LESSON XVI.
KING HEROD.
Matthew, ii. Luke, ii. 51, 52.
There was a very wicked king called Herod. He lived a little way from Bethlehem. He heard that a babe was born in Bethlehem, and that some people said that the babe was a king.
Now Herod did not like that there should be any other king besides himself. Herod did not like that even the Son of God should be king. So Herod said, I will kill this babe that is called a king.
Herod knew that this babe was in Bethlehem; but there were many babes in Bethlehem, and Herod did not know which was the babe that was called a king.
Some people knew which it was; but they loved Jesus, and they would not tell Herod. A very wicked thought came into Herod’s mind. He thought, I will kill all the babes in Bethlehem. Do you think God would let Herod kill his Son? No. God knew what Herod meant to do. God sent one of his bright angels to speak to Joseph when he was asleep.
The angel said, A wicked king wants to kill the baby. Get up, Joseph; take Mary and the baby a great way off. So Joseph got up quickly; he took his ass, he put Mary on it, and she held the baby. It was dark when they set off. Nobody saw them go.
The next morning some men came with swords. Herod had sent them. They were come to kill all the babies. They opened every door, and said, Is there a baby here? Then they snatched it from its mother, and killed it, and the poor mother cried bitterly. Had you walked down the streets, you would have heard nothing but women weeping and crying out, My pretty babe is dead; I shall never see it more!
Was Jesus killed?
No: he was gone far away. His Father, God, had sent him away. Herod could not kill him, for God would not let him die so soon.
At last King Herod died. Then God sent an angel to speak to Joseph when he was asleep. The angel said, Joseph, go back to your own country; Herod is dead. So Joseph took the ass, and Mary, and the sweet child, Jesus, and they all came back to their own country.
Joseph was a carpenter. Jesus lived with Joseph and Mary, and minded all they said. He was a wise child, and loved to think of God. God his Father loved him, and everybody loved him, because he was so meek and kind. The older he grew the more they loved him.