Following the Star, the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. By now they were convinced that this Star was a sign of the New King of the Jews. They had traveled for thousands of miles from their own countries. Perhaps they had read the old manuscripts of Prophecy. Maybe God had revealed to them the answers they were seeking along the way. The truth is that other than the shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Simeon and Anna; no one else seemed to be searching for this child. Rejected by His own people (John 1:11), his story was just a dust-settled fairy tale to them. These men had come to worship Him, and King Herod became very troubled. In fact, the whole city of Jerusalem became troubled. After searching the scriptures for themselves, his leading priests and teachers of religious law discovered that the prophecies pointed to Bethlehem as the site of the Messiah's birth. He cunningly thought up a plan and told the wise men to go and find the child and then come back and tell him so that he could go and worship Him as well.
By this time, Mary, Joseph and the young child Jesus were living in a house in the town of Bethlehem. Joseph, perhaps finding work as a carpenter in the town, was now established in a residence for himself and his family. Perplexed by the Star that seemed to stop over their house and by these strangers, who were obviously not from anywhere close by, Joseph probably was cautious as the men dismounted and came forward to inquire about the child. When their joy became obvious, Joseph allowed the men to come into the house to worship and give gifts to the child. Gold given for His royalty. Frankincense a gift for Deity and Myrrh, a spice used to anoint a body for burial. Very fitting gifts indeed for the One they had traveled so long to see. The wise men and Joseph's family would both set out on a new journey very soon. The wise men, warned by God in a dream would go home on a different route avoiding King Herod altogether. Joseph being warned in a dream as well, would carry his family into Egypt, a land that his ancestors had often went to for refuge before. This time, it was to save Jesus' life from the wrath of the evil King Herod who would send his soldiers to kill every male child in Bethlehem under the age of two years old.
We tend to think of Christmas in terms of Sunday School niceties and forget about the troubling parts of the Scriptures. Although this may be safer for telling children, as adults we should include all of the scripture text, even the most astonishing parts, the parts we don't like to talk about. The madness and jealousy of King Herod were orchestrated by the Evil One himself in yet another attempt to kill Jesus; to keep Him from fulfilling His Divine Rescue Plan for humanity.
The Christmas Story is a lot of things, but it is no less than this: Good News to those who are perishing. A Love Story with the twist that Love must Die in order to prove His Love for All. The Creator of all of time, space and matter has come to show us that we Matter to Him. That we were worth coming to die for. To show that, with His death, burial and resurrection, that He alone could defeat Death, He alone could restore us back to the Original Plan. And He would do it by Being Born To Bleed, stretching out His Arms, “drowning in His Own Blood”, to win us back to Him. A divine rescue plan that seemed to go badly wrong, until that blessed morning that He arose from the Tomb to show the world that He had conquered Death, Hell and the Grave!
As we think on the Christmas Story in Scripture, we are surprised by how small a cast was actually involved. Amazed that a nation who were awaiting the Messiah, completely missed his birth. The angels announced it, the shepherds went to find the baby as did the wise men. But the town of Bethlehem, the city of Jerusalem and the rest of the nation somehow had it lost on them, that this Child King and Savior was already among them. The religious leaders and teachers, who knew the prophecies, were not included among those who would receive the good news. How true this can be even today; that one can be well educated in Scripture and Prophecy and yet miss the chance to truly look for the Messiah. How alike King Herod, many of us can be, for the Savior has no place on the throne of our hearts. Many of us, meek and lowly as the shepherds, with no prominent place in society have received this good news and ran to find this child, this Hero; believing that He truly is the One Promised to us. Many have, later in life seen the Salvation of the Lord as Simeon and Anna did. Many of us, as the travelers from afar, have left all that we have known to pursue the One Pursuit with Eternal Significance.
But how much, like the other townspeople in Bethlehem and the citizens of Jerusalem, have some of us missed it. A cute story to be mixed in with the cartoons and holiday movies of this time of year. Being good and doing nice things are the frequent themes. There are even whole channels filled with movies that are solely dedicated to finding Love at Christmas. Right before our eyes, and yet, so far away. An unbelievable story to those who cannot find the faith to believe it. The point of all of Life, wrapped up in strips of cloth, held by the favored Mother. Looked on with Love by the Savior's step-father. Worshiped and adored by angels and shepherds. Given gifts fit for a King by kindly strangers, who believed from some distant lands, the truth that the Great Hero and Savior of the World had come.
Like the shepherds and the magi, we must all make the choice to embark on the sacred journey to find this Christ. He may seem far and distant from you, but this Christmas Story proves that this is far from the truth. To be born as a baby, grow up and have the same struggles, temptations and family issues that we all go through. The fact that He identifies with our pain and suffering, should indicate to you that He is for you, longs to have you fall in love with Him. Won't you begin to step out in faith and believe? Begin to take the first steps on your own Sacred Journey.
By this time, Mary, Joseph and the young child Jesus were living in a house in the town of Bethlehem. Joseph, perhaps finding work as a carpenter in the town, was now established in a residence for himself and his family. Perplexed by the Star that seemed to stop over their house and by these strangers, who were obviously not from anywhere close by, Joseph probably was cautious as the men dismounted and came forward to inquire about the child. When their joy became obvious, Joseph allowed the men to come into the house to worship and give gifts to the child. Gold given for His royalty. Frankincense a gift for Deity and Myrrh, a spice used to anoint a body for burial. Very fitting gifts indeed for the One they had traveled so long to see. The wise men and Joseph's family would both set out on a new journey very soon. The wise men, warned by God in a dream would go home on a different route avoiding King Herod altogether. Joseph being warned in a dream as well, would carry his family into Egypt, a land that his ancestors had often went to for refuge before. This time, it was to save Jesus' life from the wrath of the evil King Herod who would send his soldiers to kill every male child in Bethlehem under the age of two years old.
We tend to think of Christmas in terms of Sunday School niceties and forget about the troubling parts of the Scriptures. Although this may be safer for telling children, as adults we should include all of the scripture text, even the most astonishing parts, the parts we don't like to talk about. The madness and jealousy of King Herod were orchestrated by the Evil One himself in yet another attempt to kill Jesus; to keep Him from fulfilling His Divine Rescue Plan for humanity.
The Christmas Story is a lot of things, but it is no less than this: Good News to those who are perishing. A Love Story with the twist that Love must Die in order to prove His Love for All. The Creator of all of time, space and matter has come to show us that we Matter to Him. That we were worth coming to die for. To show that, with His death, burial and resurrection, that He alone could defeat Death, He alone could restore us back to the Original Plan. And He would do it by Being Born To Bleed, stretching out His Arms, “drowning in His Own Blood”, to win us back to Him. A divine rescue plan that seemed to go badly wrong, until that blessed morning that He arose from the Tomb to show the world that He had conquered Death, Hell and the Grave!
As we think on the Christmas Story in Scripture, we are surprised by how small a cast was actually involved. Amazed that a nation who were awaiting the Messiah, completely missed his birth. The angels announced it, the shepherds went to find the baby as did the wise men. But the town of Bethlehem, the city of Jerusalem and the rest of the nation somehow had it lost on them, that this Child King and Savior was already among them. The religious leaders and teachers, who knew the prophecies, were not included among those who would receive the good news. How true this can be even today; that one can be well educated in Scripture and Prophecy and yet miss the chance to truly look for the Messiah. How alike King Herod, many of us can be, for the Savior has no place on the throne of our hearts. Many of us, meek and lowly as the shepherds, with no prominent place in society have received this good news and ran to find this child, this Hero; believing that He truly is the One Promised to us. Many have, later in life seen the Salvation of the Lord as Simeon and Anna did. Many of us, as the travelers from afar, have left all that we have known to pursue the One Pursuit with Eternal Significance.
But how much, like the other townspeople in Bethlehem and the citizens of Jerusalem, have some of us missed it. A cute story to be mixed in with the cartoons and holiday movies of this time of year. Being good and doing nice things are the frequent themes. There are even whole channels filled with movies that are solely dedicated to finding Love at Christmas. Right before our eyes, and yet, so far away. An unbelievable story to those who cannot find the faith to believe it. The point of all of Life, wrapped up in strips of cloth, held by the favored Mother. Looked on with Love by the Savior's step-father. Worshiped and adored by angels and shepherds. Given gifts fit for a King by kindly strangers, who believed from some distant lands, the truth that the Great Hero and Savior of the World had come.
Like the shepherds and the magi, we must all make the choice to embark on the sacred journey to find this Christ. He may seem far and distant from you, but this Christmas Story proves that this is far from the truth. To be born as a baby, grow up and have the same struggles, temptations and family issues that we all go through. The fact that He identifies with our pain and suffering, should indicate to you that He is for you, longs to have you fall in love with Him. Won't you begin to step out in faith and believe? Begin to take the first steps on your own Sacred Journey.
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