CRUEL REALITIES!

Friday, December 27, 2013

CRUEL REALITIES!

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

          Christmas Day is now two days cold. Gifts are tucked away and wrappings are wadded 

into a bag for burning. We wonder just when it would be appropriate to disassemble the tree 

and remove the fairyland figures. Most are back to work and the world grinds on for another

364 days. But that is not the cruel realities I have in mind.

          Jesus did not immediately bring peace and good will to men. That would take some 

time! In fact it hasn't universally happened yet! Verse 18. In Rama was there a voice heard] 

These words, quoted from Jer 31:15, were originally spoken concerning the captivity

of the ten tribes; but are here elegantly applied to the murder of the innocents at Bethlehem. 

History records unspeakable cruelties committed by Herod.

          Our world is still in desperate need of a savior and no more willing to receive Him. We

are hardly more subtle in the killing of our innocents. We need to be reminded that our own

salvation was due to one unplanned pregnancy!

Dear Lord, let me never forget that the true meaning of Christmas is the redemption of 

willing men by the sacrifice of Jesus! AMEN