There always seems to be some disaster, or atrocity, or war, around Christmas. These evil deeds stand out by contrast because it seems like the wrong season for such acts.
On the other hand maybe Christmas is the appropriate time for evil to show itself. The slaughter that Herod ordered was a futile attempt to prevent God carrying out his plan of peace.
But that plan for peace involved the death of the Son, not at his birth when Herod wanted it, but later when the time was right. The angels advertisement was not directed to everyone, but only to those on whom God’s favour rested.
The peace plan has two stages. The first stage involves people being given the opportunity to find peace with God: to abandon their hostility to God and to trust him to remove the serious charges against them because of their hostility. The second stage involves the overthrow of all the people and powers who are opposed to God. The peace that results from both these stages depends on the death of the Son in the past. He has already made it possible for us to have the charges against us cancelled, and he has already overthrown the power of his greatest enemy. Stage one is under way. Stage two will be complete when Christ returns.
In the meantime make sure you are enjoying the favour of God by accepting the relationship of peace he has provided.
Dale