This is a dark story. It is probably not the first choice for many. However, if your group is looking for something different and has already covered the Christmas story multiple times, this is an important element that is often overlooked. That Mary would not have exchanged all the gifts for one less mother’s grief is unquestionable, the price of bringing Jesus into the world was felt by everyone he encountered in his early days. There is a short and long version of the story written below, use the one best suited to your group.
This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.
Main Passage : Matthew 2
SHORT VERSION
Herod’s palace was huge, between its two wings in the enormous courtyard stood a few travellers. Soon they met the King.
One of the men stepped forward, looking excited. “Great King Herod” he proclaimed in a loud voice, “We are Magi, we study the skies for signs. When we saw a huge star rising in the west, we knew it must mean a powerful new ruler had been born. We have bought gifts for the child and wish to worship this powerful new king.”
King Herod looked like someone had punched him.
“What child?” roared the King, his face starting to turn purple. “I am the only king.” Then he stormed out of the room.
Fear and jealousy mixed in king Herod’s mind. The annoying religious priests and the Roman Empire were bad enough, now came a king so great his arrival was written in the stars. Quickly, he sent all his officials into a panic. He needed to know every detail and prophecy.
Herod discovered the promised Messiah’s would be born in Bethlehem and his kingdom would be so great it would have no end. More fear and more jealousy filled Herod, until his thoughts turned dark with a terrible idea. A really evil thought. “Babies can’t lead armies or steal crowns.” A smooth voice whispered in his head, “If you could find the baby, you could have him killed.”
Herod called the Magi. He asked them to come back when they found the child. Then Herod waited. Days and weeks passed by as Herod’s anger and jealousy grew. Finally, he realised the travellers would not return. He didn’t know they had been warned in a dream to take a different road home. He also didn’t know that Joseph had also had a dream telling him to run to Egypt with Mary and Jesus.
What would Herod do now? Risk losing his crown to a new king?
Nope!
Herod would choose to kill instead. The problem was: Herod didn’t know which child to kill. The solution: he killed them all. Every baby boy under the age of 2 born in Bethlehem.
If only Herod had looked a bit closer, he might have noticed that Jesus would be a different kind of king, not interested in Herod’s crown.
Jesus became a refugee and when Herod died and the family returned, they chose Nazareth, not Bethlehem, to call home.
LONGER VERSION
Herod’s palace was huge, between its two wings in the enormous courtyard stood a few travellers looking totally impressed. “This must be the place” they whispered among themselves. Eventually, they were shown into a very grand room and met the great King Herod. They weren’t the only one looking pleased, the palace officials had told King Herod that the travellers had brought gifts and King Herod loved getting gifts.
Silence fell and one of the men stepped forward-looking excited
“Great King Herod” he proclaimed in a loud voice. “We are Magi, we study the heavens for signs. When we saw a huge star rising in the west, we knew it must mean a powerful new ruler had been born. So we have travelled many days and nights to find the land under which it rose. We have bought gifts for the child and wish to worship this powerful new king.”
The room froze. The smiles dropped from the faces of those who had crowded to hear, King Herod looked like someone had punched him. The Magi saw the change, and they started to look worried too.
“What child?” roared the King, his face starting to turn purple. “I am the only king.” — he turned his back on the men and, calling his advisers, stormed out of the room. The Magi looked puzzled, obviously they had said the wrong thing.
Herod was furious. Not only did he have to deal with the religious priests who controlled the masses, and the Roman Empire breathing down his back, now he had a king he would have to battle, a king so great his arrival was written in the stars. Herod didn’t stand a chance against someone so great. Fear and jealousy mixed in his mind. Quickly, he sent all his officials into a panic. He needed to know everything. The Magi were quizzed about the star, while scribes were called to tell Herod of any prophecies regarding kings.
Herod discovered the Jewish messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem, to a descendant of the great King David. It was said the Messiah’s kingdom would be so great it would have no end. More fear, more jealousy, Herod’s thoughts turned dark, he had a terrible idea. A really evil thought. The child was just a baby, and babies can’t lead armies or steal crowns. A smooth voice whispered in his head “If you could find the baby you could have him killed.” “Wait Herod” – came another voice in his head, “he’s only a baby!” Sometimes ideas tempt you to do something, other times they tell you what you should do. Herod had a choice – which voice would he listen to?
Herod called the Magi. He told them all he knew and asked them to come back when they found the child because he too wanted to worship him. Herod was lying. He wanted to know if the stars were true, if there really was a king. The magi left to find the child, and Herod waited. He waited days, and weeks, and every day his anger and jealousy grew. Finally, he realised the travellers would not return. Herod didn’t know they had been warned in a dream to take a different road home. He didn’t know that Joseph had also had a dream telling him to run to Egypt with Mary and Jesus.
Again he had to choose what to do. He could walk away, risk losing his crown to a new king when the child grew up, if the child even existed. But Herod didn’t choose that. Herod chose to kill instead. Because Herod didn’t know which child to kill, he killed them all, every baby boy under the age of 2 born in Bethlehem. If only Herod had looked a bit closer, he might have noticed that Jesus would be a different kind of king, not interested in Herod’s crown.
Jesus, that small child laying in a manger, had come at a great cost. Mary had been at risk of being stoned for carrying a child before her wedding. Joseph had needed to abandon his home and work. Magi had risked dangerous journeys to reach him. And now, the town that heard his first cry was full of mothers crying for their lost children. Jesus was a refugee until a few years later, the great king Herod died, and they returned, not to Bethlehem but Nazareth. Everyone has made choices, some good, some bad, but the best choice of all was made by God, to send his son to Earth.
