Isaiah 60 promises that "The glory of the Lord shall shine upon you... the wealth of the nations shall come to you; camels from Midian and Ephah; people from Sheba, bringing gold and frankincense." (Isaiah 60. 1,2,6). Who is he speaking to? Jerusalem, Zion (v. 10-14). Several hundred years later gentile star-gazing Arabs arrive in Jerusalem (for Matthew's readers living in Palestine, the East meant East of the Jordan - i.e. Arabia). And they bring gold, frankincense and myrrh with them across the Jordan ; but the gold isn't for Jerusalem: it's for the new-born king. It was all a bit embarrassing. Until they arrived, Herod didn't even know a king had been born!
The Wise men are not interested in Jerusalem. They are looking for the one born King of the Jews. As soon as they find out from Herod (who has asked his Bible experts) that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, that's where they wanted to be. Their gifts were for the child King, not the city. They were interested in a person, not a place: indeed, people are always more important than places. And this Person is always more important than the place or any place. This child is always more important than any city.It is through this child, found not in a palace in Jerusalem but in a ragged wee one roomed cottage in Bethlehem, with the place for the animals at one end of the living room, that God's purpose for the city is going to be worked out. Jerusalem is a city that has a unique place in God's purposes. At the end of time we are told there will be a new heaven, a new earth, and a New Jerusalem (Revelation 21) and the New Jerusalem is called the "Bride of the Lamb" (Revelation 21. 2, 9) and the Lamb is Jesus. Truly the wise men, led by the star right to the place where Jesus was laid, were in the presence of the greatest King ever. This is the King whose Kingdom will envelope all other Kingdoms.
So the Wise men rejoice with exceedingly great joy. It doesn't come much more joyful than that, does it? And in their joy they fall on their faces, and worship the child. Here they are, outsiders, gentiles, stargazers. But they have been "Welcomed in to the courts of the king!"
Joy was very much part of the Christmas story:
- John the Baptist's birth would bring joy. (Lk 1. 14)
- Elisabeth spoke out blessings, when the Baby in her womb leaped for joy. (Lk 1. 42ff)
- Mary sang out "my Spirit has rejoiced in God my saviour". (Lk 1. 47)
- The shepherds were given news of Joy. (Lk 2. 10)
- They went home praising God (Lk 2. 20)
- Simeon blessed God. (Lk 2. 28ff)
- Anna thanked god. (Lk 2. 38)
Maybe we need to recover a sense of Joy. This Christmas story is about a welcome for us, outsiders, sinners, messed up people. And God has saved us, rescued us and revealed his amazing love to us.
They then they open their gifts. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Yes, I know the song about "We, three kings of orient are." Gold for a King; Frankincense for God, Myrrh for suffering and death. Jesus is King; he is God; he is our sacrifice, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. But for these Arabs they simply were bringing the best from their own country. Gold was mined in Arabia; frankincense and Myrrh are resins drawn from trees that grow in the southern reaches of the Arabian Peninsula. This was the best that they could bring, from the resources available to them. Maybe there was something prophetic about the things they brought. But it may be that the immediate result of their gifts was not prophetic but simply provision: giving this poor couple the resources they needed to make the journey they were soon going to have to make.
Because when they had given their gifts, the Arab star-gazers hurried away. One or more of them had had a dream warning them not to go back to King Herod. So they went the long way round, back across the Jordan to their own country. Their world, like our world, was messy. It wasn't all plain sailing. Even the Child king had those who hated him and who wanted rid of him. The world of the wise men is not that different from the world we live in.And like these Arabs,
- We are welcome, just as we are although we are outsiders.
- God can take what we bring, from the place where we are, and use it in prophecy and in provision. Jesus is King; he is God; he is our sacrifice. But he accepts what we are, and what we offer. HE can take what we are, and what we offer, and make it prophetic; he can make is useful to provide for people's needs. Maybe some of the thins we do will be prophetic. They will speak into people's lives, with the words of god. Maybe some of what we do will simply be a matter of meeting people 's needs. That's OK. Let's be open to the possibility of both.
- And we can welcome outsiders, too, and let them meet the Christ child.
And as we come, and as we bring what we have to bring to Jesus, we don't just bring people to Jesus, we bring them to the New Jerusalem. We bring them to the fulfilment of all things, for all time, when the purposes of God are all rolled up in a way that we can only imagine. The image of the New Jerusalem is complex. The city is both made of people and full of people. God isn't just planning for a renewed city made of bricks and mortar or sapphires, emeralds, amethysts and pearls. He's planning for a city built of and built for precious people. He's planning for a city where all the nations will bring their gifts: no-one will be an outsider. No-one will do other than surrender all they are to Jesus. And he's planning a city were all the nations will find healing. Gentiles, Arabs, outsiders, star-gazers.
Joy to the World!
© Gilmour Lilly December 2011
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