THURSDAY December 30, 2021

Massacre of the Innocents

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “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.”
Matthew 2:17-18

When the wise men came into the house, they saw Jesus with Mary, His mother. Immediately, all the wise men fell down and worshiped Him. In an act of obeisance, they presented their precious gifts to the King. They gave Him precious gold––representing His royalty, expensive frankincense because they recognized his deity, and myrrh relating to His humanity and His coming death (Matthew 2:9-11).

Herod did not want to worship Jesus as the wise men did; he had murder in his heart. All he wanted to do was destroy the young Child. In a dream, God warned the wise men not to return to Herod, so they returned to their own country another way (Matthew 2:12). Joseph was also warned in a dream of Herod’s intentions to destroy the young Child, so he was to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus (Luke 2:13-15).

When the wise men did not return, Herod, full of fury and anger, devised an evil plan to ensure the destruction of the young Messiah. He would exterminate the One––namely, King of the Jews. As King Herod had determined the possible age of the Child when he had spoken with the wise men, he ordered the merciless slaughter of all the male children aged two years old and under, not only in Bethlehem, but also in its surrounding districts (Matthew 2:16).

The Bible tells us that man’s heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We live in a world that is opposed to Christ and His followers. Even today, innocent men, women and children suffer horrible atrocities. They are persecuted even unto death because of their love and worship of Christ.

Princes, kings, and other rulers of the world have used all their strength and cunning against the Church, yet it continues to endure and hold its own.
~John Foxe~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!