The Martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, Gustave Dore, 1868

WORSHIP VIDEO LINK (linked after 10:45 AM Service)

WORSHIP AUDIO LINK

SERMON AUDIO LINK

BULLETIN

SERMON TEXT BELOW

Christmas 1 2025 Holy Innocents
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
December 28, 2025
Isaiah 63:7-14, Galatians 4:4-7, Matthew 2:13-23

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Christmas is such a wonderful celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Christ, in Bethlehem, which is announced by angels to nearby, lowly shepherds.  Christmas is full of warm, sweet feelings of joy and togetherness.  “Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king.” You gather with family and friends and enjoy food and fellowship and exchange gifts.  As Andy Williams said in his song, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”  And then we get to December 28th and we are hit in the face with the dark side of Jesus’ arrival.  Today we remember Herod the Great’s slaughter of the Holy Innocents; the baby boys of Bethlehem.  Jesus’ birth brings awful, tragic violence.  Jesus’ birth causes the devil great alarm and the devil tries to destroy Jesus using Herod as his instrument. 

            The devil knows that Jesus is coming and devil knows what this means for him and so as John relates in…  Rev. 12:4b ESV the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.”

            Jesus’ incarnation, His life, His death and His resurrection crush the head of the serpent and the Devil’s status in heaven changes as recorded in the continuing apocalyptic language of Revelation 12:7–9 (ESV) 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”  The devil could not destroy Jesus because Jesus will die when His time has come.

            John continues the Revelation 12:13-14, 17 ESV 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time… 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

            After the magi depart, God sends an angel to warn Joseph in a dream to immediately depart for Egypt.  Shortly after, under orders from Herod, a band of armed soldiers invade Bethlehem going house to house brutally killing helpless children.  Jesus is safe, but all the other baby boys two years old and younger in Bethlehem are killed in the Devil’s attempt to destroy the Christ, leaving behind weeping, and loud lamentation.  This is such a disturbing account of raw, wicked violence and it comes so close on the heels of the celebration of Jesus’ birth.  It is hard to fathom this kind of evil; killing babies to protect political power.  Jesus’ time on earth is a dark and violent time. 

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the one who has come to bring peace between God and man, also causes violent reactions as the darkness tries to snuff out the light. Simeon warns Mary of this at the Temple. Luke 2:34–35 (ESV) 34 … “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”  And Jesus also warns of this, Matthew 10:34 (ESV) 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”  The devil’s opposition to Jesus and His followers brings death and destruction in the world.

            It is a dark and violent world still today.  The devil could not destroy Jesus so now he continues to make war on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.  The devil promotes chaos and destruction.  He brings war and famine and devastation.  He brings violence and addiction and death.  Watching the news you see death and destruction all around the world, and death and destruction close to home.  You see how evil destroys — people and families and nations and churches. This past week, just before Christmas, a man speeding on River Road without any thought of the safety of others, crossed the center line and instantly killed a ten-year-old boy and his parents.  Evil brings death and destruction.

Death came into the world through the lies of the devil in the Garden of Eden and the devil still loves death; he is the father of death.  There are the crass violent deaths the devil promotes through crime and terrorism and warfare.  But the devil also tries to package mass death to make it seem like loving care.  We shudder to think of the slaughter of a couple of dozen innocent baby boys in Bethlehem, but we are told to call the slaughter of millions of unborn infants, “women’s healthcare,” and view it as a fundamental right.  Instead of protecting the most vulnerable among us, tiny babies are sacrificed to the idol of sexual freedom.  The elderly, the handicapped, the chronically ill and the mentally ill need care and protection but there is an increasing movement to allow doctors to end their lives — to put them out of their misery… like an animal.  We are told to call these murders, “Medical Assistance in Dying.”  In Canada close to 5% of all deaths are from the government killing the sick and infirm and depressed.  This legalized murder is now allowed in 17 U.S. states with New York and Illinois being the most recent.  The devil loves death and destruction especially cloaked in the guise of loving care.  The devil wants you to embrace his godless infertility cult of death which is becoming quite popular with so many in our nation.  The devil is out to destroy us.

            Stay alert.  1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  As a follower of Jesus, the devil is coming after you, so know your enemy.  How will the devil attack you? 

            The devil has many and various strategies.  He deceived Eve by getting her to doubt God’s Word and tempting her to become like God.  He will do the same to you.  “Did God really say?”

The devil will tempt you to despair and destroy yourself by convincing you that your sins are too great and God will not forgive you; that the blood of Jesus is not powerful enough for your sins. 

            Or, the devil will convince you are doing just fine. You are good enough and you can rely on your good works.  You do not need a Savior.

            The devil will convince you that you have autonomy and rule yourself.  You do not need Jesus as King.

            The devil will convince you to judge your behavior not by the Word of God, but by your feelings, so you can decide what is sin and what is not.

            The devil has ordained many wolves to stand in pulpits dressed like sheep to lead people away from the truth of God’s Word.  Many will come to hear these wolves because… 2 Timothy 4:3 (ESV) 3 …people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions…”  These wolves give up the preaching of repentance and forgiveness of sins in the blood of Jesus, and instead are instruments of the devil, encouraging people to worship the idols of prosperity, sexual freedom, and friendship with the world. 

            The devil will attack faithful churches by encouraging followers of Jesus to fight with each other instead of staying on guard against Satan and his minions.  Know your enemy.  Know his strategies.

            Jesus has defeated Satan and you belong to Jesus. So, know your enemy and never despair. Remember, you are baptized.  Daily repent of your sins and follow Jesus. Jesus has marked you as His own in Holy Baptism and He feeds you with His Body and Blood in Holy Communion to strengthen you for the fight.  Stay alert and know you are well-equipped for battle.  Paul tells us in…Ephesians 6:10–13 (ESV) 10 … be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

            Stand firm in Christ.  You are safe from the Evil One.  Despite the chaos of the devil’s death and destruction, in Christ you have victory over the evil one.  You know his lies and his accusations.  You have Jesus on your side and with Jesus you will win.  You have the Holy Spirit in you so the devil cannot take control of you; all he can do is pick at you from outside and try to lure you away from Jesus and His Church.  He can send those to harm your body but he cannot harm your soul. You are safe in the Kingdom of Heaven forever.  You are safe for eternity in Jesus.  Fear God, but do not fear the devil.  Matthew 10:28 (ESV) 28 … do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” 

            Christmas is a wonderful celebration of the incarnation of the Son of God as that baby in Bethlehem, but even in those early days of Jesus’ life we get glimpses as to what is to come.  Baby Jesus is wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger — very likely a stone manger with a hollowed out area for animal feed and water. Jesus lies on the stone wrapped in cloth.  Thirty-three years later, six miles north, outside the walls of Jerusalem, Jesus’ dead body is taken down from the cross and is wrapped in cloths and laid on a stone slab in a tomb. The magi bring myrrh as one of their gifts to the newborn King of the Jews.  When Jesus dies, Nicodemus brings 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes to use as they swaddle His body in linen cloths with the spices.  Jesus’ birth points us to His plan for salvation. 

            The devil could not get Jesus and so he is going after you.  Stay safe in Jesus.  Despite the difficulties of this life, despite the devil’s plagues of death and destruction, you are eternally safe in Jesus and His Church.  Christmas is a wonderful celebration, but remember, it is not a promise of an easy life.  It is a promise of eternal life.  Amen.