As I think about the visit of the Magi there are many thoughts that float through my head. I find it interesting that the first people to worship Jesus in a book written to Jews are Gentiles; that there is an immediate message that Jesus is the savior for all who would believe in him. I find the readiness of the answer, “Bethlehem,” on the lips of the religious leaders interesting, but none jumps up to follow and say, “I’ll check it out with you!” Bethlehem is, after all, only about 7 miles from Jerusalem. The star, the angelic messengers, and of course, the Magi themselves – all interesting and important.
For some reason v. 18 keeps rolling in my mind. “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
This verse from Jeremiah is quoted in response to Herod’s murder of the boys in Bethlehem. All the male children under the age of two were ordered to be killed. Some people find that hard to believe, but history records that Herod killed two of his sons and one of his wives when he suspected that they might be plotting to take the throne from him. I somehow doubt if he’d do that it’d bother him in the least to kill a bunch of children he didn’t know.
Historians suspect that the “Slaughter of the Innocents” amounted to somewhere around a dozen children. It was a terrible, terrible moment in history, and surely another sign of the world’s animosity against Jesus, and certainly lead to the weeping and mourning of many families.
A couple weeks ago there was a huge earthquake in Haiti. Scanning the headlines this morning, they’re saying 100,000 people died. More will die or have died due to injuries, disease, and lack of clean water and sanitary living conditions. Pictures have flooded the airwaves, and the world weeps at the tragedy sending aid through a wide variety of relief organizations.
In 1971 the Supreme Court legalized abortion in the United States. Next year it will be 40 years. In that time, between 40 and 50 million children have been aborted. One article I read said that there are about 3600 abortions a day; 150 every hour; and 1 every 24 seconds. I have heard that as much as 1/3 of my generation never had the chance to be born. I am startled by these numbers although I’ve lived with them all my life. I am horrified as I look at my own children to think of what could have been; that doctors mentioned abortion as alternatives with both the oldest and the youngest.
Having lived with abortion for almost 40 years, maybe we’ve just become numb to it. It’s just the way it is, and there doesn’t seem to be much we can do about it. Some of us have bought the lie about “rights,” and the whispers of, “the child is better off,” or the horrific images of bloody coat hooks as reasons to accept abortion. However, as I read, “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, . . . ,” I can’t help but think that God is weeping over what is happening in America.
Jesus once said, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” Jesus’ came to give us life – eternal life. The devil’s and the world’s agenda is death. It has always been so. Sinful men tried to kill Jesus when he was a little boy, and succeeded in killing him when he was about 33 years old. Jesus however used that destructive evil to pay for our sins. He also came back to life three days later and has given us new life.
Who will stand for life in our world if not us? Who will speak of God’s forgiveness for abortion if not us? Who will give hope to fearful parents if not us? Who will reach out to the single mom to help and support her if not us? Who will advocate for the unborn, the mentally disabled, the terminally ill, or the elderly if not us?
“A voice is heard in America, weeping and loud lamentation, people weeping for children, they refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Father, my heart breaks at the death and destruction around me and the pain abortion has brought into people’s lives. Thank you for those who help mothers and intercede to save babies. Thank you also for the forgiveness that is offered for those who have participated in abortions, and for those who have done nothing to stop abortion. Help us to grieve this tragedy rightly, and help us to be messengers of life as our Lord Jesus is. In His name I pray. Amen.
For some reason v. 18 keeps rolling in my mind. “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
This verse from Jeremiah is quoted in response to Herod’s murder of the boys in Bethlehem. All the male children under the age of two were ordered to be killed. Some people find that hard to believe, but history records that Herod killed two of his sons and one of his wives when he suspected that they might be plotting to take the throne from him. I somehow doubt if he’d do that it’d bother him in the least to kill a bunch of children he didn’t know.
Historians suspect that the “Slaughter of the Innocents” amounted to somewhere around a dozen children. It was a terrible, terrible moment in history, and surely another sign of the world’s animosity against Jesus, and certainly lead to the weeping and mourning of many families.
A couple weeks ago there was a huge earthquake in Haiti. Scanning the headlines this morning, they’re saying 100,000 people died. More will die or have died due to injuries, disease, and lack of clean water and sanitary living conditions. Pictures have flooded the airwaves, and the world weeps at the tragedy sending aid through a wide variety of relief organizations.
In 1971 the Supreme Court legalized abortion in the United States. Next year it will be 40 years. In that time, between 40 and 50 million children have been aborted. One article I read said that there are about 3600 abortions a day; 150 every hour; and 1 every 24 seconds. I have heard that as much as 1/3 of my generation never had the chance to be born. I am startled by these numbers although I’ve lived with them all my life. I am horrified as I look at my own children to think of what could have been; that doctors mentioned abortion as alternatives with both the oldest and the youngest.
Having lived with abortion for almost 40 years, maybe we’ve just become numb to it. It’s just the way it is, and there doesn’t seem to be much we can do about it. Some of us have bought the lie about “rights,” and the whispers of, “the child is better off,” or the horrific images of bloody coat hooks as reasons to accept abortion. However, as I read, “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, . . . ,” I can’t help but think that God is weeping over what is happening in America.
Jesus once said, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” Jesus’ came to give us life – eternal life. The devil’s and the world’s agenda is death. It has always been so. Sinful men tried to kill Jesus when he was a little boy, and succeeded in killing him when he was about 33 years old. Jesus however used that destructive evil to pay for our sins. He also came back to life three days later and has given us new life.
Who will stand for life in our world if not us? Who will speak of God’s forgiveness for abortion if not us? Who will give hope to fearful parents if not us? Who will reach out to the single mom to help and support her if not us? Who will advocate for the unborn, the mentally disabled, the terminally ill, or the elderly if not us?
“A voice is heard in America, weeping and loud lamentation, people weeping for children, they refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Father, my heart breaks at the death and destruction around me and the pain abortion has brought into people’s lives. Thank you for those who help mothers and intercede to save babies. Thank you also for the forgiveness that is offered for those who have participated in abortions, and for those who have done nothing to stop abortion. Help us to grieve this tragedy rightly, and help us to be messengers of life as our Lord Jesus is. In His name I pray. Amen.
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