THERE was a very wicked king called Herod. He lived not very far 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 to think that there might be any other king besides himself. Herod did not even like to think that 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 said to himself, ‘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 far away.’
So Joseph got up quickly. He took his ass. He put Mary on it, and she held the baby. Perhaps it was dark when they set off; nobody saw them go.
The next morning some men came with swords. Herod had sent them. They came to kill all the babies. They opened every door and asked, ‘Is there a baby here?’ Then they snatched it from its mother and killed it, and the poor mother cried bitterly.
If you walked down the streets, you would have heard nothing but women weeping and crying out, ‘My lovely babe is dead. I shall never see it more!’
Was Jesus killed?
No: He was now 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 obeyed them. 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.
Questions
Who wanted to kill Jesus when He was a baby?
Were there many babies in Bethlehem?
Did King Herod know which baby was the Son of God?
Who did Herod want to kill?
Did he kill Jesus?
Why not?
Who told Joseph to take Jesus far away?
Did Herod know that Jesus had gone away?
Did Herod think he had killed Jesus?
Who did Herod send to kill the babies in Bethlehem?
Did Jesus ever come back to His own country?
Who told Joseph to take Jesus back to His country?
Why was it safe for Jesus to come back to His own country?
What was Joseph’s work?
Did the people love Jesus when He was a child?
Why did they love Him?
God can help us always.
A verse from the Bible for you to learn: