Three gifts, two groups of seekers, one question for us today
By Dean Collins
Imagine a world without today’s communication abilities. I doubt there are any readers of this devotional that were around when telephones became standard in the construction of homes. I read somewhere that in the 1920s it became more standard to wire a new home for a phone. The Great Depression and the war slowed the advancement of phones somewhat, I would imagine. Some readers may remember the “party line,” shared by multiple homes. You had to pick up the receiver to see if the line was available or whether someone in another house was on the phone—and you could hear their conversation!
But in the first century, of course, there were no phones. It was word of mouth through family, friends, and synagogues or city gates where news was passed from person to person. As exciting as the birth of Christ was to the shepherds and their friends, it took a minute to spread the news. We do know from Matthew’s Gospel that a bright star guided the wise men and that King Herod was alarmed at the news that a king, especially a king suggested to be the king of the Jews, had been born. By the time the wise men found Jesus, he was at least a couple of months old; some say 2 or 3 years old.
I have never visited a baby thought to one day be a king. I am not on the invite list for the royal family, so I didn't get the news when William was born. I am not sure what gift one brings to such an occasion. Matthew said the Magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh—all gifts appropriate for royalty in that day.
Three different gifts
John 18 tells a story that happened about 30 years after the Magi arrived; here we see a different group on a pursuit to see Jesus. This time it was not a star that guided them. Worship was not the response when they found Jesus, either. These were not wise men. They were led by Judas. He was accompanied by a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They also brought three things, but not as gifts. They brought lanterns, torches, and weapons to insure their success on their mission. Quite a different offering than gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Jesus posed a question to this crowd: “Whom do you seek?” Their response was, “Jesus of Nazareth,” and Jesus confirmed his identity to them and surrendered to them, also surrendering to his Father in Heaven and his eventual suffering and death.
A question for today
Some, I suppose, never seek Jesus. It may be they are not aware of him because we have failed to spread the good news fully. Some may seek him out of curiosity. Our faithfulness to Jesus as we live and pray that God’s will would be accomplished here as it is in Heaven may actually stir some to curiosity, causing them to seek Jesus. Some, I suppose, come angry looking for Jesus because his teachings interrupt their conscience. The idea of a savior only makes them mad.
Our focus this Advent should raise the question anew: Whom do we seek as we approach Christmas? Do we come with anticipation to witness the birth of one born to die for our sins? Or do we wearily or lazily come to a Christmas Eve service as a task on a checklist of traditions we keep in our family?
Father, as Christmas Eve approaches, our desire is to come to you with open hearts and minds to receive a fresh awakening of your great gift to us of a Savior born to be King of kings. Forgive our rushing through the season of Advent. Slow both mind and body so that we might see clearly who you are and fully surrender to you as Lord and King. May we lay aside all distractions and any hostility or anxiety we have so that we might see you clearly and worship you in spirit and in truth this Christmas. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
John 18:1-11; Matthew 2:2, 9-12 ESV
Photo by Jonathan Meyer on Unsplash
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