Nativity: Throne of Evil

Welcome to the Christmas series! Herod, boiling in a jealous rage, commits the same act as Pharaoh did long ago. In a chaotic and fiery frenzy, children are taken from their homes and killed, all because of the pride of one man.

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As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel.

They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
And we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love Him, who have been
called according to His purpose Romans eight twenty eight. Lord,
in the midst of chaos, darkness, and despair, you are
a steady and reliable pillar for us to lean on.
We know that every trial and hardship work together for

(00:23):
our good and your glory. Give us the faith to
move forward with hope and assurance in your plan. When
we feel weak and lost, guide us with your word
and remind us of all your promises. We know that
just because we believe in you doesn't mean we are

(00:43):
immune to hardship. Rather, we know that purpose can be
found in the midst of our ship. Thank you in
advance for all the lessons and growth that will come
from our struggles. Continue to love and guide us through
it all in Jesus's name. Amen, Thank you for praying

(01:05):
with me today. Stay tuned now for another episode of
Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
Herod's smile was a serpent's grin as he raised his
glass to the wise men.

Speaker 3 (01:25):
Then perhaps the rumors hold true, my lords, A new
king may indeed grace our land glory to God.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
But his eyes were stormy, seas churning with rage and fear.

Speaker 3 (01:40):
Should you find the child, do return and tell me
so that I too may pay my respects.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
The Magi thanked Harod and departed. Herod watched them leave,
his smile changing into a snarl as the door closed
behind them. Messiah or not, he hissed in a venomous whisper,
no one will dethrone me. His eyes blazed with malevolence
that recalled the cruelty of Pharaoh long ago. With a

(02:08):
cry of fury, he hurled his cup against the wall
and summoned his gods.

Speaker 4 (02:13):
Slay every boy under two, show no mercy.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
To those who defy me.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
He slumped back into his throne, his thoughts a whirlwind
of paranoia and infant shall not undo me. He vowed
the words a dark oath. The palace seemed to shudder
at his command, a foreboding silence descending as Herod's madness
spiraled further into the darkness.

Speaker 3 (02:40):
A void of which there could be no return.

Speaker 5 (02:44):
Shaloman AlOH, Welcome to another episode of story to the Messiah.
I'm Rabbi Schneider from discovering the Jewish Jesus today's episode
is jarring and unsettling. As much as we would love
for the Christmas story to end on a high note
with Joseph and Mary blissfully walking off into the sunset,
that isn't how the Gospel's told. You see, Jesus's birth

(03:07):
isn't the happy ending. It begins God's mission to rid
the world of evil. That evil will be put on
full display in this episode. The chilling account of Herod's
order to kill all the male children in Bethlehem aged
two and under is a dark shadow in the story
of Jus' birth. This heartbreaking event, often called the massacre

(03:28):
of the Innocence, reveals profound truths about the human condition
and God's redemptive plan. Let's not shy away from hard
stories like these. The darkness of mankind is revealed to
us so that the light of Christ can shine all
the brighter. Let's dive back into the story now. At
the end, we'll search for the redemptive truths and silver linings.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
Herod's mind was a twisted labyrinth of pride and paranoia.
A dark forest of fear and obsession haunted him. His
throne was his identity, his power, the essence of his being.
The mere whispers of a new born king sent tremors
through his mind. Herod hadn't even spared his own sons

(04:14):
from his paranoid rage, so this newborn stranger would be
no different. He was prepared to drown the paranoia and
fear in the blood of innocence. The orders were given,
cold and merciless.

Speaker 4 (04:30):
Slay every boy under two from here to the outskirts
of Bethlehem.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
He commanded, his voice the edge of a knife, burn.

Speaker 3 (04:40):
Their houses, if you must, let the flames purge our
land of this false poe.

Speaker 2 (04:50):
His soldiers were seasoned men of war and subjects to Caesar,
but even they found themselves at a moral crossroads. Their
loyalty to their king battled the humanity that still flickered
within their hearts. They had faced death on the battlefield
and had shed blood in the name of Caesar, but this,
this was a horror they had never imagined. The first

(05:13):
village was a peaceful settlement, nestled in the shadow of
the mountains.

Speaker 4 (05:17):
As the soldiers.

Speaker 2 (05:18):
Approached, the air was filled with children's laughter and the
scent of freshly baked bread. Their orders were clear, their
path defined, but as they looked into the eyes of
the mothers and fathers and the innocent children. Their hearts wavered,
a fragile dam holding back a torrent of doubt and despair.
Are remonsters, one soldier whispered to another as they set

(05:42):
fire to the houses, the flames leaping like hungry demons.
Is this what we have become?

Speaker 3 (05:49):
The King's will be done?

Speaker 2 (05:51):
The other replied, his voice hollow, his eyes haunted. We
have no choice, but there is always a choice. Hideous
evil is often committed by those who feel they have
no way out. The soldiers pressed on the village after village,
a trail of tears and ash marking their path. They

(06:12):
pried children out of their mother's arms and executed the
fathers who tried to stand in their way. The horror
of parents losing children became a relentless nightmare, a wound
that would never heal. Some soldiers broke their minds, shattered
by the atrocities they were committing. Others pressed on their
humanity a distant memory, their souls numb to the suffering.

(06:37):
In one village, a mother clung to her child, her
eyes wide with terror, as the soldiers approached. Her husband
stood before her a broken man, his face a mask
of despair. Take me instead, he begged, his voice, a
plea to the heavens, take my life, but spare my son.

(06:59):
But the soldiers continued their course. Their swords and torches
cut through the valley of Anatoth. The cries of babies,
growls of fathers, and laments of mothers filled the air,
all in the name of Herod, sitting atop his throne
of evil. The prophetic words of Jeremiah hung in the air.

(07:21):
A voice was heard in rama lamentation, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children. She wouldn't be comforted because
they are no more. Herod's hideous acts mirrored Pharaohs long
ago when he chose to drown the Hebrew children in
the Nile. Yet out of that tragedy a hero emerged,

(07:45):
a child who was spared for the sake of rising
to deliver those very people. If Herod had understood the
story of Moses, he would have known that God would
not suffer evil rulers. Long after a Nottath the soul
just traveled to the town of Bethany, Flames engulfed any
home that refused Herod's decree. The soldiers did quick work

(08:09):
searing their souls along with the houses. Finally, they set
their sights on Bethlehem. They traveled across rolling hills, bent
on finding the King of the Jews.

Speaker 5 (08:23):
Herod's act was born of pride and paranoia. Having heard
from the magi about a new born king, he saw
a threat to his power. His pride led to an
atrocious act of violence against innocent children. Pride blinds us,
binding us in a self centered prison where power and
prestige become the gods we serve. Herod's pride, driven by

(08:45):
a need to protect his rule, resulted in destruction. The
biblical warning is clear, pride proceeds destruction and a haughty
spirit before a fall. Herod's tragic story is a cautionary
tale for all of us. We must examine our hearts
for traces of toxic pride that can lead to spiritual decay.

(09:06):
Hero was not the first ruler to fall victim to
paranoian pride. The dark parallels between Herod and Pharaoh are striking.
Just as Herod sought to kill the children of Bethlehem,
Pharaoh ordered the death of the Hebrew male children in Egypt.
Both rulers were driven by fear and a desire to
maintain control the horrendous acts or attempts to suppress what

(09:27):
they perceived as threats to their power. But here's where
the story of redemption unfolds. The connection between Jesus and
Moses comes in. Moses was saved from Pharaoh's decree and
raised to lead the Israelites out of slavery, becoming a
symbol of liberation and law. In our next episode, we'll
see how Jesus escapes Herod's massacre. He would lead people

(09:51):
to the ultimate liberation from sin and death, fulfilling the law.
Moses was the type of savior for his people, but
Jesus is a savior for all humanity. Jesus was the
greater Moses. Both were protected and preserved by God's sovereign hand,
demonstrating that no human power can thwart God's purpose and plan.

(10:13):
The contrast between the glory of the Magi's visit and
the horror of Herod's massacre can be jarring, but it's
within this juxtaposition that we see a powerful truth. Even
in the wake of hideous acts and evil rulers, God
is working in the margins Herod's atrocity didn't derail God's
plan for salvation. In fact, it fulfilled the prophecy from

(10:36):
Jeremiah thirty one fifteen, showing that God's redemptive plan was
in motion even in the darkest moments. God's ways are
not thwarted by human sinner failure. His redemption works through
and sometimes despite our brokenness. God's gray shines even in
the darkest places, offering hope and healing. As we celebrate Christmas,

(10:59):
let us remember the whole story, not just the joyful beginning.
Let us reflect on our need for a savior, the
cost of our redemption, and the amazing grace of a
God who works in the margins to bring about his
perfect plan. Romans eight twenty eight says, And we know
that in all things God works for the good of
those who love Him, who have been called according to

(11:20):
his purpose. This Christmas, may we find comfort in God's
sovereign love and purpose, trusting that He is working all
things together for our good, even when life's circumstances seem
bleak and hopeless. May we relinquish our pride and bowble
for the humble King Jesus who came to set us

(11:40):
free join us for our final episode of the Nativity,
as Joseph has once again called in a dream to
participate in God's spectacular plan to dwell deeper into the
story of Jesus. You're welcome to visit Discovering the Jewishist
dot com. I'd also like to recommend my new book,
Messianic Prophecy of Seeing Messiah in the Pages of the

(12:03):
Hebrew Bible. It's available via my website. If this podcast
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