The Real Reason for Christmas
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during
the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,
'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the
east and have come to worship him.'" (Matt 2:1,2)
During the Christmas season we are surrounded by many things that are meant
to remind us of the season. But amongst all of the glitter and glamour,
hidden behind and between all the Santas and Reindeer, Snowmen and Elves, we
also usually find some references to the reason for Christmas, the birth of
the Christ child. Traditional stable scenes depict Mary kneeling beside baby
Jesus, who is lying in a manger. Joseph stands off to one side, and the
donkey and the cow look on. Outside of the manger, a small group of
shepherds huddle with a few sheep and lambs, and off on the other side, we
find a group of kings, the Magi, usually in a huddle of three, bearing gifts
of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Of course, the above mentioned scene is described nowhere in the Bible. More
than likely the shepherds visited Jesus the night he was born, but the Magi
probably arrived much later, maybe a much as two years later, and by this
time, Jesus was no longer being housed in a manger. Nonetheless, the
traditional crèche scene always comforts me. It not only helps me to
remember the true meaning of Christmas, but it also encourages me that
perhaps the entire world has not COMPLETELY forgotten about Jesus. That
maybe Santa Clause has not COMPLETELY overtaken the Christ child in our
celebration of Christmas.
But more than this, the stable scene, and specifically the presence of the
Magi, serves to remind me of the real reason for Christmas.
We know very little about this Magi, these Wiseman of the east. Tradition
tells us there were three of them, one bearing gold, one bearing
frankincense, and one bearing myrrh. But the Bible doesn't specify. The
Bible only tells us that they, in plural, were from the East.
The story of the Magi has inspired thousands of sermons and devotionals
about the giving of gifts, and specifically about giving gifts back to
Jesus. And these are all extremely important lessons for us to learn. But I
believe that in our focus on the gifts of the Magi, we are overlooking
something of even more vital importance. If we go back to Matthew 2, the
first and only time the visit of the Magi is mentioned in the Bible, begins
its record of this important, historical visit like this: "Magi from the
east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king
of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.'"
(Matt 2:1,2)
These first two verses don't even mention the expensive gifts that we so
often tend to focus on when we think of this powerful story. No, as a matter
of fact, the reason given by the Magi themselves for coming so far had
nothing to do with giving Him gifts. Instead, the following is recorded in
scripture: "We … have come to worship Him." (Matt 2:2)
Friends, these Wise men of the East left homes, families, careers. They set
out on a long, dusty journey, traveling for as much as two years. They
endured dust and grime, thirst and hunger, and who knows what else. And
their primary reason was to WORSHIP Him!
Let's stop for a moment and think about this. Isn't this the real reason for
Christmas? That we, also, may stop what we're doing to WORSHIP Him?
And isn't this the real reason for seeking God in the first place, that we
may WORSHIP Him?
So many of us seek God's face because we want something. Some want relief
from trials. Others want a sense of being, a sense of security. Still others
seek God's face to ask Him for something. But how often do we follow the
example of the Magi? How often do we seek God's face to worship Him?
Friends, let's learn and important lesson from the Magi this Christmas.
Let's make worship our #1 priority. Let's drop everything and seek God's
face, and may our only motivation be so that we may WORSHIP Him!
"We … have come to WORSHIP Him."
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org , with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org .