Holy Innocents
Léon Cogniet (1794-1880), “The Massacre of the Innocents” (Photo: Public Domain)
What is more innocent than a little child? How significant is it that God became a little child? What does it mean that we are to receive the kingdom like a child?
Children are most innocent. Children are humble, trusting, receptive, and completely dependent. God love’s children and sets them as an example for us.
Jesus, who himself became a child, said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3, ESV).
When Jesus was born, King Herod the Great was threatened and wanted to kill Jesus. He tried to convince the wise men to lead him to Jesus, but they tricked him, and he became furious. King Herod had all the male children in Bethlehem killed, and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had discerned from the wise men.
“Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18, ESV).
When Jesus entered into Jerusalem to die on a cross for these sins against children, and for all sin, children were calling out in worship of Jesus. The religious leaders exclaimed, “‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,“ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Matthew 21:16, ESV).
May we love children as God loves his children, and may we receive Jesus and proclaim his praise like a little child.
A Collect of the Holy Innocents: “Almighty God, out of the mouths of children you manifest your truth, and by the death of the Holy Innocents at the hands of evil tyrants you show your strength in our weakness: We ask you to mortify all that is evil within us, and so strengthen us by your grace, that we may glorify your holy Name by the innocence of our lives and the constancy of our faith even unto death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who died for us and now lives with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Begin each month with a #dailydevotional. I have created a #devotional book for each month, a devotional for every day of the year, and offering them for #free by subscribing. Get a link to #Cultivate365: #January2023—A #Daily Devotional here: www.robbiepruitt.com.
Léon Cogniet (1794-1880), “The Massacre of the Innocents” (Photo: Public Domain)
