“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea… for thus it is written by the prophets” [Matthew 2:1,5] the college of initiates gathered in a great hall at the palace of Herod the king with the purpose of communicating unto the monarch the spiritual birth of the savior of the world.
Herod was a man of medium stature, a thin and svelte body with a rosy and youthful face. He wore a garment fashioned according to that epoch, and covered his head with a brilliant warrior’s helmet.
Thus, Herod, seated at his working desk, listened to the report from the initiates of the temple, yet he did not believe it. He did not acknowledge Jesus as the promised Messiah, and with a lot of arguments, he indignantly rejected the report from the initiates.
Jesus said unto Herod, “You are a Justinian; you are just. What happens is that you have never liked me.”
Then, exceedingly wroth, Herod spoke to the council and said, “Do not eat the Moon.” Herod meant with this phrase that they must not abandon their lunar cult. Since all racial religions are lunar, the Jewish religion is lunar.
Herod was totally conservative, and as such, he defended the ancient, traditional Jewish religion. Yes, Herod defended the ancient sacerdotal caste of the people of Judah. This is how Herod rejected the savior of the world.
Thus, the council at the palace of Herod was transcendental, since the new period of solar, Christic development in the world was announced in this initiatic council. Nevertheless, since Herod was strikingly conservative, he seized on to the lunar past and racial prejudices, and did not acknowledge Jesus as the savior of the world. Therefore, this council of initiates was a failure.
Herod then sought after the initiates in order to destroy them. He sent forth his soldiers to slay all the children that were in Bethlehem, since initiates are esoterically called “children.” Therefore, the children are the initiates whom Herod ordered to be slaughtered.
This is how the soldiers went around the streets of Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof, killing the initiates. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah 31:15 saying, “Thus saith Jehovah; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.” Nevertheless, Jesus managed to save himself by fleeing into the land of Egypt. This happened in winter and it rained a great deal. Thus, Jesus had to heroically prevail over the storms of the time. When this happened, Joseph and Mary were already old. They greatly suffered because of their son Jesus.
The sacred family departed to the land of Egypt by land and water.
Samael Aun Weor
