[ ] 12/16/2012 #1009

DOES GOD REALLY CARE?

Matthew 2:16-18

INTRODUCTION: How do we understand or explain when horrible events take place

such as the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. If there is an all powerful God, why did
He allow those children to be killed? If He is a loving God, why does He allow such
pain and suffering? Does God even care?

The pain and hurt is intensified even more by these tragic murders taking place so
close to Christmas. The Bible tells of another terrible act of murder soon after the
birth of Christ. We read of Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus. In his rage, Herod had all the
male children in Bethlehem killed from the age of two and under.

I. MADNESS OF HEROD

A. REASON FOR HIS RAGE.

Under false pretenses, Herod told the wise men that he wanted to worship the “King
of the Jews.” He instructed them to bring him word when they had found “the Christ.”
What Herod really wanted to do was to kill the baby Jesus. Herod’s attempt to trick
the wise men failed, and he was made to look foolish. He became “exceedingly
wroth.”

B. RESULT OF HIS RAGE.

In his anger, Herod had all the male children in Bethlehem killed from the age of two
and under. Herod wanted no rival to his throne.

II. MOURNING FOR THE CHILDREN

A. LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN.

B. LOSS OF THE CHILDREN.

Tammie Thompson experienced the loss of her son Dale. This is part of her poem that
expresses the pain she felt in her heart.

Losing a Piece of Me 

by Tammie Thompson

Imagine someone has opened your chest with clawed hands,

grabbed your heart in a crushing grip and torn it from your body.
But you do not die. You remain alive, in agony.
Agony that will continue for days,
weeks, months and years.

This is what it feels like when your child dies.

This is how I felt when my son Dale died,
age two years and one day.
 To hold the limp body of my precious child in my arms
and feel its emptiness was pain that defies words.
I sat cradling my beautiful child, knowing that I
would never again see his smile,
hear his laugh
or feel his hand clinging to mine.
I would never again hold his warm body close and
breathe in the scent of his hair. I would never
know the person he would have grown up to be.

I walked from the room knowing that I had seen

and held my child for the last time ever.

I wondered why I still lived,

and how I was supposed to keep going.
I wanted to die; I wasn't suicidal - it's just that
the only way to end my pain was death,
and I ached to hold him in my arms again.

Never again will I feel 'whole'.

My whole future is flavored by the loss of my son.
A part of me went with him,
and a gaping hole exists that his warm
presence once filled.

I asked questions that no one could answer;

Why did he die?
Why not me instead?
Death has struck close to me once -
what if it happens again?
What do I do now?
How will I manage?
Why am I still here?

I rode an emotional roller coaster.

One moment I felt I was managing well -
the next I was curled up in a corner
pleading with God to take me, right now.
I went for long periods where I did well and thought,
"Okay, I've accepted it."
Then out of the blue, it hit me anew -
"He's dead. God, he's really dead."
And I began a new round of grieving.

III. MANAGING OUR GRIEF

A. GRIEF NEEDS TO BE SHARED.

1. Shared with God.

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which
cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

2. Shared with others.

“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Romans 12:15

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

B. GRACE OF GOD MUST BE RECEIVED

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest
upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9

C. GOODNESS OF GOD MUST BE BELIEVED.

The Bible declares the goodness of God. “The Lord is good to all: and his tender
mercies are over all his works.” Psalm 145:9

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in
the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

IV. MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS

A. FATHER’S GIFT.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the
world.” 1 John 4:14

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.” Romans 6:23

B. FUTURE GLORY.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:13-
14

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward
man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which
are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is
with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself
shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there
be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the
throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these
words are true and faithful.” Rev. 21:3-5

LESSON FOR LIFE:

Christmas is about God in the person of Jesus Christ entering a suffering and sinful
world to bring hope and salvation. Jesus is very acquainted with pain, suffering,
and death. He “endured the cross, despising the shame” so sinners can have
forgiveness and a new life. Suffering, hatred, and killing will continue in this world
until He creates the new heaven and earth where righteousness will reign and love
will be experienced by all who are born again. Have you been born again?