Herod and the Devil

Extracted and adapted from a sermon by John Knox (1505-1572)

“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. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.’” – Matthew 2:16-18

How Satan raged at the tiding of Christ’s nativity! What blood he caused to be shed on purpose to have murdered Christ in His infancy! The evangelist Saint Matthew witnesses that in all the coasts and borders of Bethlehem the children of two years old and less age were murdered without mercy. A fearful spectacle and horrid example of insolent and unaccustomed tyranny!

And what is the cause moving Satan thus to rage against innocents, considering that by reason of their imperfections they could not hurt his kingdom of that instant? Oh, the crafty eye of Satan looked farther than to the present time; he heard reports by the wise men, that they had learned by the appearance of a star that the King of the Jews was born; and he was not ignorant that the time prophesied of Christ’s coming was then instant; for a stranger was clad with the crown and scepter of Judah.

The angel had declared the glad tidings to the shepherds, that a Savior, which is Christ the Lord, was born in the city of David. All these tidings inflamed the wrath and malice of Satan, for he perfectly understood that he coming of the promised Seed was appointed to his confusion, and to the breading down of his head and tyranny; and therefore he raged most cruelly, even at the first hearing of Christ’s birth, thinking that although he could not hinder nor withstand His coming, yet he could shorten his days upon the earth, lest by long life and peaceable quietness in it, the number of good men, Christ Christ’s doctrine and virtuous life, should be multiplied; and so he strove to cut Him away among the other children before He should open His mouth on His Father’s message. Oh, cruel serpent! In vain dost thou spend thy venom, for the days of God’s elect thou canst not shorten! And when the wheat is fallen on the ground, then doth it most multiply.

But from these things mark, what has been the practice of the devil from the beginning – most cruelly to rage against God’s children when God begins to show them His mercy. And, therefore, marvel not, dearly beloved although the like come unto you. If Satan fume or roar agaisnt you, whether it be against your bodies by persecution, or inwardly in your conscience by spiritual battle, be not discouraged, as through you were less acceptable in God’s presence, or as if Satan might at any time prevail against you.

No; your temptations and storms, that arise so suddenly, argue and witness that the seed which is sown is fallen on good ground, begins to take root and shall, by God’s grace, bring forth fruit abundantly in due season and convenient time. That is it which Satan fears, and therefore thus he rages, and shall rage against you, thinking that if he can repulse you now suddenly in the beginning, that then you shall be at all times an easy prey, never able to resist his assaults. But as my hope is good, so shall my prayer be, that so you may be strengthened, that the world and Satan himself may perceive or understand that God fights your battle.

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Image: Herod by James Tissot

Filed under: Christmas, Jesus, John Knox, Sin, Temptation

Passion for Evangelism

Everything worthwhile in life is driven by passion. Behind some of the greatest events in human history beats a heart filled with passion and desire to see certain goals meet. The church has become quite apathetic for evangelism in recent years. We think we are doing evangelism by simply meeting the felt needs of individuals. We think we are doing evangelism when numbers of increase and posted on the attendance board. We think we are doing evangelism when our baptismal pool is full each Sunday. Not to say all of these things aren’t needful and great, but are these things really changing lives? Are the current efforts to evangelize a lost world increasing the kingdom of Christ or elevating the ego and prestige of man? We all have to ask ourselves, Where is our burden and passion for evangelism? Why isn’t evangelism the church’s central function?

Valiant men and women of God mark church history’s greatest ages. Their power came from a passion for holiness and evangelizing the lost. One example is Robert Murray McCheyne, one of Scotland’s greatest preachers, who died when he was only twenty-nine. A biographer wrote that everywhere he stepped, Scotland shook. Whenever he opened his mouth, a spiritual force seemed to sweep in every direction. Thousands followed him to the feet of Christ. A traveler, eager to see where McCheyne had preached, went to his old church. An old sexton agreed to give him a tour. He led the way into McCheyne’s study. “Sit in that chair,” he ordered. The traveller hesitated a moment, then sat in the chair. On the table before him was an open Bible. “Drop your head in that book and weep. That is what our minister always did before he preached,” said the old man. He then led the visitor into the pulpit before another open Bible. “Stand there,” he said, “and drop your head on your hands and let the tears flow. That is the way our minister always conducted himself before he began to preach!” With such a passion for God’s Word and the souls of the lost, is it any wonder the Holy Spirit used McCheyne to draw so many to the Savior?

There are other examples. Because John Knox’s yearning for lost souls was so great, it was thought his pulpit would break into pieces. And it was said John Wesley did more for England than her armies and navies. He lived meagerly, having given away thousands of dollars in his lifetime. Abused and maligned, he left his reputation and soul in the hands of God. It has been estimated he traveled 225 thousand miles on foot and horseback and preached twenty-four hundred sermons. Much of the established church despised him, but he brought fire into her cold heart. Wesley looked on all the world as his parish. He had the reputation of being out of breath pursuing souls. There was also George Whitefield. Once ordained at age twenty-two, he began preaching with tremendous eloquence and effect. John Newton viewed him as the greatest preacher of his day. His power came from his passion for souls, and he used every God-given ability to lead men to Christ. He once wrote that if his life was in danger of nestling down, God–out of pity–should place a thorn into his nest! He crossed the Atlantic thirteen times and preached thousands of sermons. His gravestone reads that he was a soldier of the cross, humble, devout, and ardent, preferring the honor of Christ to his own interest, reputation, or life.

May we Pastor and People have the same heart driving passion to see a lost world come to Christ!

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Image: The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection by Eugene Burnand

Filed under: Evangelism, George Whitefield, John Knox, Robert Murray McCheyne