Matthew 2:13-18 The Cry of Ramah

December 28 (or in our case, the Sunday closest to it) has traditionally marked the observance of Childermas. Also called the Feast of the Holy Innocents, this is a day of remembrance and mourning for the children of Bethlehem murdered by the order of King Herod. Along with Stephen, whose feast day (December 26) is also observed during the week after Christmas, these "infant martyr flowers" are considered the first to be martyred on behalf of Christ. Isn't it appropriate that right in the midst of the celebration of Christmas, we would turn our focus to such a terrible scene of violence? Jesus was born to deal with hearts like Herod's—and ours. This Holiest Innocent came so that the foe greater than any Herod, Death itself, would be overthrown. —Henry C. Haffner Key Words: Herod, Tricked, Furious, Killed, Fulfilled, Weeping, Lamentation Keystone Verse: Thus was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah. (Matthew 2:17) Bulletin   Matthew 2:13-18 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, 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, to destroy Him." 14 And he rose and took the child and His mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah weeping and loud in lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more."