Series: An Unexpected Christmas
Theme: Finding God through our tears
Scripture: Matthew 2:13-19
Date: December 19, 2021
Prairie Bible Church
Over the years most all of us have experienced a Christmas or two that failed to live up to our idealized expectations of what Christmas should be.
Perhaps it’s because of family conflict, the loss of a job, or even a death experienced during the holidays.
These events can cause us to ask questions like:
Where’s God in the midst of all this? Why did God let it happen? Or, why didn’t He stop it?
Using the Christmas story itself, we’re going to attempt to answer some of those questions today.
Setting up our passage for today:
Last week we referenced a tragedy that occurred during that very first Christmas.
King Herod, upon hearing of the birth of the “King of the Jews”, made a drastic decision:
He decreed that all the little boys in Bethlehem, under the age of two, were to be put to death!
Matthew 2:13
Now, when they departed (the Wisemen), an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said; “Arise, and take the child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child and try an destroy Him.”
Just as you might expect, God intervenes to protect Jesus.
But look what happens next.
Matthew 2:17-18
Then was fulfilled what was spoken of by the Prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation. Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted because they were no more.
Rachel, the mother of Israel, was buried in Ramah, which was just a few miles to the south of Bethlehem…
Not a very “Christmassy” scene, huh?!?
An “unexpected truth” that can be found in the Christmas story:
God allows the tragic events in life because He loves us! How can that be, you ask?
Often the tragic events of life are caused by the exercise of “free will”. Perhaps our most treasured procession.
But even when we choose badly, God is there offering HOPE… if only we will trust in Jesus, as Lord!
Theme: Finding God through our tears
Scripture: Matthew 2:13-19
Date: December 19, 2021
Prairie Bible Church
Over the years most all of us have experienced a Christmas or two that failed to live up to our idealized expectations of what Christmas should be.
Perhaps it’s because of family conflict, the loss of a job, or even a death experienced during the holidays.
These events can cause us to ask questions like:
Where’s God in the midst of all this? Why did God let it happen? Or, why didn’t He stop it?
Using the Christmas story itself, we’re going to attempt to answer some of those questions today.
Setting up our passage for today:
Last week we referenced a tragedy that occurred during that very first Christmas.
King Herod, upon hearing of the birth of the “King of the Jews”, made a drastic decision:
He decreed that all the little boys in Bethlehem, under the age of two, were to be put to death!
Matthew 2:13
Now, when they departed (the Wisemen), an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said; “Arise, and take the child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child and try an destroy Him.”
Just as you might expect, God intervenes to protect Jesus.
But look what happens next.
Matthew 2:17-18
Then was fulfilled what was spoken of by the Prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation. Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted because they were no more.
Rachel, the mother of Israel, was buried in Ramah, which was just a few miles to the south of Bethlehem…
Not a very “Christmassy” scene, huh?!?
An “unexpected truth” that can be found in the Christmas story:
God allows the tragic events in life because He loves us! How can that be, you ask?
Often the tragic events of life are caused by the exercise of “free will”. Perhaps our most treasured procession.
But even when we choose badly, God is there offering HOPE… if only we will trust in Jesus, as Lord!