Matthew 2:17-18

Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“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.”

They say Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year!” Christmas, a time of celebration, a time of happiness and of good cheer. It’s a special time for most, and I know for me, I have been blessed with so many wonderful memories with family and friends. However, last year was difficult for me, it was my first Christmas being separated from my wife because of the death of our marriage. Yes, that’s me smiling in my holiday pictures but deep down inside I was a mess, my world was falling apart. Being separated from those you love is hard, whether it’s your spouse, your kids, your parents, or a good friend. Death and separation from our loved ones is inevitable. We have either gone through it, are going through it now or will be going through it someday.  For some people Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year but rather it’s the most painful time of the year. I was reading the Christmas account in the Bible where the Magi travel from the east to give their gifts to Jesus. A beautiful picture of mankind laying down their treasures and declaring Jesus king, a time of rejoicing and great joy. But the verses that follow it are hard to read. Matthew tells the account of King Herod slaughtering all the male babies in Bethlehem that were two and under while Rachel the symbol of Jewish motherhood, weeps for her children. Yes, not a pretty picture, in fact a very gloomy one but this is part of the Christmas story we tend to overlook. When we think of the Christmas story we have a warm and fuzzy view of the manger scene, with Cupid like angels on fluffy clouds, shepherds with their little lambs, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus all a glow, singing “Silent Night”. Yet the reality is, the Christmas narrative is one of great joy for some but also deep sorrow and pain for others. However, there is encouragement and great comfort for us and it’s found in this verse referencing Jeremiah.  Although at first glance this passage reads as discouraging, Matthew’s intent for mentioning this verse was to give his readers hope. Remember, Matthew’s narrative was for the Jewish people and Matthew was trying to persuade them, that Jesus really was the coming Messiah that was prophesied about long ago by the prophets. This particular passage is first found in Jeremiah 31:15 and so the readers would have been familiar with the literal context of this verse. Jeremiah chapter 31, refers to the Babylonian exile of the Israelite men. Here these young men are being taken captive and led off to Babylon as slaves to be separated from their families. As the young men pass by a town called Ramah, where Rachel, Jacob’s wife was buried, the Jewish mothers wail loudly for their sons whom they will never see again. Matthew compares the two events because of the similarities but also makes a bold statement here. He knows that his Jewish readers are familiar with the whole context of Jeremiah’s words. Jeremiah’s prophecy following this verse is that God was going to deliver them from captivity and return them to their land. This was a message of hope. What Matthew is saying here is that the promise of deliverance from captivity is now fulfilled in Christ. That although the mothers weep now, their weeping will end for Jesus has escaped Herod. Matthew is pointing out that the exile is over because Jesus is the fulfillment of the new covenant and heir to David’s throne. Today’s believers can rejoice in this too. Yes, there is pain and hardship in this life, there is oppression of the Enemy, there is death and separation caused by this sinful world we live in but there is hope for us too that our exile is over. You see Jesus escaped and because Jesus escaped we too can escape the spiritual bondage that has held us captive for so long. We may have been born sinners but Jesus was born King. We too can escape the oppression of this sinful world and we too can be rescued from our sins by faith in Jesus. We can now experience real joy, peace and everlasting hope that only comes from Him. Our situations may not change, for there was no bringing the slain babies back to life but there is a hope now that because Jesus escaped we too can now escape death once and for all. The Bible says that “He who the Son sets free is free indeed”. Praise Jesus for this everlasting hope that we have. Praise Jesus the captives are coming home. Where do you find yourself this Christmas? Are you discouraged, feeling in bondage and oppressed by your situation? Maybe it feels so overpowering and like King Herod’s army, you feel captive in your addictions with no way out. Maybe you’re overwhelmed with fear or great sadness, due to a separation in your marriage or a separation caused by death. Perhaps, you’ve lived your whole life apart from God and this separation is destroying your soul, and you wonder if there is any hope. The answer is a resounding yes! There’s always hope with Christ. You and I may be weeping over our situation and that’s okay but know this, we no longer have to remain in shackles. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are exiled no more. We can take off the chains, and rejoice, we are free! Jesus, The Great Escape Artist, who escaped sin and death has made a way for you and me to live in real freedom. Homesick? Not for long, put your faith in Him, follow Him and let Him lead you.  Leave the chains behind, it’s time to come home.

John 8:36
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.