Infants Slaughtered—Again

The entire nation is struggling with the news of the murder of 20 little children and several adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. This was the 18th mass murder event in 2012.  See Joel C. Rosenberg's blog for more disturbing statistics.

In eleven days from this posting the Christian church will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents, December 28. This bitter-sweet feast remembers King Herod's order to slaughter all the male children in Bethlehem two years old and under (Matt. 2:16-18). Matthew tells us that this was a fulfillment of a prophecy by Jeremiah (Jer. 31:15).

"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." - Mat 2:18 ESV

In typical fashion Herod attempted to eliminate yet another threat to his rule as king of the Jews. When the wise men from the East fled the country without telling him where to find the baby born two years earlier according to the prophecy about the coming of the Messiah, he decided to make sure the child did not grow up to challenge him. So he ordered the murder of all male children two years old and under. This is not surprising since Herod put to death several of his own children and some of his wives. Emperor Augustus reportedly said it was better to be Herod's sow than his son, for his sow had a better chance of surviving in a Jewish community that did not eat pork (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 1985).

The Massacre of the Innocents - by Daniele da VOLTERRA - from Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

How many did Herod murder? There were maybe 600 people in this little village five miles or so down the road from Jerusalem. So how many male children two and under would there be in such a town? 15, 20, 30 at most. Regardless of the number, these were little boys who did nothing to deserve death and yet they were killed—by order of the governing authorities. Why? How could God permit such violence? On top of those questions is the note from Matthew that this was prophesied hundreds of years earlier.

How do we Christians make sense of all this violence, evil and blood? There are a couple important points to make at the outset.

• The murder of innocent babies is a common event in the United States. As a nation we have chosen to ignore it and call it by other names. I speak about the legal murder of over 1.2 million innocents through abortion, babies murdered by their own mothers. This is murder approved by the decision of the highest court in our land. 

• Further, the FBI reports more than 15,000 murder or non-negligent manslaughter cases annually in the U.S.A. Aggravated assault cases often reach above 800,000. We live in a violent society. 

• All this suggests that we ought not be surprised at what happened in Connecticut, though we quite naturally are. 

We pray for those grieving families in Connecticut, together with their relatives and friends throughout the United States. We pray that they be helped to work through their grief and loss and ultimately move beyond it. There is much to be done to help them through counseling and spiritual guidance. We must also pray for those who provide such that they have wisdom, understanding and patience. One or the other of us who read these words may be directly involved. 

Beyond this, the church, the body of Christ in this world, recognizes that Christmas is so much more than the mere singing of happy songs, sharing gifts and the spouting of empty greetings. In this happy season the slaughter of innocents reminds us of why the Christ Child came. He came to carry in His own body our sin and the rebellion, violence, grief and pain that flows from it. He came to become one with us and carry the ultimate eternal punishment for our sin in His own violent death on the cross of Calvary. If it seems as if God the Father does not hear our cries of pain and loss, then we do well to remember Jesus' cries for us upon that cross, "My God why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). 

In the midst of the evil, suffering, sorrow and loss we have a God who has not forsaken us. He will not. Instead He has come to be one with us. In Christ we look above and beyond to His return in glory to make all things new. In that Day all will be made whole and peace will finally come to all mankind. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of that day. He invites us to join him in faith.  

"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.' For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. - Jer 31:10-12 ESV

No Peace Without Violence

All along I thought this was a season of peace on earth, good will toward men. But then I read the Gospel lesson appointed by the church for this third Advent week (Matthew 11:2-15) and am quite taken back. It's all about John the Baptist, that rough, tough, tell it like it is guy who scorned luxury to live in the desert and dine on wild honey and locusts. Some diet! This is no push-over man. He's not bent this way or that like some politicians by whatever favorable wind is blowing his way. He's a prophet, a Nahvi (Exodus 7:1), a man called by God to trumpet openly and powerfully the Word of God. And when he does violence occurs.

John's preaching out on the other side of the Jordan river caused a wave of excitement among the Jews. The crowds were longing for change and he gave them what they were asking for. He announced the imminent coming of the long-awaited Kingdom. The messianic King was in their midst and he, John, was being sent by God to announce his presence. "So get your house and your lives in order," he shouted. "Get rid of all the lies, the greed, the lust and the selfishness that fills your lives. Admit it, confess it and be cleansed from it by the water of this river. It's time for a new beginning, a new start for your lives. The Kingdom of God is upon you!"

They responded to his message by the hundreds. The wave of excitement grew until it swept across the land. This was their time. They believed it. They poured out to hear John's message, pushing, shoving, demanding and forcing John to baptize them and tell them more. Who was the Messiah? Where was he hiding? When would he appear? Would the Romans indeed be driven out? What was to happen next?

Jesus affirms John's preaching. In himself, Jesus, the Kingdom has indeed come. He is the King and not only was John his forerunner and a prophet, he was more than a prophet. He was the last of the ancient prophets to forecast the Messiah's coming. The King has arrived and John is the one to proclaim his presence with unquenchable passion.

This peace we Christians like to sing about today is also not brought about without violence. By using that peculiar word Jesus is telling us that we, like John, are called by the living and risen Christ to move out with confidence, zeal and determination to capture the world around us and those living in it for the Kingdom. In our hands is the same sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17, Isaiah 49:2). With it we are indeed doing violence to the demonically controlled kingdoms of this world.

I'm all for peace, but not the make-believe kind offered by princes and politicians. The only lasting and eternal peace is the kind that comes when we accept the message of Christ the King and kneel before our him in homage and faith. The Prince of Peace has indeed come, but the peace he brings came at the cost of his violent death at the hands of adversaries who passionately hated him. The same intensity marks those of us who proclaim his coming. Through power of that Word the Holy Spirit is conquering the hearts of men and the Kingdom is being established. This is the only kind of peace that will survive into eternity.