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From Heaven With Love

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    Herod's Terrible Massacre

    Herod in Jerusalem impatiently awaited the return of the wise men. As time passed and they did not appear, his suspicions were roused. Had the rabbis penetrated his design and had the magi purposely avoided him? He was maddened at the thought. Through force he would make an example of this child-king.HLv 38.2

    Soldiers were sent to Bethlehem with orders to put to death all the children of two years and under. The quiet homes of the city of David witnessed scenes that 600 years before had been opened to the prophet: “In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”HLv 38.3

    This calamity the Jews had brought upon themselves. They had rejected the Holy Spirit, their only shield. They had searched for prophecies which could be interpreted to exalt themselves and show how God despised other nations. It was their proud boast that the Messiah was to come as a king and tread down the heathen in His wrath. Thus they excited the hatred of their rulers. Through their misrepresentation of Christ's mission, Satan had purposed to compass the destruction of the Saviour; but instead, it returned on their own heads.HLv 38.4

    Soon after the slaughter of the innocents, Herod died a fearful death. Joseph, still in Egypt, was now bidden by an angel to return to Israel. Regarding Jesus as the heir of David's throne, Joseph desired to make his home in Bethlehem; but learning that Archelaus reigned in Judea in his father's stead, he feared that the father's designs might be carried out by the son.HLv 38.5

    Joseph was directed to a place of safety, Nazareth, his former home. Here for nearly thirty years Jesus dwelt, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, He shall be called a Nazarene.” Galilee had a much larger mixture of foreign inhabitants than Judea; thus there was less interest in matters relating especially to the Jews.HLv 39.1

    Such was the Saviour's reception when He came to earth. God could not trust His beloved Son with men, even while carrying forward His work for their salvation! He commissioned angels to attend and protect Jesus till He should accomplish His mission and die by the hands of those whom He came to save.HLv 39.2

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