Why Are The Innocents Still Being Massacred?
Good Morning Friends,
The holidays were originally known as holy days. Unfortunately, holidays are not always happy days. As many of us celebrate the presence of our family and friends, many deal with the agony of being alone or facing the memory of a loved ones passing. Today’s scripture’s story line confronts this reality and when set against the harsh reality that even today a child dies from hunger every 10 seconds for about 3.1 million children each year. And moreover, it is estimated that around the world there are 56 million abortions annually with almost 15% of all maternal deaths related to them. With this reality in place today’s Christmas story becomes more relevant. So, no matter how you count it a lot of children are not making it to adulthood and a lot of regret and sorrow is being felt in the world. But the reality is that there is plenty of food but unfortunately not in all the places it is needed. There is plenty of love but also fear. Now today’s scripture is about Herod, disposing of children to keep Jesus from ruling. But honestly the death of children seems to have lost its strategic relevance. Jesus has already arrived and defeated Satan by becoming the atoning sacrifice for all the world’s sins. But something or someone is terrorizing people’s spirits for evil to persist and for fear to still control us. So, Why Are The Innocents Still Being Massacred?
Scripture: This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 1:5-2:2 (NRSV)
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
Matthew 2:13-18 (NRSV)
Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 (NRSV)
Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about to destroy all the royal family. But Jehosheba, King Joram’s daughter, Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s children who were about to be killed; she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus she hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not killed; he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
2 Kings 11:1-3 (NRSV)
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days
Micah 5:2 (NRSV)
Message: Satan sought to destroy Jesus from the very beginning and still seeks to destroy us for no one is innocent. It is a long history. Satan’s attacks against the house of David, from whom the Messiah would come, were many and various. One of the evilest were the massacres of the wicked Queen Athaliah. Miraculously one boy survived, and was hidden in the house of God for six years, until the time was right to overthrow those who ruled by fear. Then in the book of Esther another attempted genocide of the Jewish people threatened the seed from whom the Messiah would come. Good Queen Esther took her life in her hands, and dared to appear uninvited before her husband the king of Persia. He held out the golden scepter towards her in acknowledgement, and answered her petitions. Then in Jerusalem, Herod the Great heard disturbing news from some travelers from the East. They sought the one who was to be born a king. To Herod, Jesus posed a threat. Herod feigned interest, but intended all along to destroy Him. Having gathered all the chief priests and scribes together, he inquired where the Christ was to be born. They searched the Scriptures, and at last found the answer. And the death of children under the age of two around Bethlehem began as ordered by Herod. We are rightly appalled at these horrendous atrocities. However, Herod was too late. Joseph had received instructions from an angel, and he had taken the Child and His mother and they had all escaped to Egypt. The massacre of children part of the Christmas story is not shown in Christmas cards for it is very sad indeed. Friends, the Christmas story is not neat nor tidy. Along with good tidings of great joy come great suffering and sorrow as Jesus enters the world. Unfortunately, people are still terrorized by those who desire to instill fear upon their intended victims. Thankfully friends, we too, like Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus have more than a dream of a safe and secure place for our souls to be grounded. We have a firm and deep hope. We have love. So, never ever forget that Jesus rules still. Share that Good News.
Pray that though weeping may endure for a time that joy will come for those who morn. Pray for young mothers that they might be consoled. Pray we realize that the devil still seeks to terrorize our own souls but will fail. Pray we realize that Satan cannot snuff out the anointing within us. Pray we realize that Jesus sympathizes with our suffering but that suffering is not the main issue. Pray we realize that suffering is the symptom and that sin is the disease. Pray we discover the joy of Christian fellowship. Pray we realize that eternity is too long a journey to gamble with one’s soul. Pray that when the lights go out on the journey that we have a light within to shine forth the way to a safe place. Pray we be as the wise men and still seek Jesus, preferring love to all the petty tyrants of this world.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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