The shepherds made it. So did the heavenly hosts. Mary and Joseph were there. And of course the guest of honor had arrived. He lay there in his feed box, minding his own business, soiling his own swaddling clothes. We don't know when Herod found out about this potential usurper (could have been 2 years later), but when he did he was distressed (Matt. 2.3). Herod was not a nice guy. When he was getting ready to die, he had many leaders of the people locked up in the hippodrome to be killed upon his death. Why? So that people would mourn his death vicariously through the death of their loved leaders.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is a tale that has survived through generations.
Staring down from his cave with a sour, Grinchy frown
At the warm lighted windows below in their town.
For he knew every Who down in Who-ville beneath
Was busy now, hanging a mistletoe wreath.
"And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer.
"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his grinch fingers nervously drumming,
"I MUST find a way to keep Christmas from coming!"
I cannot speak to whether Suess had this story in mind when penning his words, but they definitely seem applicable. Herod hated everything about this time. He hated the fact that his kingdom was being challenged by this infant. He hated that he was duped by wise men. And he tried his hardest to keep Christmas from coming.
Without the intervention from God, he would have succeeded. Without the dream to Joseph, to go to Egypt, we would be in a world of hurt. Without the intervention of God, there would be no joy in who-ville.
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