Dark Christmas
The cruelest part of the Christmas story is found in Matthew 2:16-18. Herod had asked the Wise Men to report back to him when they found the newborn King, "so that he might worship Him," though more likely that he might do Him harm. The Wise Men are divinely directed to not go back the way they came; Herod is incesnsed when he realizes they are not bringing him the requested information. Herod orders killed every male child in Bethlehem two years old or younger. The senseless tragedy casts a dark shadow over the miraculous birth of a Savior.
Christmas often has its dark side. People have heart attacks at Christmas time, sweethearts break up, loved ones die--- all in the midst of this earth's most joyous celebration. Darkness creeps in, even at times of abundant light.
Amazingly, light always wins. When darkness comes into the light, it never swallows it up. Rather, darkness is always dispelled.
"This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all." I John 1:5.
"What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people." John 1:4.
May Jesus, the Light, dispel any darkness in your life.
