The Grinch Redux

“How could anyone not want Christmas to come!” The Grinch sure hated it? Was it the shoes that were too small? The head screwed on wrong?

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!


Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.


It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.


It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.


But I think that the most likely reason of all


May have been that his heart was two sizes too small. (Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 1957)

Whatever the reason, he hated the season! (unfortunate rhyme)

It was before the commercialism and the unfortunate accident with the reindeer that befell Grandma! It was prior to the rise of fruitcakes and that dreadful “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas song”! I have written previously about Herod’s feeble attempt to stop Christmas from coming; but the greater question is “WHY”?

During Jesus Ministry there were numerous times when people didn’t want him around. Think of the people of the region of the Gadarenes. Jesus shows up and heals the demon-possessed men and they pleaded (parakaleo) him to leave, just as the demons pleaded (parakaleo) with Jesus to send them into the pigs (Matthew 8.28-34). I guess seeing power in practice can frighten some people! (unfortunate alliteration)

The Pharisees tried to get rid of him after he healed a man in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Matthew 12.9-14). I guess seeing love trump law would alienate some people! (unfortunate alliteration)

When Jesus returned home and tried to teach in the synagogue, the people took offense (skandalizo) at him (Matthew 13.53-58). Skandalizo is the word from which we get our English word scandalize. It usually implies a removal of the offender (Matthew 5.29-30; 18.9; 24.10). The people in his own hometown wanted him to go away. Just three verses prior they were amazed at his teaching; now they are offended. I guess seeing a native prophet (hb. nevi if you want to continue with the theme) can offend some people! (unfortunate alliteration)

But what was Herod’s deal? During Jesus’ ministry, he was not shy about telling people to make a decision about him. He knew who his family was (Matthew 12.46-50)! But this baby; what was really polarizing about him? It was usually when Jesus taught that some people would get angry; but now well before he told his first parable, or gave his first sermon, Herod was angry!

I have very few Christmas songs that I enjoy. The North Point’s iBand is a nice change of pace for me (check them out here); but I really only like a couple Christmas songs. My personal favorites are “Hallelujah He is Born” (Sawyer Brown does a great rendition here) and “Little Town of Bethlehem”. There is one line that stands out to me in “Little Town of Bethlehem.”

“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;


The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” (Phillips Brooks, 1867)

Herod saw the possibility of his throne being usurped. He wasn’t the only one who would be scared. On that night the world met the Savior and was force to decide what to do with him: To Worship or to Worry! (the alliteration is just flowing now)

John said it best:

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1.10-11)

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3.19)

He came, though men would try to stop Him from coming (Herod i.e. The Grinch) and men would argue and rebel (the Pharisees); and now we must decide how to receive him. Will receive him as the Magi and Shepherds did offering praise; or as Herod a threatened politician whose only thought was: "I must stop Christmas from coming somehow!"