Archive for December, 2023
The Four Gifts of the Wise Men
The Wise Men traveled over a thousand miles to bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child. In doing so they evidenced characteristics becoming of all. They were warm-hearted and worshipful.
Scripture assigns more than one use and symbolism to each of the items. Origen, who died in A.D. 251, was the first writer to prescribe specific symbolism to each. He said the Magi brought “gold, as to a king; myrrh, as to one who was mortal; and incense, as to God.”
Frankincense, literally means “pure incense.” It comes from a Boswellia tree grown in limestone rocks in South Arabia and Somalia. An incision was made in the bark of the tree and the white sap formed the frankincense.
Myrrh comes from the odoriferous Balsamodendron tree of Arabia. It was used as a perfume, an anesthetic, and also anointing the dead. This gift associated with death may have caused the brow of the maiden mother to furrow at the reflective thought of the message spoken by the angel regarding a sword that would pierce her heart.
The recipient of these gifts was of inestimable merit to the Wise Men who undertook their arduous journey to pay homage to the Christ child.
The Lord gave the Wise Men guidance to find the Christ child. Incidentally, their coming may well have been as much as three years after His birth. There is a Greek word for “baby” or “infant,” brephos, and one for “young child” or “toddler,” paidion. The latter is used here. Notice how it is translated in verse 9, “…where the young Child was.”
They considered His presence worthy of their presents.
Of the gifts offered, the fourth is most often overlooked. It was their worship. In Jerusalem the wise men had expressed to Herod the purpose of their mission, acknowledging they had “come to worship Him.” Conjecture regarding the nature of the star and absorption with the three material gifts often causes their real objective to be obscured. They left their homes, braved the desert, and endured the fatigue for this moment of worship. Doubtless it remained an immortal moment locked in the treasury of their memory bank.
Not all can give the three uncommon gifts normally referenced, however all can give Him worship. Those who give Him worship have no difficulty giving their substance.
Their form of worship is a needed additive in today’s style of worship. Their falling down indicates contrition and submission. It is an admirable attitude involved in worship regardless of one’s posture. A sense of divine wonder and awe must have prevailed as they knelt. It should be a jewel in our worship. Such had drawn them into the vestibule of His presence. The Hebrew word for “to worship,” when translated, literally means “to bow to.” In bowing to the Christ child they were bowing to the will of the Father. When we truly worship Him we are bowing to the plan that God has for us. Worship must be Christocentric, not self-centered. These star-guided men first opened their hearts to Him before they opened their treasures. Their awareness of who awaited them beneath that natal gem, the star over Bethlehem, drew them to this moment. By no means could they fully understand what would unfold as a result of this birth. Their awareness that this was a heaven sent gift motivated them. The sequence of their action involved seeing, falling down in worship, and then giving gifts.
Their journey rewarded them with the knowledge that – – – –
“Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh….” (I Timothy 3:16).
Now you can give Him a replica of the fourth gift, daily worship.
The Grotto Where Jesus Was Born
Come with me to Bethlehem and take this virtual Christmas visit. I have been there approximately 50 times so let me have the joy of being your guide. Let’s start this surreal tour in Nativity Square, the center of the old city, and the courtyard to the church that stands over the designated sight of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The massive church when viewed from above is shaped like a cross.
Originally the entrance was much larger. During one period of occupancy horsemen and horse drawn wagons mockingly entered and degraded the building. Under the cover of night villagers used large blocks of stone to make the entrance so small you have to bow to enter. It is now considered an appropriate way to show humility approaching the building.
Today’s basilica, the oldest complete church in the Christian world, was built by the emperor Justinian in the 6th century. It replaced the original church of Constantine the Great, built over the cave venerated as Christ’s birthplace, and dedicated in AD 339.
The cavernous basilica has massive red limestone columns, many of which have paintings left by the Crusaders. The walls are adorned with 12th century mosaics depicting Church councils, angels, and saints. Sections of the current false wooden floors are removed to reveal the original tile floors from the time of Constantine. There are no pews.
The iconostasis, a large carved screen adorned with icons, draws interest to the altar. To the right of it are steps leading down to the Grotto of the Nativity which is immediately below the altar. This is the long reputed sight of the birth of Jesus. It is marked with a silver star around which is inscribed, “Jesus Christ was born here to the virgin Mary.”
In the cave is a small area representing the sight where the Wise Men met the Christ child.
Instead of quibbling over whether these are the actual spots of the historical events, this is a meaningful place to commemorate the events.
Don’t expect a private visit. They are few. We have had such at off hours. We have worshiped in the church on Christmas eve with the basilica packed body to body. The grotto is always compacted with groups of tourists.
On Christmas Eve the square outside is filled with tourists and choirs from all over the world singing. We once carried a 108-voice youth choir to sing there. My favorite Christmas Eve visit resulted in the youth group leaving Bethlehem late at night and driving into Shepherds Field where an olive wood campfire awaited us. By the light of the full moon we watched as an old shepherd led his sheep nearby. This proved for us shepherds are in the fields watching over their flocks by night in December.
From our vantage point we could see Bethlehem silhouetted on the hill and hear a choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus.
It was about as ideal a Christmas Eve setting as could be designed.
The fact none of us are there this season does not mean the spirit engendered by what happened there that first Christmas can’t be enjoyed here as fully as we enjoyed it there. Focus not on the place, but the one whose birth there makes this possible as a Merry Christmas.
Christmas Is a Time of Commitment
In an era when naturalism prevails our universe is considered a closed system. Anything that can’t be explained naturalistically is discredited.
Part of what naturalism advocates is that if something can’t be seen, heard, tasted, felt, experienced, or proven it doesn’t exist and isn’t logical. To the naturalist the human mind must be able to understand a thing for it to be real. Naturalistic philosophy advocates reality is exhausted by nature, containing nothing supernatural. Then God said —- “Surprise.”
God made natural laws to provide for us a comfort zone. By utilizing them wisely we gain confidence. Gravity prevents fear of falling off the earth.
He did not make natural laws as a straight jacket for Himself. He has chosen on occasion to abrogate a natural law and pull back the veil of the unknown. It is His way of saying “I am here.”
In a rare employment of this method the laws of natural procuration were amended. Laws of biogenesis were given a reprieve and a virgin conceived. That is the foundation of the Christmas celebration.
It takes faith to believe that. That means it is believable because we live by faith. Every time you drive in the rain, fly on a plane, buy or sell on credit, go on a date or get married faith is exercised. Every time you drive a car it is an exercise of faith. There is no way you can tell in advance the brakes will work the next time you apply them. Yet, you have faith enough to tailgate going 75 miles an hour.
The issue is what we are willing to make an object of our faith.
Mary believed she was a virgin. When told she would conceive she asked, “How can this be since I do not know a man?” The expression means I have not been sexually active. The angel assured her, “With God nothing is impossible.”
She responded, “Let it be to me according to your word.” That is faith.
Joseph believed she was a virgin. According to their law a woman pregnant out of wedlock was to be stoned. He had such confidence in her he protected her and suffered the indignity. That was faith.
Nazareth was a little settlement about 100 yards wide and 300 yards long. The folks there obviously believed her and not any of the community’s gossips or they would have stoned her. A child of “illegitimate birth” could not enter the synagogue, but when Jesus went back to Nazareth “As was His custom, He went into the synagogue.” That was an act of faith.
Dr. Luke, who wrote one of the four gospels, was called a “beloved physician.” That means he was a good doctor. He interviewed Mary and wrote of her “…those things which are most surely believed among us.” He concluded she was a virgin. That was an act of faith.
Because of the virgin birth Jesus is called Emmanuel, “God with us.”
For naturalists who don’t believe this it is an act of faith also.
For those reading this who are not of the Christians faith, it is hoped this will help your understanding of why Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus and wish for you as for all a MERRY CHRISTMAS. This is a great season to establish and confirm faith in the Christ child.
The Curtain Call for Christmas
May this historical and inspirational material be a blessing to all who read them. May it aid in making yours a – – – MERRY CHRISTMAS.
The cast on earth and in heaven was assembled. Let the drama begin. The curtain call is about to be given by the angel Gabriel.
Earth’s greatest mystery, the greatest mission, was about to unfold. Imagination is ignited in two realms, heaven and earth.
He who the whole universe could not contain was now to be bound by the walls of a cattle stall. The voice that called worlds into existence was for a time to be reduced to a baby’s cooing. The voice that stirred the deep dark to create worlds now cries with the voice of the infant He was to become. He who breathed the breath of life into man, now as a man breathes so slightly as to seemingly have no breath at all. With a heart full of love He with resolve was to enter time. The heartbeat of heaven was soon to be heard in an infant’s chest.
He who in eternity leaned on the breast of His Father is now in time to lean on the breast of His mother. He was as old as His Father and eons older than His mother.
At a time when man was trying to make himself god, God made Himself a man. The creature could not come up to the Creator, so the Creator came down to the creature, humans.
In antiquity there were two stages of Jewish marriage, the Kiddushin and the Huppah. The first was a period of betrothal, also known as espousal. A binding contract was agreed upon and signed. At that point they were considered legally married. However, at this point they did not come together and often never even saw each other for a year. If the male died during this period the woman was referred to as a virgin who was a widow.
At the end of this first phase the actual wedding, which often lasted several days, was conducted, and thereafter the marriage was consummated.
It was during the period of betrothal an angel announced to the virgin Mary she would have a child fulfilling the prophet promise:
“For unto you a Child is born,
Unto you a Son is given.”
The enigmatic couple locked wills and began their faith walk. As the birth neared they complied with a government decree and began their journey from Nazareth that would have taken them along the western bank of the Jordan River and through the Wilderness of Judah to Bethlehem. There Mary gave birth and thus the Word became flesh and came and dwelt among us.
There is a formula applicable to all of life that is especially appropriate for the birth.
“The length of wait multiplied by the depth of anticipation equals the height of joy.”
For good reason heaven burst forth with angelic voices proclaiming the birth. Shepherds left their solitude and ventured into Bethlehem to marvel over the event. Wise men journeyed a great distance to pay homage.
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining till He appeared and the soul felt its worth, a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices….”
That is what Christmas is all about.
The Last Advent
Christmas 2022 has come and gone all too quickly. Hopefully it has left you with memories worthy of a vault in your memory bank. If so, it will pay joyous interest for years to come.
Advent is another word for Christmas. It means a coming into place, view, or being; arrival. It has come to mean the coming of Christ into the world.
In modern use Advent refers to the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas, observed in commemoration of the coming of Christ into the world.
These lines from the renown Christmas song “Oh Holy Night,” describe the years of waiting for Jesus’ advent.
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices….”
Now we live in the capsule of time between two advents, His first and His second coming.
The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer opined, “Advent creates people, new people.” “The Advent season is a season of waiting, but our whole life is an Advent season, that is, a season of waiting for the last Advent, for the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth.”
Speaking against the background of the first advent he refers to our time as a time of waiting for the last Advent, the second coming. Like the Old Testament prophets waited for Jesus’ coming, so we should wait expectantly for His second coming to our troubled world.
Pining, as used in “O Holy Night” is one of those older words we don’t hear very often. It does refer to a desperate longing, but it also has a more archaic meaning of discontent and fret. Both reflect what the Bible tells us about the state of the world. In rebellion against God it seeks satisfaction in things that do not satisfy. It is a restless world that will not embrace the one cure that can save it.
How then should we live while expecting the second advent? Bonhoeffer who lived out the last years of his life in a Nazi concentration camp offers this answer: “Your life as a Christian should inspire every nonbeliever to question their disbelief in God.” Do and you will please God, but displease the world.
Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life
Again wise council is offered by Bonhoeffer: “Look up, you whose gaze is fixed on this earth, who are spellbound by the little events and changes on the face of the earth. Look up to these words, you who have turned away from heaven disappointed. Look up, you whose eyes are heavy with tears and who are heavy and who are crying over the fact that the earth has gracelessly torn us away. Look up, you who, burdened with guilt, cannot lift your eyes. Look up, your redemption is drawing near. something different from what you see daily will happen. Just be aware, be watchful, wait just another short moment. Wait and something quite new will break over you: God will come.”