When we think of Messiah’s birth
we often get a picturesque image in our minds that is anything but true. Mary had to
travel close to one hundred miles by foot or beast while fully pregnant. They
had to pay taxes that could have been spent on other needs. They must have
arrived later than expected because by the time they did, there were no rooms
left and it was time! It was time for the baby to be born. The only accommodations
they could find for this was a stable. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a silent night
and it’s very possible that the little Lord Jesus really did cry.
When the wise men came to inquire as to "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen
his star in the east, and are come to worship him" they stirred up a
hornet's nest.
They were speaking to Herod, who
had been appointed “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate. He and all of
Jerusalem were troubled. Herod deceitfully said to the wise men that he wanted
them to come back by Jerusalem when they found this King so he could come and
worship him too.
Joseph and Mary were “warned of
God in a dream” they started to return to their home in Nazareth by another
route – avoiding Jerusalem. But God further warned them to go into Egypt for
awhile so this threat against Jesus died down.
This was not the end of the story
though. The story grows darker and bleaker, for Herod in his madness had all the
children two and under killed to prevent this “King of the Jews” from coming to
usurp his place.
Matthew quotes Jeremiah the
prophet;
A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.
We don’t know how many children
died at that time but it was a source of great bitterness. Why was this
allowed? What happened to our beautiful Christmas story that this tragedy had
to be thrown into the mix?
I think God wants us to know that
there are many things in life we will never understand. There is suffering and
pain and death. There is such heartache that we will never be able to grasp.
Why? How could God allow such things?
The big picture tells us how. For
Jesus Christ is the light who entered into this world of darkness. He would
himself suffer for us.
An old man later prophesied to Mary;
"Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through
your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."[i]
Each time we suffer, if we’ve lost
a child, a parent, a spouse or a dream – whatever we may have endured, remember
that Jesus did not enter the world of tinsel, trees and terrific times; he came
to be our suffering Savior and to die for our sins.
For His
anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a
night, But joy comes in the morning.[ii]
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