A Surprising Invitation
Matthew 2:1-12
2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
A powerful contrast stands at the center of this account. On the one side are the wise men (they would have been advisors to kings and other community leaders – in part conveying advice they saw in the stars, and at other times advice they gleaned from being smart people who could read situations and people). The wise men were not from Israel – did not know the prophecies of the Old Testament – they were outsiders.
On the other side are Herod and his advisors. The wise men and Herod’s advisors played similar roles – giving advice to the ruler. Herod and his entourage are from Israel, they know the Old Testament prophecy – they are very much insiders.
The outsiders took a leave of absence from their jobs and their lives to come to a great distance to connect with the one born to be the king of Israel. They came that great distance to give homage to a new-born king that was not the king of their nation. And they brought gifts, expensive gifts, to give to this newborn king.
The insiders are not willing to take an afternoon off to take the short trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to find the newborn king, a baby born to be the king of their nation. They make no plans to pay homage or give gifts. And even though they know that is baby is the Messiah, the one who was going to be the great shepherd of Israel, its greatest leader, they do nothing to try to find the child in Bethlehem.
There is cautionary tale here, there is a danger that those who have been around church, around faith, a long time stop hearing the call of God. There is a familiarity that breeds contempt. But the outsiders, those for whom following Jesus is new and very different from the life they have lived before – they are willing to do what it takes to connect with Jesus. The outsiders know that Jesus is worthy of their praise and their celebration, worthy of giving their homage to.
May we continue to be surprised that God has invited us to follow Jesus and may that joyous surprise always be as a central part of our connection with Jesus.
PRAYER:
You have surprised us, O Lord, by calling us to be your people, to become followers of your Son Jesus Christ. Fill us afresh with joy of this surprising gift that you would call us. May we never act or speak as though your invitation is anything less than surprising grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.