a battle between kingdoms going on. Understand that people who have been hurt will hurt others. Rest in the fact that God’s plans will never be thwarted. Do these things and this will be an unforgettable Christmas for you this year.