*The following is the Christmas Mediation that I shared at The Arabic Baptist Church of Newton last Friday night. Verbatim. So if you were there, please proceed expecting heavy repetition. Merry Christmas =)
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The story of Christ's birth reminds us of a very important truth, it is this: Every great story and king has a humble beginning. Even as we have seen in our last election, both Obama and Romney were trying their hardest to convince the voters that each of them had a humble, lowly start. That each of them had struggled like many of us and had overcome many trials and challenges. Being humble is being relatable. It is so with our King. Jesus, the king of kings, had a humble start. He was born in a manger - that is where you feed your animals. He humbled himself, taking on the form of a servant, in order for us to relate to him.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
(Matthew 2:1-2 ESV)
We observe here a few things:
- Jesus was born 'King of the Jews'
- The wise men sought Jesus
- The wise men came to worship Jesus
At the time of Jesus' birth not much was different from our day. People were still very busy, as it is with us this time of the year. Joseph and Mary had a lot going on, just as most of us do today. Mary was pregnant and had no where to give birth. The nation had a census which caused a lot of traveling just as we have seen during our elections last month. They also had a national crisis involving the murder of about 20 little children under the Hands of King Herod as we have also just experienced with the Connecticut middle school shootings. There were stars in the sky, wise men traveling, babies being filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb, barren women becoming pregnant, a virgin pregnancy, angels appearing, priests becoming mute, shepherds seeing angels and a lot of craziness.
And we see in the middle of all that - Emmanuel - God with us. Right when it is most busy, most crazy, most chaotic, most problematic, that is when Jesus comes. Jesus initiates with us. He want us as his people, he seeks after us like a shepherd is after a lost sheep. He is saying 'slow down' this holiday season and come worship me as the wise men did.
If Jesus the baby could talk at the time, what would he have asked for? Would he have asked for gold, frankincense and myrrh? I think he would have been perfectly satisfied with the wise men's worship. If Jesus could ask for anything this Christmas he would ask for your worship. That is what he desires. "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him". (John 4:23 ESV) Jesus here tells us that this is the heart of God, it is after true worshipers. That is what he desires, seeks, and wants - it is that true worshipers would worship the father in spirit and truth.
There is a beautiful promise in James 4:8 that says "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you". How true is it that Christ has already taken the first step and he is calling all men and women to him. Especially this season as some of us are rejoicing and others grieving, as some are care-free and others burdened, as some are feeling fantastic and others overwhelmed. Christ is calling all to come and worship him. Christ is calling us all to come and spend time with him and give him our worship as a gift this Christmas. And his word promises that when we draw near to him, He will draw near to us.
