"…for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him."
A gentleman crossing the dreary Scottish moor came upon a cottage. After a short visit, he said to the man who resided there, "Are you not afraid to live in this lonely place?" "Oh, no," the man replied, "for faith closes the door at night, and mercy opens it in the morning." I know this may seem to be an odd way to begin a Christmas Day, but it really isn't. You see, when the Wise Men from the East came to worship Jesus, evil King Herod set out to destroy Jesus. And when the Wise Men didn't report back to the King, the monarch was extremely angry—so angry he ordered all of the children under two years of age in the area of Bethlehem to be massacred. But who is opening and closing the door???
Imagine! Dozens of guards and soldiers shattering the silence of the quiet little village of Bethlehem, as well as the surrounding little hovels of huts in the region. Yelling, screaming, and the flash of swords pierced the peaceful air, leaving in their path the wailing of tormented parents. Matthew makes clear that all of this fulfilled Scripture—"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." (2:18) We often think that the massacre only included the boys, but the Bible does not say that—"slew all the children." (2:16) Quite likely, the time was not taken to determine the sex—probably, all were thrust through in the mêlée. Can any of us imagine the horror of it? Every one of these families was forever changed in those dark and frightening moments. The pain would run so deep that the tendency would be to become isolated and distant—"How could anyone understand what I'm going through?" I wonder, however, how many mothers and fathers turned to the Lord in faith, and allowed the Lord Himself to close the door that night on the excruciating pain and impending loneliness.
Praise God—with the Lord guarding the door, only His mercy can open it to a dazzling new day. What do I mean? Well, every one of those young, innocent lives—as well as those young couples—paid the ultimate price in order to accomplish the most crucial mission of their day. That darkest of nights made it possible for Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus to escape and be led to safety in Egypt. Praise God—Jesus' life would not be taken, it would be given on the Cross of Calvary. In fact, throughout this book, you have seen countless babies born, many generations lived—your own included—in order to point the way to that Cross. No doubt, there will be many troublesome days ahead, economically and otherwise, but all of it is pointing the way to Jesus' soon return. Praise God—let true faith close the door at night, and mercy will open the door to a dazzling new day. Have a Blessed Christmas, and a Christ-centered New Year!
~ Rev. Roy D. Warren, Jr.
