Can darkness ever smother light?
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 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: 16-18 NKJV
Christmas is supposed to be joyful, right? As we’ve seen so far, the events surrounding Jesus’s birth were sometimes wonderful, but more often they were confusing, challenging, or frightening.
The powers of evil fought back. God’s plan to save the world through Jesus wasn’t going to be easy. Suffering, courage, faith and endurance would be required of this story’s heroes.
Even the innocent mothers and families of Bethlehem would suffer as Herod tried desperately to keep his throne by killing the King.
Sometimes God’s plans don’t make sense to us. Sometimes the cost is overwhelming. Sometimes evil steps in and tries to block God’s righteous work in our lives.
But no evil can overcome His goodness, just as no amount of darkness can smother the light.