"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)
Yes, this is a part of the Christmas Story. While the men from the East brought gifts, others brought death. Simeon prophesied to Mary that Jesus was "destined for the fall and rising of many...." and, "yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul." History has proven he was a true prophet----- wars, genocide, and as Jesus Himself said later, "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." Jesus' Coming stirred the "pot" of human civilization.
Every Christmas season I think of the horrendous German Ardennes Offensive, more popularly known as "The Battle of the Bulge," which lasted from December 16, 1944 through January 1945. It was one of the deadliest battles in American history. At least 19,000 American soldiers were lost. I still remember the photo of a scraggly Christmas tree in General McAulliffe's headquarters in Bastogne. One soldier called it, "Christmas in hell." Patton wrote in his diary on December 25, 1944: "A clear cold Christmas, lovely weather for killing Germans, which seems a bit[odd] seeing whose birthday it is."
On the other "side" of the battle the suffering and desperation was also heart wrenching. A schoolmaster who returned from Bastogne after Christmas found this "agonized message" scrawled on a blackboard of his classroom in Champs, Belgium. "May the world never again live through such a Christmas night! Nothing is more horrible than meeting one's fate, far from mother, wife and children. Is it worthy of man's destiny to bereave a mother of her son, a wife of her husband or children of their father? Life was bequeathed to us in order that we might love and be considerate to one another. From the ruins out of blood and death shall come forth a brotherly world." The message was "chalked in German and signed by a German officer."
Christmas is not about "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," or just lights and manger scenes. Jesus did not come into the world so that we could have a "feel good" holiday. "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." This is not in conflict with, "peace on earth." It is further revelation on, "this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many...." The choice for mankind has been always, "peace on earth," or, "a sword." It all depends on what, who, or Who reigns in our lives.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that "from the ruins out of blood and death shall come forth a brotherly," Jesus-Centered, and Jesus Exalting world. Amen.
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
