After the Angels – Kings both Mystical and Mad

Merry Christmas Dear Reader,

We forget that the story for Joseph starts with a dream after some bad news.  He accepts a life of gossip and backbiting about his family to obey an angel in a dream.  Then the taxation, journey, birth and angels come. 

After all this direct divine intervention it is time to get back to what passes for normal life in fullness of time.  He must earn a living for his family.  He must establish a home.  He must get about the task of being the Foster Father of God. 

The Magi come and bring their gifts.  Once again an outside source reminds the parents just who the child is.  These “kings” from the East know that they visit the promised King of the Jews.  Before we close the year we must be reminded of the cost.

There is another “king” in this story.  A madman who worries about his power and his position with Rome receives the honorable Magi.   He listens as the priests tell him that Messiah should be born in Bethlehem in Ephrathah.  There are two towns called Bethlehem so the distinction matters.

Herod the Great plots.  He asks the Magi to return to him when they have found the King so that he may properly worship the Messiah.  The madman plots and lies.  The Magi travel.  Then the dreams that will yield the nightmare begin.

The Magi find the Messiah.   They deliver their gifts.  Joseph again dreams and gets angelic instructions to hide in Egypt.   The Magi dream and get instructions to avoid Herod on the return journey. 

Herod rages and orders the death of all the toddlers in Bethlehem.  We are horrified by this part.  It seems so barbaric to us.   We passively judge the past in a world where unborn children can be murdered at will.  I realize that not everyone is will to call it murder but the result is the same.  We need to remember that the world will always destroy the innocent if it is allowed. 

As we look to the closing of the year and we put away our mangers and Wise Men perhaps we need to decide that it is time to end the holocaust. 

Spirit of the Age – Michael Card

I thought that I heard crying coming through my door

Was it Rachel weeping for her sons who were no more

Could it have been the babies crying for themselves

Never understanding that they died for someone else

A voice is heard of weeping and of wailing

History speaks of it on every page

Of innocent and helpless little babies

Offerings to the spirit of the age

No way of understanding this sad and painful sign

Whenever Satan rears his head, there comes a tragic time

If He could crush the cradle, then that would stop the cross

He knew that once the Light was born, his every hope was lost

A voice is heard of weeping and of wailing

History speaks of it on every page

Of innocent and helpless little babies

Offerings to the spirit of the age

Now every age has heard it, this voice that speaks from Hell

Sacrifice your children and for you it will be well

The subtle serpent's lying, his dark and ruthless rage

Behold, it is revealed to be the spirit of the age

A voice is heard of weeping and of wailing

History speaks of it on every page

Of innocent and helpless little babies

Offerings to the spirit of the age

Soon all the ones who seemed to die for nothing

Will stand beside the ancient of days

With joy we'll see that Infant from a manger

Come and crush the spirit of the age

We'll see Him crush the spirit of the age

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)