Hemochromatosis

 

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem. The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36:11-16 ESV).

 

What possible connection could there be between “hemochromatosis” and Christmas? Perhaps I should begin with a description of this medical condition known as hemochromatosis. It is commonly known as “iron overload.” I remember when I was first diagnosed with this disease twenty years ago. Hemochromatosis is a disease in which too much iron builds up in your body. Your body needs iron but too much of it is toxic. If you have hemochromatosis, you absorb more iron than you need. Your body has no natural way to get rid of the extra iron. It stores it in body tissues, especially the liver, heart, and pancreas. The extra iron can damage your organs. Without treatment, it can cause your organs to fail. It is hereditary, incurable, though manageable.

 

Here’s the Christmas connection. Matthew ends his list of kings with Josiah (Matthew 1:11) because the Bible says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David” (2 Chronicles 34:2). Josiah, however, was not the last king of Judah. Zedekiah was. Though God persistently sent messengers and prophets to warn Zedekiah, he hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord. The Bible says there was “no remedy.” So God sent the king of Babylon to destroy Jerusalem, and God’s people became captives in a foreign land.

 

But God’s story does not end there. Praise God, there is a remedy. In Hebrews 1:1-2 we read that although God spoke through prophets in the past, “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, and through whom he also made the universe” (Hebrews 1:1-2). When we celebrate Christmas and the coming of Jesus, God’s Son, we must understand that He alone is the remedy for our sin. While sin is hereditary and unmanageable, it is curable. Jesus is the cure!