"Weeping and Great Mourning"

December 30, 2015

“Weeping and Great Mourning”

Blessings Folk!

The Magi went home a different way, having been warned of God in a dream.
Joseph, Mary and Jesus were traveling to Egypt, having been warned of God in a dream.

What was Herod’s response when he learned that the Magi went home?

Mat 2:16-18
Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.
Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
“A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH,
WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING,
RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN;
AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED,
BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE.”


Herod thought he had been tricked.
He had not.
He had told the Magi to return to him when they found the Child…so that he too could worship.
A lie.
The Magi now knew.
They went home another way.

Herod was enraged.
He killed all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity…two years of age and under.
This gives us some insight into how long it had been since the Star appeared and the age of the Lord.
Herod would have given himself some “headroom”.
A time of a year to eighteen months is likely.

We also see something else.

Great horror came upon some with the birth of Jesus.
His coming the first time brought pain and suffering.
His coming again, the second time, will do likewise…to a greater degree.
The Word is clear on this.

The prophet Jeremiah had been used to warn.
Great weeping and mourning in Ramah.
Rachel…Israel…weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they were dead.

I believe these children are in glory.
Yet, the pain and suffering were very real.

How many died?
We do not know.
Probably not as many as often is thought.

From the beginning the enemy has sought to eliminate the line of salvation that is in Jesus.
This was a part.
He was unsuccessful.

He will continue to be unsuccessful, though for a moment he may look victorious.

Death has been defeated.
Life is in the Lord Jesus.
Hope and glory await in Him.
Press on!
Fear not!
It is gonna get worse…