Three wise men - Rev Allister Lane
READING: MATTHEW 2:1-12
Our first baby was born in Dunedin. Naomi and I lived for five years in Dunedin, while I was training for ordained ministry. Our baby was born healthy and happy. Naturally, we contacted our parents (who were here in Wellington) to share the good news.
Naomi and our baby had just one night in Dunedin hospital. And I can remember driving them both home – I was so full of joy, and highly protective!
I settled them in at our home – a small family together. My world seemed so small. It seemed so much of what mattered to me was there in our living room.
Then, the doorbell rang. And when I opened the door, there was Naomi’s Mother! She said: “I just thought I’d surprise you.”
Well, by flying down from Wellington, she sure had surprised us! One of the joys of a new baby are the visits from family and friends. There is much love to share and celebrate with the arrival of a new baby.
Something I’ve noticed (just recently) in the Christmas story, is that Jesus and his parents are visited only by strangers – shepherds from nearby fields and wise men from the east.
Christmas is recognised as a time to get together with family. This is a major reason why the coronavirus pandemic has been so brutal for so many people’s Christmases - as they must remain apart.
Did any family visit Jesus, Mary and Joseph?
Our familiarity with the Christmas story can cause us to miss some features. The imperial Census required Joseph and Mary to go
up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
So, in that case, wouldn’t Joseph’s relatives also be there in Bethlehem? Even if Joseph had no relatives still living in Bethlehem, surely some of his family would also have been required to travel to Bethlehem for the Census? Joseph might have expected to run into some sort of relation around every corner.
So where were they? Why weren’t they helping them? Couldn’t any of Joseph’s extended family make room for a pregnant woman? She went into labour, delivered a son, and laid him down in a manger, because there was no room. None of the family made room.
Does this first Christmas seem very ‘holly jolly’…?
We don’t know why there was no mention of extended family at Jesus’ birth. To be honest, it’s not something I’ve thought of before. Rather than worrying about it – or judging the family – I’d prefer you to think about your own response.
You weren’t there 2000 years ago. Maybe you would have made room for Mary, for Joseph, for Jesus.
The point isn’t what you would have done then, though. The point is what you will do now. Here and now. The opportunity to provide hospitality to Jesus is with you today.
Jesus says:
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40.)
Whatever opportunity God gives you, don’t send it out to the stable. Make room for it.
The story tells us those who did visit baby Jesus: the ‘wise men from the east’ in today’s reading were outsiders.
As ‘outsiders’ (with different religion and culture), what does their presence tell us? These wise men indicate the extent of this event is universal. Their visit signals the Gospel is not bounded within Judaism only, but is open as a worldwide message.
Let’s be very clear: these ‘outsiders’ don’t accidently stumble across God’s Messiah – they are divinely directed.
First a star in the East
“For we observed his star at its rising” (v2)
Then a text from Micah
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler” (v6)
Then a dream
“And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.” (v12)
The wise men are divinely directed. They search with purpose and diligence, and are guided on their journey.
We are not told what the motivation of the Wise Men is. What the story focuses on is that they made the proper response to God’s Messiah.
Their proper response contrasts with the response of King Herod, who represents embedded political power. Full of anxiety at losing the fragile power he has, Herod responds by seeking to destroy his rival.
Responses to Jesus still vary. The story continues to be told, to enable the proper response to Jesus – to make room for him in our lives.
As I said, the story of the Wise Men’s visit to Bethlehem and their worship of God’s Messiah indicates the universal message.
God loves us all.
God has a redemptive plan for all humanity.
Salvation comes through Jesus the Jew, but it is for all: for strange ‘outsiders’ from the East, for a Roman Centurion, for a Canaanite woman, for an Ethiopian eunuch.
And this Gospel story moves from non-Jews coming to Bethlehem, to Jewish disciples going out to all nations.
So, at the start of this new year, check your response to the Gospel story. Have you made the proper response to God’s Messiah? If so, how do you make room for Jesus in your life?
Do you recognise this Gospel is for everyone? If so, how do you offer hospitality ‘to the least of these’?