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The Dark Side of the First Christmas

 

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Slaughter of the Holy Innocents

 

Normally, the Christmas season is viewed as a time of holiday cheer. Of twinkling lights, fragrant pine trees, peppermint candy canes, eggnog drinks, gingerbread cookies, happy songs in the air as people go shopping for gifts, and the smiling children eagerly anticipating opening their presents. But for many the year 2015 has been a year filled with tragedy and loss. A sense of darkness and mourning hangs heavy in the air as we draw near to Christmas Day. We learn of terrorist attacks abroad, mass shootings at home, gruesome beheadings, children kidnapped by terrorists, thousands fleeing from Syria attempting to gain entry into Europe, and Christianity being eradicated in the Middle East. How then should Christians approach Christmas, a time normally filled with holiday cheer?

We can reflect on the dark side of the first Christmas. This is an aspect of Scripture that is often skipped over by pastors in the Christmas sermons. However, a close reading of Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ yields unexpected parallels with today’s harsh reality.

Mary’s unexpected pregnancy was a scandal and almost brought about her divorce. Joseph wanted to divorce her quietly until God sent an angel to him in a dream. Being a righteous man and of great faith Joseph took Mary as his wife (literally “woman”) and took care of Jesus.  (See Matthew 1:18-25) In the Orthodox Hours of the Nativity is a passage that captures Joseph’s confusion and outrage over Mary’s inexplicable pregnancy:

Thus saith Joseph to the Virgin, What is this thing, O Mary, that I behold in thee.  Verily, I am surprised and perplexed, and my mind is dazzled. Wherefore, henceforth from this moment be thou secluded in secret. What is this matter, O Mary, that I behold in thee? For thou hast given me instead of honour, disgrace; and instead of gladness, sorrow; and instead of being extolled, thou hast brought me blame. Therefore, I cannot bear the reproach of men, from the Temple of the Lord I took thee; from the priests I received thee as innocent of all blame.  What then is this thing I behold?

One cannot help but be startled by the blunt language used by Joseph.  Following this hymn is a response from the Old Testament Scripture:

The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.  Ask of me and I will give thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance. (Hours of the Nativity, Nassar p. 375)

For Joseph the miracle of the Incarnation almost caused him to stumble, but his willingness to trust in God resulted in his becoming a saint.

Palestine was under the heavy hand of big government in the form of the Roman imperium. Thus, Jesus was born into occupation territory and enjoyed none of the political privileges like that enjoyed by a Roman citizen. A government census forced Joseph and Mary to leave their home in Nazareth and travel all the way to Joseph’s ancestral home in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-2).  One can imagine the upheaval of large number of peoples traversing the land to register with government authorities; Joseph and Mary in the late stages of pregnancy waiting in long lines to meet with government officials. The census was not for the benefit of the people.  Ancient rulers relied on census for taxation purposes.

Palestine at the time was under the rule of Herod, a “client” king of the Romans (Barnett p. 72). Herod’s basis for rule was tenuous. Although a “local” ruler, his ancestry traced back to the Idumaeans, the descendants of the Edomites. Because he could not claim descent from David’s line his claim to the throne was vulnerable to counter claims. In recognition for Herod being a valuable ally to the Romans, the Roman senate gave him the title “king of the Jews.” So it is no little surprise that when the Magi showed up asking: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2) that Herod’s usual paranoia would ratchet up considerably. First, he resorted to guile hoping to use the Magi as scouts to locate the Christ child. Then when he found himself thwarted he went on a murderous rampage ordering the slaughter of all boys two years and under in and around Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16).

Joseph Carrying Jesus, Mary on the horse, and James the Brother of the Lord.

Holy Family in Flight: Joseph Carrying Jesus, Mary on the horse, and James the Brother of the Lord.  Source

 

Jesus was a political refugee. Joseph was warned in a dream to take the Child and his mother and to escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14). Most likely, Jesus spent his infancy in Alexandria where there was large population of Jews (Barnett p. 100). After a few years of relative safety Joseph sought to return to Judea but fearing the new ruler Archelaus took his family further north to Galilee. In AD 6 the Romans in response to complaints against Archelaus annexed Judea bringing the heartland of Judaism under direct Roman rule. Direct Roman rule would bring the horrific capital punishment crucifixion and a string of procurators including Pontius Pilate who would one day order the crucifixion of the Christ Child.

Joseph the Betrothed

Joseph the Betrothed

Often overlooked in the Christmas story is Joseph the Betrothed. What is striking about him is not the angel speaking to him in dreams but his decency and his steadfast courage in the face of danger. He took Mary as his wife. He led his family into exile. He gave Jesus a family life and taught Jesus his trade, carpentry. Common decency goes a long way and becomes all the more valuable in times of upheaval and turmoil.

Born in Dark Times

Thus, the first Christmas was a montage of the angels appearing to shepherds in the field, the Magi paying homage to the Christ child, and the grief stricken mothers of boys slain by Herod’s soldiers. Jesus was born in dark times, into a time of upheavals and mass murders. The humility of Jesus’ birth can be seen in its obscurity. There was no welcoming celebration in anticipation of his birth but rather Herod’s menacing paranoia and stealth on the part of his parents. Isaiah’s prophecy hints at the darkness and the suffering of the times Jesus was born into:

The people living in darkness

Have seen a great light;

On those living in the land of the shadow of death

A light has dawned.

(Matthew 4:16; cf. Isaiah 9:2; NIV)

Another Old Testament prophecy, one by Jeremiah, anticipated Herod’s slaughter of infant boys in order to prevent the birth of Christ.

Rachel Weeping

Rachel Weeping

A voice is heard in Ramah,

Weeping and great mourning

Rachel weeping for her children

And refusing to be comforted

Because they are no more.

(Matthew 2:18; cf. Jeremiah 31:15; NIV)

Mary Grieving Over Her Son

The Virgin Mary Grieving Over Her Son

Herod’s killing of the infant boys was a replay of Exodus 1 where Pharaoh ordered the killing of Jewish boys in order to preserve his hold on the throne.  Just as Pharaoh sought to kill Moses, who would deliver the Israelites, so Herod would seek to kill Jesus, the Second Moses who would deliver all humanity. Rachel’s unceasing lament foreshadows the Virgin Mary’s grief on seeing her own son hanging on the cross.

 

A few days after Christmas, on December 29, the Orthodox Church remembers the deaths of the Holy Innocents.

Infant Martyrs of Bethlehem

Infant Martyrs of Bethlehem

Troparion – Tone 1

As acceptable victims and freshly plucked flowers,

As divine first-fruits and newborn lambs,

You were offered to Christ who was born as a child, holy innocents.

You mocked Herod’s wickedness;

Now we beseech you:

“Unceasingly pray for our souls.”

Beyond the usual holiday cheer lies the dark side of Christmas, but beyond that lies the promise of Christ’s resurrection. Let us remember that Christ was born to save us from our sins and from Satan’s rule. Mourning and grief are very much part of the Christmas celebration. Orthodox Christians observe the forty days Nativity Fast to prepare spiritually for the birth of Christ. The Christmas Matins service anticipates the themes of darkness, sin, and Christ’s victory.

Grant forgiveness, O Christ, to us who have been in the darkness of our deeds of error since the night, who eagerly praise thee, since thou art our Benefactor; that thou mayest hasten to us and preapre for us a good way, wherein if we walk we shall find glory and honour.

Verily, Jonah when he was in the depth of the sea, begged to ascend to thee and to be rescued from the tempest.  But as for me, having been pierced by the arrows of the tyrant, in thee I seek refuge, O evil-destroying Christ.  Hasten thou to me and deliver me hastily from my negligence.  (Christmas Matins, Nassar p. 405)

The Christmas services teach us that in times of darkness God is at work bringing about our salvation.

Given this “darkness” to so many both now and in history, it is a good lesson for us to take in. How often we mis-read our trials and sufferings! The Church, over the centuries has learned to view the events of Christ’s birth in a far broader and more monumental context — the Incarnation of the 2nd person of the Godhead to redeem a lost and darkened humanity. God has become flesh and dwelt among us! God is with us in our afflictions.  So evil murderous rulers, political refugees, grieving mothers, brave fathers are all part of the Christmas story.  They represent the dark side of Christmas often overlooked.  Let us remember that our suffering and the sufferings of the world are among those “light affliction” which God even now might be working for great and unimagined Glory.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

 

References

Paul Barnett.  Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament Times.  IVP Academic.  Downers Grove, Illinois.

Rev. Seraphim Nassar.  Divine Prayers and Services of the Catholic Orthodox Church of Christ.  Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.  Englewood, New Jersey.

Further Readings

IconReader. “The Nativity Icon.”

Orthodox Church in America.  “Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord.”

Orthodox Church in America. “14,000 infants (the Holy Infants) slain by Herod at Bethlehem.”

Pravoslavie. “The Holy Infants of Bethlehem.”

 

14 Comments

  1. Dawit

    Good post! Especially the bit about Joseph.
    But you seem to group the slaughter of the innocents closer to the birth of Jesus than I would expect. Even the Orthodox calendar reflects this in that Christmas is celebrated about January 6th and Herod’s action is remembered on December 29. Of course they are related but it took a while for the court to recognize that the Wise Men had not reported back.

    • Robert Arakaki

      Glad you enjoyed the post! Actually, there are two calendars in Orthodoxy. For those who follow the new calendar Christmas falls on December 25 and the feast day of the Holy Innocents falls on December 29. For those who follow the old calendar Christmas will fall on January 7 and the feast of Holy Innocents on January 11. For example, the Greek Orthodox parish in Hawaii follows the new calendar, while the Russian Orthodox parish follows the old calendar. I plan to celebrate Christmas at the Greek Orthodox parish in a few hours and a few days later join my friends at the Russian Orthodox parish for their Christmas. You confused the two calendars, an understandable mistake for someone who’s not Orthodox. Wishing you a blessed Christmas!

      • Dawit

        But still there must have been some time between the birth and when Herod realized that the wise men were not coming back.

        • Robert Arakaki

          I agree with you. The Orthodox calendar doesn’t always present an exact chronology of events. Sometimes it does, for example the celebration of Jesus’ circumcision falling on the eighth day after Christmas. Sometimes the calendar does not, for example the feast of Transfiguration which would logically be celebrated during Lent but was moved to August. The main thing is that the calendar helps us to remember God’s mighty acts of salvation.

          Robert

  2. david pertz

    Thanks, Robert. I find most helpful in the preparation for Christmas to look inside and see that I am not different from the world in which there is so much sorrow, darkness, and violence. Indeed, I do cause my brother to stumble and contribute to the chaos around us. The slaughter of the innocent children is horrible, but would I have stopped it if I had been there? Do I do much to alleviate the suffering, the terrors, the hunger I know all around me? The hymn from Matins of Christmas really clarifies for me the extent of my own darkness, my need for Christ, and the hope that I may change if I take “the good way” into which he directs me. This perspective on makes Christ’s birth as an ongoing necessity to be celebrated and embraced as a daily salvation from my own and the world’s darkness. Then the courage and faith of Joseph can offer me great hope and strength that I need not despair, but open up to the path God has for me even if it is to a strange land. Mahalo. Christ is Born!

    • Robert Arakaki

      David,

      Thank you for reading my reflection on the first Christmas. As you mentioned Christ’s birth is an opportunity for us to reflect on the darkness in our hearts and on our need to welcome the Light of the world.

      It’s good to hear from a local boy even if you are now on the mainland. Hawaii no ka oi!

      Robert

  3. Ana

    Greetings Robert,

    Why did you use the “CE” instead of “AD”?

    Ana

    • Robert Arakaki

      Ana,

      No particular reason. In my profession I got into the habit of using “CE” instead of “AD.” If it bothers you, I would be happy to make the change.

      Robert

  4. Ana

    Robert,

    No need. It’s just that I found it jarring when reading your fine post. I do enjoy your writing.

    Ana

    • Robert Arakaki

      Ana, Thank you for being understanding. I decided that because “CE” could be distracting for some readers that it would be best to use the older convention. Besides “AD” means “Year of Our Lord” which is especially appropriate for an article about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

      Robert

  5. David

    That’s a fine post Robert. Thanks so much for all your good work. That the Christ entered the world in a very dark time is most worthy of our remembrance…and reflection. May our very real sufferings lead us to cling to God…and find grace in the glorious light of our Savior.

    • Robert Arakaki

      Thank you David!

  6. Denise M. Baran-Unland

    A great reminder that Christmas is less about “merry and bright” and more about welcoming the True Light into our lives and carrying Him into a weary world.

    • Robert Arakaki

      Thanks Denise!

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