The birth of Jesus Christ is one of the most significant events in Christian history, celebrated worldwide as Christmas. However, alongside the joy and hope that His birth brought to the world, there was also a shadow of danger and fear. Shortly after His birth, King Herod, the ruler of Judea at the time, ordered the massacre of all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem, in a ruthless attempt to kill baby Jesus. This event, known as the “Massacre of the Innocents,” is an important part of the biblical narrative, highlighting the threat posed by the birth of the Messiah to the political power structures of the time. In this article, we will explore who wanted to kill baby Jesus, why they wanted to do so, and how the Holy Family managed to escape this terrible fate.
The King Who Wanted to Kill Baby Jesus
Herod the Great was the ruler who sought to kill baby Jesus. He was appointed as the King of Judea by the Roman Empire and ruled from 37 BC until his death in 4 BC. Herod’s reign was marked by significant political maneuvering, building projects, and harsh methods to maintain power. Though he was known for his monumental architecture, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, he was also infamous for his cruelty and paranoia.
Herod’s fear of losing his throne made him a tyrant. He was deeply insecure about anyone who could challenge his rule, especially anyone who might claim to be the “King of the Jews.” When the magi (wise men) from the East arrived in Jerusalem seeking the newborn King of the Jews, Herod was disturbed. These men were guided by a star and came to worship the child they believed to be the long-awaited Messiah. Herod, feeling threatened, sought to deceive them.
Herod’s Plan to Kill Baby Jesus
Upon hearing about the birth of the “King of the Jews,” Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes to determine where the Messiah was to be born. They referred to the prophecy in the Hebrew scriptures, which stated that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, in the region of Judea. Herod then invited the magi to meet with him, pretending to be interested in worshipping the child. He instructed them to find the child and return to him with the exact location, under the guise of wanting to worship Him too.
However, Herod’s true intention was to locate the baby Jesus and eliminate any threat to his reign. The magi, warned in a dream not to return to Herod, took a different route back to their homeland. When Herod realized that the magi had outsmarted him, his rage knew no bounds.
The Massacre of the Innocents
Unable to find Jesus, Herod ordered the brutal massacre of all male children aged two and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding regions. This horrific act, known as the “Massacre of the Innocents,” was an attempt to eliminate any possible threat to his throne. The Bible records this tragedy in the Gospel of Matthew:
“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men” (Matthew 2:16, ESV).
This event paints a dark picture of Herod’s character—ruthless, power-hungry, and willing to go to any lengths to secure his position.
Why Did Herod Want to Kill Baby Jesus?
Herod’s desire to kill Jesus stemmed from several factors, chief among them being his fear of losing his throne. Herod was already an insecure ruler, knowing that he was not fully accepted by the Jewish people. His position as king had been granted by the Romans, not by divine right or by the Jewish people, which led to his deep paranoia.
When the magi, who had traveled from the East, came looking for the newborn King of the Jews, Herod immediately saw this as a challenge to his authority. The title “King of the Jews” was something he could not tolerate being usurped by a child. Herod had already murdered members of his own family—his wife, his sons, and others—who he believed posed a threat to his rule. The thought of a rival king being born in his territory was too much for him to bear.
In addition to his political fears, Herod was likely motivated by the belief that the Jewish Messiah, as prophesied in their scriptures, would be a powerful leader who could overthrow him. The coming of a new king represented not just a political threat, but also a religious one. The Jewish people were waiting for a Messiah who would deliver them from oppression, and Herod feared this child could fulfill that prophecy.
The Holy Family’s Escape
As Herod’s plans unfolded, an angel appeared to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, in a dream. The angel warned Joseph of Herod’s plot and instructed him to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt to escape the massacre. Joseph obeyed without hesitation, and in the middle of the night, he took his family and left for Egypt, where they stayed until Herod’s death. The Gospel of Matthew recounts this divine intervention:
“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way” (Matthew 2:12, ESV).
This miraculous intervention protected the young Jesus, and the family remained safe in Egypt until the threat from Herod had passed.
Herod’s Death and Aftermath
Herod died in 4 BC, and after his death, an angel again appeared to Joseph, telling him it was safe to return to Israel. However, when Joseph heard that Herod’s son Archelaus was now ruling in Judea, he was afraid to return there. Instead, Joseph took his family to the region of Galilee and settled in the town of Nazareth, fulfilling another prophecy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23).
Herod’s death did not stop the political turmoil in Judea, but it did bring an end to the direct threat against the Holy Family. The massacre of the innocents remained a dark chapter in the history of Herod’s reign.
Theological Significance
The story of Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus holds deep theological significance. It emphasizes the lengths to which evil will go to oppose the light of Christ. Herod’s actions, as described in the Gospel of Matthew, reflect the opposition Jesus would face throughout His life. From His birth to His crucifixion, Jesus was a figure that threatened the established powers, both political and religious.
Furthermore, the escape of the Holy Family to Egypt underscores the divine protection that surrounded Jesus. Even in the midst of intense evil, God’s plan for salvation remained intact. Jesus, the Messiah, would fulfill His mission, regardless of the opposition He faced.
Conclusion
The desire to kill baby Jesus was driven by the fear and paranoia of King Herod, who saw the birth of the Messiah as a direct threat to his throne. His brutal response—ordering the Massacre of the Innocents—demonstrates the lengths to which he was willing to go to maintain his power. However, God’s divine intervention protected Jesus and ensured the fulfillment of the prophecies surrounding His birth. The story serves as a reminder of the great spiritual significance of Jesus’ coming into the world and the opposition He faced from the very beginning of His life on earth. Through it all, the Holy Family was protected, and God’s plan for salvation continued to unfold.
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