January 1 – The Full Picture

One of the things that at times freaks me out about having children is figuring out how to raise them. It is enough mental prep just to get ready for labor and the coming of a child, and when you add diapers, feedings, and lack of sleep, that is about all my brain can handle. But beyond helping our child grow physically, we want them to develop socially, morally, and spiritually. How do we do that? When I start to really freak out, I remember that billions of other people have gone through this, and most of their kids turned out fine.

I wonder what it was like for Joseph and Mary. They had a child, now what? How do you raise the Son of God, besides following the lead of angels? Was that how it would be for the whole child raising experience? Apparently not. After the supernatural experiences throughout the pregnancy and birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary’s life settled into the normal. Now how were they supposed to raise the Son of God? Just like they would raise any other child, by following God’s word. That must have been on their mind as they returned to Israel.

“When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’ ), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’”

“The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too’” (Luke 2:22-35, NIV).

Imagine the reaction of Joseph and Mary. Here they were just doing the normal purification rituals, probably not expecting anything to happen, when out of nowhere Simeon picks up their child and says some amazing things! On one hand they were used to surprises, but on the other hand I don’t think they ever got tired of such powerful statements about their Son. How encouraging it must have been to hear a stranger talk about Jesus as “God’s salvation” and “a light” for the Gentiles and Israel. Another confirmation of all that God had already told them. Another bolstering of their faith. But as they “marveled” at this and Simeon blessed them, he said something that must have muddled their marveling. Simeon’s words to Mary weren’t pretty words of peace and tranquility. He basically told her that Jesus would cause divisions, be spoken against, and expose people for who they really were, and that Mary would be pained by the experience. What do you do with that?

I can’t imagine being at the hospital amidst the joy of the delivery of our baby, and then having another nurse who was on duty somewhere in the hospital walk in, pick up our child, and say the kinds of things Simeon said.

How do you respond to words like this? How would I take the fact that my child would cause divisions and separation and even pain? How would Joseph and Mary balance that with all the joy they were experiencing? I guess if they believed the first words, then they needed to believe the second words, too. They must have understood by now that following God wasn’t easy, that it didn’t simplify their life or take away all the problems. They had come to know through experience that bearing the Messiah in the world actually made life more complicated, made relationships more complicated, and made the future less certain. Far from being safe and easy, being the Christ-bearers was dangerous and adventurous.

Do we understand that this is still true today? Do we get the full message about what it means for a Messiah to come? The Jews of Jesus day were looking for a political Messiah to come and take their problems away. But here at the temple, Simeon was letting people know that God’s Messiah was much different. He was there to fix their real problems, but not like people were expecting. Jesus had come to shine light on them and provide the path to true redemption. And this path was not an easy road. What kind of Messiah are we looking for? Do we look to Jesus just to make our lives nice and safe, so we can go on with them on our plans and our own strength? Do we look to Jesus as convenient and helpful, maybe even as a nice little trophy in our display case of life? That kind of a Jesus won’t have much impact on how we live or relate with other people. Because that kind of Jesus isn’t the real thing.

Or do we grasp the full Messiah? Regardless of what we were thinking when we first accepted Him into our lives, now, as maturing Christ-bearers, do we get that following Christ will never stop rocking our world? Are we willing to have our plans changed and our experiences be sometimes less than rosy, knowing that intense joy and intense pain are both part of the package of following Him? Far from being safe and easy, being the Christ-bearers was dangerous and adventurous. Yet Joseph and Mary had full trust in God, in His sovereignty and provision, and were able to travel the adventure with a humble confidence and an openness to whatever God would do. As we begin the new year, they bid us to do the same.

December 29 – Why Magi?

Throughout the duration of our first pregnancy, I was surprised by how excited people were about our baby and how many people wanted to visit when the baby came. Of course we were excited, but a number of people who we didn’t even know very well couldn’t wait to meet our little one. As the birth drew near, I wondered who would actually come and visit once our child was born? Makes me wonder what Joseph and Mary were expecting during their time in Bethlehem. They sure weren’t expecting shepherds to show up the night Jesus was born, though I’m sure they cherished the visit. Since the shepherds spread the news to anyone who would listen, I’m guessing they had a few more visitors over the next several days.

We don’t know how long Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed in Bethlehem, but after Jesus’ birth Joseph found a house for them. Many modern scholars think they were there for a year or two, with the magi visiting at the end of that time. However, if Matthew and Luke are accurate in their depictions of what happened, a long timeline isn’t possible. Matthew tells us that after the magi came, Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt, and from there went to Nazareth. Luke tells us that at the proper time (40 days) Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem for the purifications ceremony, then went to Nazareth. While Matthew and Luke don’t cover all the same details, their accounts could weave together, rejoining with the return move to Nazareth, and therefore the whole Egypt and Jerusalem portion of the Christmas story had to happen in the first 40 days after Jesus’ birth. But let’s get back to Joseph and Mary. Whatever they were expecting, I’m sure they were surprised when the magi showed up.

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:1-11, NIV).

So I’m wondering, why magi? I mean, it’s cool that they came, but it’s not as if Joseph and Mary needed any more proof that their Child was God incarnate, the long-expected Messiah, the One who will save His people from their sins. They had believed the angel’s reports nine months ago, and had been further encouraged by Elizabeth, Zechariah, and now the shepherds. Why would God also send magi? Here are a few possible reasons: 1) Because all creation declares His glory – God even used the stars to make known what He was up to. It is cool to think that men of another religion figured out that God was up to something in Israel = God was really working to get the gospel out. 2) God was calling people to Himself – His heart is for all the nations, and these astrologers from the east became some of the first Christians. 3) The birth of Jesus is a big deal – even though it wasn’t necessary to have magi, God the Father is pulling out all the stops to give His Son a grand entrance. This would definitely have further cemented Jesus’ identity to them, and further guarded them against doubts. 4) The gifts served a prophetic role of Jesus’ coming suffering (myrrh), His intercession (frankincense), and His reign (gold). This is the idea that gets talked about most, and definitely seems to fit. 5) God was financing the surprise trip to Egypt – after all, Joseph and Mary had only planned to go to Bethlehem and back. How would they have been able to afford the extra journeys? God provides with these generous gifts.

While all of these ideas are quite possible, and each could merit it’s own journal probing, I’m wondering if there was another reason for the magi’s coming that had less to do with Joseph and Mary and more to do with the people of Israel. Along with God’s heart for the nations, God has a special heart for the people of Israel. What better way to call them to Himself but to get the word out that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem. Matthew tells us that the magi’s question caused quite a stir in Jerusalem – people would have heard the news. So why didn’t they come? Where were the mobs of anxious people longing for the Messiah? And if not mobs, there must have been a few people who wondered if what they heard was true! Yet Scripture records no such following, not even out of curiosity! Only a few out of town, Gentile astrologers and a few lowly Jewish shepherds actually walked to Bethlehem to see the Messiah. What a tragedy! To have Jesus – the very Son of God, God in the flesh, the promised Prophet, Priest, and King – just a few miles away and yet no one came to seem Him!!! God’s heart must have broke for the people of Israel. What more could He do to draw their hearts to Him? He made things so clear, yet they still chose to forget about His announcement.

How much of this is the same for people around us? How many people do we know who know all about Jesus, who grew up going to church a little or a lot, who have even been witnessed to by family or friends, and yet want nothing to do with Jesus. They go about their lives, without giving Jesus even a curious glance. Yet all along they have been longing for truth and meaning and real life. All that and more is within reach, and yet they don’t come. Oh how our hearts should break for them. What a tragedy that people who have heard of Jesus do not draw near to Him! How we need to be like the magi. As Christ-bearers in this world, we can go into places and ask “do you know about Jesus?”, listening and sharing the good news with all we meet. Maybe some will listen. Maybe some will get it this time. Maybe some will make the short journey from being self-absorbed to being surrendered to Christ. Let’s pray for their hearts, and let’s get the word out. Maybe we can be more successful than the magi at peaking people’s interest. It’s definitely worth a try.