In life we often miss the "light" side of things because we're wrapped - or sometimes trapped - in darkness.
Darkness is confining. It's oftentimes stifling. Darkness stifles our spirits, our attitudes; it's usually harmful. Many bad things happen under cover of darkness. But there is a "good" side to darkness. First of all, when do we sleep? If you're not a third shifter, then you typically sleep at night, when it's dark. We allow darkness to cover us and the commotion of the day so that we can let our bodies, minds and emotions rest.
Secondly, darkness provides the best background for experiencing the liberating power of light. Sparkling diamonds look best against black velvet; they seem to shine brighter. And so it is with the facets of life. God uses darkness to vividly demonstrate His Light.
In Part 1, we looked at the "darker" side of Christmas. In particular, we looked at Herod the Great's reaction to the visit of the Magi to Jerusalem as they sought out the new born King of the Jews. Against that darkness, there is Glorious Light. Let's experience it, rejoice in it and understand that Light is better and more powerful.
The Magi had come searching for the new born King of the Jews. They had read and examined all of the prophecies. They knew and understood the timing; God's timing. They followed the Star. They knew exactly what they were doing.
After paying a proper visit to King Herod, they proceeded to Bethlehem. Herod's sinister plan was to send these men on ahead to essentially do reconnaissance for him so that the dirty work of asassination could be accomplished. Herod would have no competition. For the time being, the Magi had no idea what they had been set up to do. But God's plan would not be thwarted.
Some time much earlier, the Baby Jesus had been born. Possibly up to two years earlier. For a variety of reasons, Joseph and Mary chose to take up residence in Bethlehem. We could say that the Holy Spirit kept them there; after all, important gentile visitors had to come and worship. And that's an important idea to keep in mind. The Magi were gentiles. They were non-Jews. Up till that point, the only people who had come to worship Mary's baby were a bunch of lowly shepherds. At that time in history, shepherds were at the bottom of the social ladder.
But that's how God operates. He uses the lowly and the otherwise "un-chosen" to accomplish many great works. As we go through the Bible we see many times and in various circumstances where non-Jews or Israelites played pivotal roles. Think of Rahab the harlot in Jericho who helped the spies prepare for the assault on that city. Or Balaam the prophet; God filled Balaam's mouth with His Words to bless the Israelites as they made their way toward the Promised Land. Then there was the humble Ruth the Moabitess. Her love for her mother-in-law Naomi brought her literally to the feet of Boaz. Ruth would later become the great, great, great grandmother of King David and then centuries later, a relative of Jesus Himself.
Although the Jewish people were and are God's chosen people, that doesn't mean that we gentiles or non-Jews have been left out of His plan of salvation. The fact of the matter is that all of us, Jew and gentile alike are being saved and gathered for God's purposes and God's everlasting Kingdom. His salvation is made available to all mankind. Every single person who has walked this earth needs to be saved. Scripture reminds us that we have all sinned and are all sinners (Isaiah 53:6). None of us is righteous, not one (Psalm 14:3).
And so, these sinful, yet God-seeking men from the east, these gentiles, follow God's star and travel to Bethlehem; and they are overjoyed as God once again provides Divine and supernatural guidance.
"After they had heard the king [Herod], 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 2:9-11.
So Mary is at home with her toddler son, Jesus. They're doing normal mother and child stuff. Stuff that's not a whole lot different than what we do with our toddler children. Jesus is playing as a toddler plays. Mary is picking up or cooking or cleaning. They are a "typical" family. Life is moving forward. No angels visiting (that we know of). No worshipping by shepherds or anyone else. It's a typical day in the typical life of an ordinary peasant family in first century Palestine.
And then there's a knock at the door. There's a bit of commotion as prying eyes and wondering ears watch as a group of really well dressed men and their entourage arrive in this little hamlet of Bethlehem. Richly clad camels. Flowing silk robes. The odor of perfumes rather than sweat. Men accustomed to luxury and fine living, not poverty and simplicity. Yet, that's exactly where they had come.
Mary goes to the door. The men and their attendants look and speak humbly to her. You can almost picture them peering beyond and over Mary's shoulder as they look expectantly for the King. What did they say? Was it something like, "Good day madam. We have come to see and worship He who is King of the Jews."? They just didn't push Mary aside and barge in. We can presume that they were very respectful. How else do you act when visiting and paying homage to a King?
Then the Magi removed their crowns (my speculation) and bowed down and worshipped the True King. And Jesus, although a child in body (yet fully God), properly accepted their worship. They presented Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And Jesus accepted these as well. The first gentiles had come to worship God Incarnate, the Savior of the world. We don't know how long they stayed. We don't know if Mary offered them something to eat or drink. We only know that they were there to worship God. They read His Scriptures. They followed His instructions. And they worshipped. Shouldn't we be doing the same with our lives: reading God's Word, following His instructions and worshipping our God and Savior?
I don't know about you, but I find this whole chapter of the Christmas story amazing and captivating. An otherwise ordinary day is miraculously and extraordinarily transformed into a day of Divine Adoration. Only God Himself could arrange all of the details.
Back at the stable, on that chilly Nativity night, Mary would ponder and treasure the sights and sounds and actions in her heart. Now with this unexpected visit, she would do the same. What a privilege to be near the center of God's activity.
Imagine having to explain this visit to Jospeh (most likely at work) and her neighbors. What does she say? How does she explain these well-dressed visitors? After leaving Bethlehem at the prompting of the angel because of the impending slaughter of the rest of the village children by Herod, what would be her reaction? She and Joseph know that they are living in the cup of God's Hand. They know they are under God's Divine protection as they flee to Egypt until Herod's death.
But the Center of the activity is Jesus Himself. He is the Center of each and every aspect of the Plan of God. Jesus is the Plan of Salvation. Jesus is the Gospel. Jesus is the Center of it all. He was worshipped by these wise men from the east. He received worship from many during His life and ministry without shame because Jesus alone is worthy to receive this worship. Today, millions the world over worship King Jesus in our hearts and in private and public venues. As we are continually being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, as we read and study God's Word, we are brought into contact - albeit sometimes confrontation - with our only means of Salvation: trusting by faith alone in the redeeming birth, life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.
In the future, multitudes will bow down to Him. Either by "force" before they are cast into eternal punishment and damnation or in loving adoration as we believers are brought into eternal life.
This Great Light of Christmas has come into the world so that you may have Life both now and eternally. We will worship Jesus the Christ, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Revelation 7:9, 10 may say it best:
"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
'Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.'"
This year, put aside some time to worship the new born King. Do your best to separate yourself from the noise and distraction of the world. Make some time. Your God is waiting to receive your worship.
Merry Christmas to my US friends. Happy Christmas to my UK friends. Feliz Navidad a mis amigos Mexicanos.
Artwork courtesy of James. B. Janknegt, "Adoration of the Kings"
