This is part of the worship series,
"Via Doloroso—The Way of Sorrows”
Series Introduction
Lent 1 | Lent 2 | Lent 3 | Lent 4 | Lent 5
Palm Sunday | Easter
Second Sunday in Lent
The Via Dolorosa: Rachel Weeping
Scripture
Text: Matthew 2:13–18
Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 30
New Testament Lesson: Revelation 21:1–5
Sermon
In this sermon we explored one of the deepest sorrows known to humans, the grief of parents who have lost a child. Digging into Jeremiah’s prophecy about Rachel weeping and touching on the horrific picture of the dragon trying to devour the child of the woman in Revelation 12, we noted that the life of the Man of Sorrows began with the sound of parental weeping in the back streets of Bethlehem.
That thought raised the whole theme of carrying our cross. The fact is that proximity to Jesus can bring trouble and sorrow. If we are going follow this sorrowful Savior to his cross, it will mean a cross for us too. “In the world, you will have tribulation . . . ” (John 16:33).
The second half of that verse provided the turning point for this gloomy reflection—“but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” Even the Herods of the world? Or the Hitlers? Or the Husseins? Yes, the Man of Sorrows has overcome them all. And that speaks to the grief of the parents of Bethlehem—and everywhere.
Jesus’ family flees to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous designs, but after a short exile, God calls them back with the word that Herod is dead. This symbol of the world’s opposition to the Kingdom of God is dead and gone. Evil does not win. There is hope because the Man of Sorrows has overcome the world.
Even that sad prophecy of Jeremiah ends with this lovely word from God: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears. . . . They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future. Your children will return to their own land.” We ended by looking at the ultimate fulfillment of that gospel word for those who grieve, Revelation 21:4. Herod is dead. Jesus has overcome the world.
Congregational Prayer
We prayed about the losses that fill our lives with tears, touching especially on the grief of parents who have lost children. We widened this focus by interceding for suffering children all over the world.
Children’s Sermon
Several examples of losses that make children weep (a pet dying, the death scene in The Lion King) led into a discussion of the comfort they get from parents. Revelation 21:4 provided the “God connection” here.
Music Suggestions
Gathering
“Christ, the Life of All the Living” Homburg
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” Watts
Confession and Assurance
Choral Anthem: “Call to Remembrance” Richard Farrant (Oxford)
“Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us” Kyrie
Word
Anthem Prayer for Illumination: “God Be in My Head” J. Engel
“I Worship You, O Lord” (Psalm 30) Seddon, Seerveld
Response
“At the Name of Jesus” Noel
“Here from All Nations” Idle
“Then I Saw a New Heaven and Earth” Idle
