There is Grief in the Family Tree of Jesus
Abraham was the father of Isaac … David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah (Matthew 1:2, 6).
Talk about heartbreak, sorrow, misery, and grief – all those things are woven through the fabric of our Lord’s family tree. Can you feel the grief behind these words? The grief of Abraham leaving all he had known to go to a land where he had never been. The grief of letting go of his firstborn, Ishmael, whom he loved. And what about King David? He had a son who died in infancy because of David's own sin. His son Absalom killed his brother Amnon, and if that were not enough to break a father's heart, Absalom led a revolt against his own dad.
But all these names in Christ's family tree do not hold a candle to grief this Christmas season. Jesus understands the grief in His ancestors and His descendants. Perhaps your own heart is heavy. Jesus was. Perhaps you have been misunderstood. Jesus was. Perhaps you are lonely. Jesus knew loneliness. He had grief and sorrows to bear.
CODE WORD: GRIEF
The month of December holds more grief than any other. In the midst of all the tinsel and trappings, loneliness haunts so many. More suicides are attempted in this month than any other. Jesus understands your grief. Behind the lives of all these men and women in His family tree, we see grief, but they made it … so can you.
Lord, thank you for bearing my grief and carrying my sorrows on the cross. I am leaning on You.
The Christmas Code by O.S. Hawkins
Talk about heartbreak, sorrow, misery, and grief – all those things are woven through the fabric of our Lord’s family tree. Can you feel the grief behind these words? The grief of Abraham leaving all he had known to go to a land where he had never been. The grief of letting go of his firstborn, Ishmael, whom he loved. And what about King David? He had a son who died in infancy because of David's own sin. His son Absalom killed his brother Amnon, and if that were not enough to break a father's heart, Absalom led a revolt against his own dad.
But all these names in Christ's family tree do not hold a candle to grief this Christmas season. Jesus understands the grief in His ancestors and His descendants. Perhaps your own heart is heavy. Jesus was. Perhaps you have been misunderstood. Jesus was. Perhaps you are lonely. Jesus knew loneliness. He had grief and sorrows to bear.
CODE WORD: GRIEF
The month of December holds more grief than any other. In the midst of all the tinsel and trappings, loneliness haunts so many. More suicides are attempted in this month than any other. Jesus understands your grief. Behind the lives of all these men and women in His family tree, we see grief, but they made it … so can you.
Lord, thank you for bearing my grief and carrying my sorrows on the cross. I am leaning on You.
The Christmas Code by O.S. Hawkins