Gospel in the Tragedy

*Maybe apologize for the audio last week and that we’ve since put captions on last weeks video which we will put online, and have put captions on this video as well for those that are hearing impaired and or might have a hard time hearing the audio.

Intro

Read our text Matthew 2:13-18.

In light of our passage this morning, I think it’s appropriate to highlight again what the children read earlier:

Isaiah 40:3–5 “A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.””

"We light this candle to remind us of the peace Jesus brings. God's peace is special. It's not just about the absence of problems, like some people think. Instead, it's a forever kind of peace that's always with us – in good times and in tough times. It surrounds us, protects us, and stays with us no matter what happens."

I want to share a story that I think will help us when we encounter tragedy.

Phil and Sarah Chien are friends of City Chapel. They have watched us and prayed for us for some time. They are really good friends with Peter & Malissa Bertella. They were up here recently this year and worshiped with us on Sunday morning.

Phil and Sarah have both endured profound tragedies in their lives. While such deep wounds never truly disappear, they have found ways to move forward and have emerged resilient on the other side of their darkest days.

Jesus never left them. In their deepest sorrows, in the messiness of life, God has met them and they are going to share their stories with us this morning.

We are grateful for Phil and Sarah sharing their stories with us. After we play the video, I will come back up, share a few thoughts, and then we’ll finish out our service.

Watch Video

Some thoughts:

I’m so grateful that Phil and Sarah were willing to share their stories. I hope you found them helpful and encouraging.

This text is not often looked at or preached in non-liturgical churches during this time of year. It’s a hard passage. It seems to fly in the face of our cultural moment at Christmas time… or does it?

Middle Eastern and New Testament Scholar, Kenneth Bailey in his book- Jesus Through Middle-Eastern Eyes takes note, “The birth of Jesus is always remembered and retold in soft colors with beautiful music playing in the background. The slaughter of the innocents is never a part of any church’s “Christmas pageant.” I cannot recall ever hearing the story read in any Christmas Eve service. The faithful expect and are generally offered a story limited to joyful angels, excited shepherds and generous wise men. The texts that are read are full of promises of peace mixed with visions of a beautiful child, a holy mother, a courageous father and some humble animals. There appears to be a conspiracy of silence which refuses to notice the massacre. Why then does Matthew include it? Bailey, Kenneth E.. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (p. 58). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Dr Bailey goes on to say that Matthew no doubt was telling the early Jews that Jesus is a better Moses. Both being born during the slaughter of innocents. But maybe more importantly, that we see that at the beginning of Jesus’ life and at the end, at His brutal death on the cross, God presents for us the pictures of the depth of evil that Jesus came to redeem.

“This story heightens the reader’s awareness of the willingness on the part of God to expose himself to the total vulnerability which is at the heart of the incarnation. If the Gospel can flourish in a world that produces the slaughter of the innocents and the cross, the Gospel can flourish anywhere. From this awareness the readers of the Gospels in any age can take heart." Bailey, Kenneth E.. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (pp. 58-59). IVP. Kindle Edition.

Many of us have experienced tragedy and/or loss. I know that while you may not have experienced deep loss or tragedy, there is someone in your relational proximity to you who has. There those of us here that when the holidays come around it’s not an easy time. While storefronts gleam with festive lights and carols fill the air, our hearts may hold shadows of grief that seem at odds with the season's expected joy. The word of God acknowledges this profound tension.

Even as angels proclaimed peace on earth, darkness lurked in the halls of power. The very structures that were set up to create peace, harmony, and justice in the land was used to bring violence, loss, and tragedy.

In Bethlehem's darkest moment lies a profound truth: God’s light persisted. God preserved His light through those who fled as refugees, revealing that even in our deepest sorrows, His presence and purpose remain undefeated. Jesus became the very embodiment of God’s presence in our suffering.

The divine response to tragedy was not to excuse it or minimize its impact – Herod's actions were and remain inexcusable. Instead, God demonstrated the power to be present within our pain, working through it to fulfill promises that even our deepest grief cannot derail.

Eternity is helpful when walking through tragedy. 1 & 2 Peter and the book of Revelation were written to encourage the church as it was walking through severe persecution and difficulty while being in the world.

Having our minds set on eternity doesn’t excuse or make the situation any easier, but we are assured that it will end.

In eternity, love will prevail. Justice will flow down like mighty waterfalls. Righteousness will be the air that we breathe.

Jesus taught us to look beyond what we can see in this world. This wasn't about ignoring our present life, but understanding it's part of something greater.

We're meant to embrace the good things in life – meaningful relationships, moments of joy, and experiences that shape us. These are genuine blessings that matter. The connections we make and the love we share are real gifts from God that shouldn't be taken for granted.

When tragedy strikes and loss feels overwhelming, this teaching becomes especially important. Our current pain, however deep, isn't the end of the story. There's more ahead than what we can see right now – a promise of restoration and healing that goes beyond our present circumstances.

This doesn't mean we should dismiss our grief or pretend everything is fine. Our pain is real and significant. But knowing there's more to come – that this world isn't all there is – can help us endure difficult seasons. It's like having a light ahead when the path is dark. It could even propel us to press in when things are difficult. When we think about “co-creators” with God, or blessable covenant partners as we have been studying in Genesis, a common Jewish thought is that what we do here is very important… as we partner with God in the act of creating, pursuing justice and accomplishing things, in the next world there’s nothing left to do… He will have done it.

In our deepest struggles, we can hold onto this truth: while our current pain is real, it exists within God's larger story of redemption. The love we've known and the losses we've suffered are part of a journey that continues beyond what we can currently see.

This world, with both its joys and sorrows, is just one chapter. We can face both with hope, knowing our ultimate destination lies beyond our current view, in God's promise of making all things new.

I want to remind us… in Bethlehem's darkest moment lies a profound truth: God’s light persisted. God preserved His light through those who fled as refugees, revealing that even in our deepest sorrows, His presence and purpose remain undefeated. Jesus became the very embodiment of God’s presence in our suffering.

For those wrestling with loss this season, know that your sorrow is seen and valid. The God who preserved light in Bethlehem's darkness remains faithful today, promising not to erase our grief but to walk with us through it. In this tension between celebration and sorrow, we serve a God whose justice will ultimately prevail and whose purposes remain unshakeable, even when our paths lead through valleys of shadow.

Our pain matters. Our losses are real. And in the midst of it all, like a star piercing the night sky over ancient Bethlehem, hope endures.

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

No matter where we find ourselves this morning, let us put our trust in Him.

Would you stand with me, and we’ll pray.