– Jeremiah 31:15

The consequence of sin is a theme that, of course, runs throughout the entire Bible, but is particularly evident in Jeremiah. Jeremiah spends most of his ministry prophesying to Israelites. They are hurtling into judgment and exile. Despite delivering countless warnings from God urging the people to turn away from their sin and repent, Jeremiah is left frustrated. Israel’s continual disobedience eventually results in their deliverance into the hands of the Babylonians. Jeremiah, and also Lamentations, show harrowing images of death and destruction. Many suffered from famine, war, persecution, and exile.

In Jeremiah 31:15, the image of Rachel “weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted” is used in an attempt to capture the extent of this devastation and sorrow. Rachel, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin and figuratively the ‘national mother’ of Israel through her marriage to Jacob, is pictured as inconsolable over the consequences of Israel’s sin. We find this verse quoted again in Matthew 2:18 following the Massacre of the Innocents – Herod’s nationwide slaughter of every baby boy in an attempt to murder Jesus and secure his own throne. Matthew ruefully reflects that Jeremiah’s prophecy of Rachel weeping for her children has again been fulfilled. Just like the death, suffering and exile of God’s people during the time of Jeremiah, here again the devastating consequences of sin are on display. On this occasion, the children Rachel figuratively weeps for are the hundreds of thousands of baby boys whose lives are cut short.

In the midst of such immense suffering and sorrow, the miraculous birth of Jesus emerges as a ray of comfort and hope. The survival of one baby boy among the slaughter of so many proves to be the key to deliverance and salvation which will unfold through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. And the most beautiful picture of all is that Jesus is present in our suffering and sorrow, coming alongside us in comfort and hope. Although Jesus survives the ‘Massacre of the Innocents’ in Matthew 2, He Himself is crucified a mere 30 years later. The innocent lamb of God took the sins of the world upon Himself, became immersed in our death and sorrow, and rose again three days later to deliver us from the consequences of sin forever!

We all still experience sin, death, and sorrow today. You only need to turn on the news to see the devastation that takes place in our world and lives every day. But we can rest assured that we have a comforter and a hope in the midst of this. The Man of Sorrows Himself walks alongside us in our own sorrow, offering comfort, hope, and deliverance. Though we will still feel sorrow, we are no longer its slaves like the exiled Israelites in Jeremiah’s day. Today we have a hope and a joy – the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Take some time today to invite Jesus into your disappointment and sorrow. Where you mourn, He mourns alongside you. Where you suffer, He suffers alongside you. We often try to hide our sorrow. We’re scared it might consume us. We’re ashamed of what others might think. Or, we’re in denial about our feelings. Jesus is not scared or judgmental of our disappointments and sorrows. He longs to draw near and provide comfort and hope.

Lord, thank You that You are not removed from our suffering and sorrow. Thank You that You went through the ultimate suffering on our behalf. We invite You now into our own sorrows and disappointments. Be our comforter and our hope. Lift our heads to see the light of Your face and the hope of Your resurrection. Bring joy where joy is needed, and bring comfort where comfort is needed. Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness and Your enduring love. Amen.