Did They Know?

When we think of the Christmas story, we usually think of main characters: Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Magi, and Angels. Our pastor spoke of this tonight, as sermons have been brought and songs have been sung from the own personal perspective of each of these. If you were with our youth group this past week, you would have heard a message on Herod, another individual who we read about here. Yet as I was reading along tonight, I found an additional group of people whose story is briefly mentioned among the Scriptures in Matthew 2. They might not even be considered minor characters- the mothers and fathers of the babies killed at Herod's command. This part of the story is pivotal, for with this decree we learn of the angel's appearance to Joseph, warning him to escape to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, thus fulfilling another prophecy surrounding Jesus' birth (Hosea 11:1). We know Herod ordered that all baby boys, who were two years and under, to be killed. From my understanding, the time frame that the Magi found Jesus would have been much longer than a few days. Herod's order was to cover all those who could've been born within whatever time that was, those he saw as a threat to his kingdom. 
The time issue is not my point. As I was reading these passages, it occurred to me that first of all, it is in the Word for a reason. We may not know all of those reasons. But as I read, I like to put myself in the place of those I'm reading about, and try to imagine how they felt. So, how did these mothers feel? Another prophecy is fulfilled as we read in verse 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."
But as I read this, I fast-forward myself, as if I were one of those specific mothers, to thirty or so years later. 
I wonder, when He came on the scene, when they heard of Him, of His miracles, His teachings, His compassion- did they think about their own sons who would've been His age? Did they know how He had escaped death as a baby? Did they question why? I wonder, when He made His triumphal entry to Jerusalem, a neighboring city to Bethlehem, did they know it was Him? Did they know that He was that baby, born around the same time that their own was born?  No, there's no comparison to those baby boys, and Jesus, other than their ages. He was God, and there was a plan.

But, did these mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers hear the story of the Samaritan woman, how she tried to fill the void in her life with other men- until she met that Man? Did they hear of how He calmed the storms, while they may have still been drowning in their own grief? Did they hear of the healing of the blind and lame, and long for their hearts to be healed of their loss? Did they stand from a distance, and gaze to the cross, seeing His mother cry as she watched her own Son die? If they did, then surely they heard the news of His resurrection. Perhaps they were even among those who saw Him. And in Him, the One Who, if things had been different, would've grown up and played with their own children- in Him, they saw hope. Maybe they trusted in His words, His grace, and allowed it to heal the hurt they had carried for so long. Maybe.

We don't get to know how the story of these "minor characters" ends. But when we look at the Christmas story, we are somewhat like them. No, our specific names are not written in Scripture (Well, unless your mama gave you a Bible name!) But, we can find ourselves there. Whether you are like these who lost precious babies, or like the woman at the well who keeps trying to find satisfaction in the wrong things- or you are caught in the storm, and about to go under.  Yes, we find ourselves in Scripture when He says, "Whoever believes on Him"(Jn. 3:16), "Peace I give you" (Jn.14:27), "They may have life more abundantly" (Jn. 10:10), "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (Jn 8:32).

Do you know that He's the One, the King, the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, The Living Water, The Calmer of your storm, the Comforter?

This Christmas season, look to that Baby, who is our Savior that came to bring peace and hope to wherever you find yourself today.