Read Matthew 2.1-12
What would you take a newborn baby? A beautifully knitted blanket, or a cute board book? Maybe some super sweet clothes that look too teeny to possibly house a human. Or perhaps, if it’s a third born, something for mum! Often our baby gifts are cute or useful, but rarely of deep significance.
Today we read of some grander visitors than yesterday’s shepherds. Magi, or wise men, come to Jerusalem in search of the ‘King of the Jews’ and have been following a new star. Unfortunately, as in all good suspense dramas, they go looking in the house of the enemy. King Herod becomes aware that a new king has been born, and immediately summons the Bible scholars of the time for more information. Where is this Saviour they’ve been babbling on about for years to be born?
It’s not good news for Herod who does not welcome a challenge to his power. The Saviour’s birth was predicted some 800 years previously, and it is to take place in Bethlehem. Just a few miles up the road and right under Herod’s nose. As all decent bad guys do, he hatches a quick plan. He gives the magi directions, but deceives them by saying he will want to worship the baby too so they should return and report on what they find. All the while, Herod plots to remove this so-called new king. Yet again we see the abuse of power – a man so desperate to cling to his position he’ll stop at nothing to achieve it.
The magi travel on and are overjoyed to find the Saviour. Having been knitting the whole journey, they happily present their gifts. Well, no. Their gifts have a bit more symbolism than a blanket. Gold, not an uncommon gift even today in the Middle East for a firstborn son (and remember how important it is for this Saviour to be a firstborn son…) Frankincense, a sweet-smelling incense burned in the temple as people worshipped. This baby is no ordinary child, he’ll be worshipped as the Saviour of the world for thousands of years to come. And myrrh. Well, that one was like presenting a dead mouse at a birthday party. Myrrh is for healing and for death. What new mother wants a gift that speaks of death?
And yet, sadly, there is no avoiding that this baby must die. He is the firstborn son, the perfect one, the Son of God who can atone for the wrongdoing of the whole world. Right from the very beginning death was the only solution to clothe humanity in its nakedness and shame. The animal sacrifices have kept things going until this point, but the ultimate salvation promised by God was a son of Eve who would die for the world.
How can God allow his Son to die? Is he abusive? We might think so if this baby had come into existence as Mary’s child, but God’s son has been alive eternally with his father in heaven. He does not arrive on earth because his father has forced him there, but goes willingly in full knowledge of his mission to save the world. And he comes, not simply with a martyr complex, but to save billions of people known to him by name from the fate of eternal death. People who he knows intimately – every detail of their lives, and every hair on their head at any given moment. Deeply loved and wanted people.
It’s a dark mission. But it must happen. And so, God sends the wise men a dream to warn them not to return to Herod.
It isn’t this baby’s time yet.
Reflect
What does it mean to you to see 800 year old predictions coming true in these verses?
Do you feel yourself to be deeply loved and wanted by this Saviour?
How do you feel about Christmas having this dark side to it? How does this challenge or comfort you?
Susie lives in NE Fife and works in ministry. She loves being with friends, feeding people and half finished creative projects
