24/12/2023
When you hear the name Herod around this time of year, what do you think about it?
In his day, he was also known for building many fortresses, aqueducts, theatres, and other public buildings. He was known as Herod The Great. But when we talk about Herod, we don't talk about what he built but about who he tried to kill.
Herod ordered the death of every boy under 2 near Bethlehem in a failed attempt to kill Jesus. By this time, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus had already fled to Egypt, not only to escape the wrath of that corrupt king. But also to fulfill the prophecy of Hosea 11:1.
But Herod is not the only persecutor of Christ. The Bible tells us in Matthew 25:40–45 that how we treat the marginalized and the vulnerable is how we treat God. Whether it is Widows, Orphans, Foreigners, The sick, The disabled, Prisoners, or The poor.
Many of us have fallen short of the mission, but that doesn't mean it's too late to make a conscious decision to follow Christ. When you ask yourself what Jesus would do, remember the words written in Proverbs: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9)
Map from:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Herod-king-of-Judaea
