“Every Christian may truly say, God loves me better than I do myself.
—Richard Sibs
The gospels are the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is just a little bit lacking in that definition. A more full definition includes the goal of the text, which is, the gospel expects a response. In the birth narratives in the gospels we see this clearly at work. Mary responds to the good news. The shepherds respond to the angels’ announcement of the good news. Simeon and Anna respond to the baby Jesus being presented at the temple. And in our text from last Sunday, Herod, the scribes and all the priestly class, and the magi from the East, all respond as well.
Herod responds by using deception and manipulation, the tools of many politicians, to get information from the magi. (see Matthew 2:1-8) He also inquires of the chief priests and scribes as to where this king would be born:
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet.” (Matt. 2:3-5)
The wise men had traveled hundreds of miles to worship the king of the Jews, this scepter that was rising out of Israel. (see Numbers 24:17) The Jewish leaders were not willing to travel six miles, the distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to even, out of curiosity, see their king. Augustine captures well the condition of these priests:
“Near in privilege, far from piety. Some that are best acquainted with the gospel are practical strangers to it. They are like one who should pore over a map, mastering its geography; marking each sea, lake, river; understanding the position of every range of mountains; learning the names of all the localities indicated, but never visiting them.” (Augustine)
Let’s examine our hearts today. Are we familiar with the outline of the birth narratives and of the gospel but still practical strangers to it? Are we knowledgeable of gospel terrain and yet have no real claim to having visited it? Rather, let’s be like the wise men and worship Jesus and present him with lavish gifts, our very lives. Have a blessed week and we will see most of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
