Weeping, Because They Are No More

The deaths of 20 children and six adults in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut brings Christmas tears instead of cheer. Christmas holiday plans are replaced by preparing for the funerals of children and school staff whose lives ended earlier than imagined.

Prayers for peace on earth are earnestly expressed for those families experiencing this tragic loss. The rest of America will gather with deeper thanks with our children over Christmas; grateful for their well-being, but apprehensive of a world that seems to hold fewer places of safety.

Many months after Christ was born, a massacre of children took place in the city of Bethlehem. Wise men, called Magi, came from the east to Jerusalem in search of a baby born the king of the Jews. King Herod was disturbed by word of a king and assembled his counsel for information. They quoted the prophet, Jeremiah, who had written 600 years earlier of the Messiah being born in Bethlehem, that will be the ruler of Israel.

The Magi followed the star, found Jesus and presented Him with costly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They returned to their country avoiding King Herod because of a dream that warned them. Joseph was also warned in a dream to leave.  Historians estimate the number of baby boys Herod killed to be about 30, given the population and birth rate at the time of Jesus’ birth.

Matthew 2:16-18
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”

Mothers and fathers are weeping today because their child is no more. Not forgotten, but no longer with us.

Join the prayers for hurting families everywhere; that Jesus would be their prince of peace, wonderful counselor and mighty God this Christmas.

---