Matthew 2:1-12 Ahh, the wise men. These wonderful astrologers from the East who travel for months to come and find the “King of the Jews” and bring three strange, yet prophetic gifts. In the last couple of years as I’ve studied these men, I’ve been struck by the power of the Holy Spirit to guide them. They weren’t from Israel, or seemingly anywhere close. They weren’t Jewish and wouldn’t have been familiar with the Jewish scriptures, yet they somehow felt compelled to follow a certain star in search of the new King of the Jews. And for their journey, it wasn’t wine, or nuts, or dates…not bread or new sandals that they carried, but gold, frankincense, and myrrh. I’m fairly certain the Holy Spirit was guiding them, prompting them
about what to bring, even if it made no sense, even in their minds. I don’t know if they even knew the symbolism their gifts would bear or if they were just following the Spirit, or whatever they might have called the prompting. Who knows if they thought we should bring:
• Gold (fit for a king)
• Frankincense (because Jesus was the anointed one)
• Myrrh (for when Jesus died)
Regardless of what they believed or didn’t believe, their actions would last for a millennium. And they would come to shape the power of the Gospel for the world…the wise men represent the outsiders….the ones who don’t belong, the ones who don’t fit. And they reveal that the Good News of Jesus isn’t just meant for the Jews…it’s meant for everyone, including the outsiders, regardless of where they are from. They remind us again and again that the gift of the Christ-child isn’t just for those of us sitting in a pew in the West. God’s gift is for everyone.
That sounds simple, agreeable enough, right? I mean, it’s hard to argue against it. Who among us would say Jesus is only for some people? (probably no one). But sometimes, the way we treat people is as if the grace, forgiveness, or inclusion of Jesus is limited to a certain sect of people.
In the big picture, Jesus shows us that restoration and wholeness are God’s desire for all people. He restores people to health. He restores people to community. He restores relationships. He upends prejudice. He challenges our overcommitment to the law when it forsakes the lives of others. Jesus teaches us that there shouldn’t be insiders and outsiders, beloved and rejected. Jesus breaks down the barriers that serve to separate us and allow us to think of ourselves more important or worthy than another.
And the magi remind us that those things are true even for them. Them being the people we neglect or ignore, or outright refuse to allow in. Them being the people who are exploited and mistreated and we have seemingly nothing to say…them being the people who are too far away to be our problem.
I know we feel the weight of the indictment. It’s uncomfortable to look at the problems of the world and think we have some culpability. But the truth is people are suffering when we’re comfortable, they’re starving when we’re throwing away food, they’re locked up and separated from family when we are relishing time with ours. And changing it feels like too much for any of us, but if we’re serious about our commitment to following the ways of Jesus then we have to be serious about living in his big picture…restoration, healing redemption, and wholeness for all people.
Now we don’t have to fix it all for everyone or do any grand sweeping thing tomorrow. But we do have to be a continuous light of who Jesus is for the world. We can take from our excess to share with others. We can be present to those who are lonely. We can dare to make ourselves aware of the pain and suffering around the world. We can speak out against injustice and mistreatment. We can be the light of Christ in the world.
I know, we have all kinds of preconceived notions of who God should use to do God's work: the most devout, the most faithful, the least sinful, the ones who pray the longest. Those are God's chosen people, right?
Because, really, why wouldn't God use them? But often, we use their (perceived) qualifications to add the means for disqualifying ourselves from being the ones God chooses. Don't we?
Well, God shouldn’t use me because...
• I don't pray enough.
• I'm not gifted enough.
• I don't read the Bible often enough.
• I'm not generous enough.
• I'm not wise enough.
• I'm not old enough.
• I'm not young enough. (You know it cuts both ways)
• I'm not eloquent enough.
• I'm not musical enough.
Why else? What reasons have you used for why God won't use you?
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But the biblical texts just don't support our objections.
• Abraham and Sarah were too old, so were Zechariah and Elizabeth.
• David was too young and too small.
• Moses was tongue-tied.
• Esther faced too much risk.
• Timothy was too young.
• Saul was too hard-hearted.
So, if we believe that God came to us through Jesus to show us the depths of God’s love, forgiveness, and grace, and if we believe that gift is not just for us, but for all people, including them, and we acknowledge that God has used all kinds of unqualified people for centuries…then we need to stop arguing, we need to stop resisting, and we need to start acting. One thing at a time. One manageable step at a time. Start by asking: God, how might I be faithful?? And then listen for God’s answer. I’m sure the Spirit will lead if we’ll dare to ask, and quiet down to listen.