CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
December 13, 2009
25424 Aldine-Westfield, Spring, TX. 77373
www.blakehart.com/cypresswoodbulletin.htm
PRAYER AND PRAISE:
God’s
will for our congregation Various
friends, relatives and co-workers
Our
nation, military and leaders Peace
and good will
MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises
upon you” (Isaiah
60:1).
The
title comes from the old television show, “Get Smart,” in which the lead
character Maxwell Smart, played by Don Adams, would frequently say that he
missed something by that much, which could be a little or much bigger
distance. Interestingly, the Magi missed
it by nine miles when they went to Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem (1). Let’s take a look at this.
We
do not know much about the Magi or Wise Men that traveled from the east to
Jerusalem to see the new born king of the Jews.
They told people that they had seen “his star when it rose” (Matthew
2:2). How did they know this, and about
the king of the Jews? All we can do at
this point is guess. I personally think
that they were more than astrologers though that could be in the mix of ancient
astronomers. It appears that they
studied the stars but there certainly had to be more than just that. Many have tried to identify the Star of
Bethlehem as a comet or an alignment of planets, etc. One thing we need to keep in mind is God’s role
in all of this; He could have prepared a special star just like He prepared a
special fish for Jonah.
I
think that they came from the Persian and Babylonian areas (modern day Iraq and
Iran). Suza was an important library
city in the Persian Empire. Among the
peoples in the area were Jews who had been carried off into captivity over a
period of time and had settled in the area.
Archaeology has shown that there were Jewish influences as far east as
China. The priests in exile more than
likely carried with them several scrolls of scripture such as the Law and a
prophet or two. Two prophets of
captivity were Daniel and Ezekiel and both talk about the future and the coming
of one like King David. The Magi, in my
mind, were Gentiles who appear to view the Jews favorably (2).
Another
prophet that they might have been familiar with would be Isaiah. Isaiah wrote around 730 to 700 B.C. when the
northern kingdom of Israel was carried away by the Assyrians. He prophesied about the future captivity of
Jerusalem and that Israel would return to Jerusalem in the days of Cyrus of
Persia (44:38-45:1). This would be an
important book for the Jews in captivity.
They could read it looking to the time of the return to Jerusalem. Over the centuries, those Jews who remained
in Persia continued to study scripture and were probably anticipating the
Messiah (3).
When
the Magi met with Herod and asked where the new born baby was, Herod didn’t
know. So he called the religious leaders
and asked them. The Wise Men had come to
Jerusalem based on their studies using Isaiah 60:1-7 as an indicator. The opening part of Isaiah 60 speaks of the
light of the Lord rising and ships and caravans coming loaded with goods. That would indicate that they might have
understood the need to bring rare spices and gold with them. Another text that they might have been
familiar with would be found in a message that Balaam gave to the king of
Moab. “I see him, but not now; I
behold him, but not near. A star will
come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). Put together with Isaiah 60 and we see echoes
of a coming king.
But
when the religious leaders came, they did not quote Isaiah 60. Rather they quoted a contemporary of Isaiah,
Micah, and that the king of the Jews, the Messiah, would be born in
Bethlehem. What a contrast that would
be! Jerusalem was an important city,
religiously and economically. Important
people lived in Jerusalem and important people came to Jerusalem. If the Messiah was to come, it would be to an
important city, wouldn’t it (4)?
Bethlehem was a small village, mainly used to keep sheep. It was unimportant and unknown. It was filled with unimportant peasants who
lived mundane lives.
For
the Jewish religious leaders, Jerusalem and the Temple were what was
important. Send these foreigners to that
unimportant village, with their far out claims.
Let them wander around the outcasts of society. The contrast is vivid. As we read through the rest of the New
Testament, we find that God uses the unimportant to accomplish what He wants
accomplished (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-31).
Jesus the Messiah came as a Servant, in humility, to save humankind (see
Philippians 2:5-11). Gentile
intellectuals, smelly shepherds, a manger in a small village are not what one
would think about when a king is born.
They
missed it by nine miles, not the Magi, but the religious leaders of
Jerusalem. They had their position and
power, and as such, saw that when the Messiah came, He would be like them, or
would be weak enough to be manipulated by them.
Today, people in power and with money miss it as well. So do the merchants who bring caravans of
products to stores at this time of year.
We’ll hear the songs of Christmas played, songs about winter, Santa and
snow, because that signals that the gods of this age is coming, the gods of
money and greed. Don’t mention those
religious ideas about Wise Men, shepherds, a star and a manger; those should be
kept out of the public’s sight. And many
miss it by that much.
The
Magi were on a quest and did not give up.
They saw the new born king of the Jews and rejoiced. Jesus is now Lord, Savior of those who seek
and follow Him. Let’s point people, not
to Jerusalem and its wealth, but to Bethlehem and its joy.
George
B. Mearns
(1)
Some thoughts for this article comes from Walter Brueggemann, Off By Nine
Miles (Isaiah 60:1-7; Matthew 2:1-12), copied from The Christian Century,
December 2001, on line at www.religion-online.org
(2)
These would be like the God-fearing Gentiles seen in the book of Acts.
(3)
It is possible that the religions of the area influenced the Jews to restudy
the scriptures in a number of areas and rethink some of their views. One religion that might have been involved
would be Zoroastrianism, which came from India and appeared to have picked up
different ideas along the way.
(4)
Of course, He did go to Jerusalem where He died and was raised and later
declared by Peter to be the Messiah and Lord.