12-15-2021
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written this way by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.” After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country. (Matthew 2:1-12)
There are so many wonderful stories that arise from the birth narratives found in the Gospels. One of our favorites is the tale of the wisemen from the East. Filled with an incredible supernatural event, an entire city being in an uproar, a lying, self-serving ruler and an unassuming family of three - what more could you want from a story?!
If you have never read it, may I (Steve) suggest you stop everything and pick up a copy of Ben Hur by Lewis Wallace. It recounts - with the greatest of imagination - the adventure of the Magi from the far Orient. Now, Wallace livens up his chronicle by telling us these men were three in number…from whence we even get their names: Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar. Their backgrounds? An Indian Hindu, a Greek and an Egyptian. Together, they follow a brilliant light on a journey which ultimately leads them to a home with a young couple who are watching over their toddler - and deliver the most incredible presents a child has ever received.
Yet, one of the most striking moments occurs at the end. Generally, the stories we love the most have a happy finale and conclusion. This one, however, ends with wide open inconclusivity. We don’t know what happened to the Magi other than they dropped off their gifts, had a vision and abruptly got up and went home a different way.
Read again the final sentence in the story: “After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.” They went back another route…a different way.
How often can we say that we were going one way and then realize we need to go in the complete opposite direction? (We know of a lot of people who say, “I don’t need a map! I know where I am going!”...mostly men).
But, we digress. We mean more than a simple geographical reroute.
We mean a spiritual redirection. We mean a 180 degree change.
Sure, the Magi left for each of their homes a different way or route. But, one might argue that they left for home taking different routes because they left the Receiver of their gifts with different hearts. They were not the only ones to give that incredible moment.
It is without doubt the Magi could not have met the Messiah, gave him treasures which had burdened them for a long time, and then left the same. No one who meets Jesus is ever the same. Even today, when individuals meet the only Son of God and realize who he is and believe on him - they leave that meeting a different person…and thus, start off in a different direction.
WHY did the Magi leave a different way? Foundationally, it started with God prodding their hearts. But it’s consummation did not happen until they laid their gifts at his feet. They had to give to him first, then receive from the Child, then leave a different way.
Give. Receive. Leave. Different.
It was the outrageous gift of God that caused the extravagant gift of the Magi.
Christmas is indeed a time of giving. That is why it is so important we remember the gift of God - His Son Jesus. And, the gifts of the Magi.
What is the gift you have to give to the King? You may be thinking along the lines of something monetary. However, is that really a gift fit for the King of kings?
Laying our “treasures” at the feet of the One who laid down his life for us is, as the Apostle Paul writes, “Our reasonable service.” Indeed, the treasures we give to him are not necessarily financial. Our gifts should include our time, effort, prayers, and volunteering.
Question - have you ever considered the Magi’s obedience to the vision, their sacrifice of leaving family and home to follow a celestial anomaly, the use of wisdom to understand the vision which would save the royal family…all of those are gifts as well? Certainly they are!
Most of us are unable to financially give extravagantly. Some of us can give the “widow’s mite.” ALL of us can give the greatest gift - the gift of ourselves.
This Advent season - as we memorialize our anticipation and preparation for the Messiah to come…as God gave of himself to us, let us give of ourselves to him and one another.
Someone this year is in need of you. Perhaps it is your spouse or children. Maybe it’s your parents or neighbor. Could it be a colleague at work or school? Possibly there is a stranger in your path that needs you. Give yourself. Give your heart. Give of your effort. Just give.
It was Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist and poet who once wrote, “The only gift is a portion of yourself.”
That is truly the “Gift that keeps on giving, Clark.”
Blessings and peace be yours,
Steve and Missy
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