Today’s Scripture Reading (December
23, 2016): Isaiah 5
The end of
Christmas shopping is near. For some,
there are only two days left before the great gift exchange. A few of us have a
few days longer. My family won’t be celebrating Christmas until a few days
after the 25th. For us in recent years, Christmas has ceased to be a
day, but rather it is a time when everyone can get together. In the sharing of
our kids with other families, Christmas this year will arrive a little late. It
also gives me a couple of extra shopping days, and maybe even some Boxing Day
sales to attend if I am courageous enough to brave the crowds.
Before you
think less of me, may I remind you that
that first Christmas, the gifts also came late. We aren’t exactly sure when the
Magi or Wise Men (Wise Guys) showed up with their gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Purists who believe that the story of the
birth of Jesus, written in the constellations, did not occur until the actual birth
of Jesus argue that the Magi could have missed the big day by as much as two
years. It is Herod that gives the two-year
boundary by ordering the death of all the little boys in Bethlehem who were two
years of age or younger (an event eerily
similar to the killing of the Hebrew boys in the days of Moses.) But, our
nativity scenes notwithstanding, the Magi were late comers to the party, and
they likely missed the stable and manger scene entirely.
Here Isaiah
begins to dream of a future restoration of Israel. And his words brings an
image that could apply to our Christmas Magi. By placing the story of Jesus
birth in the constellations, God lifted up a banner that brought the nations,
in the form of this group of Magi, to Bethlehem. And even if the purists are
right and the Magi missed the day by two years, they still would have come
quickly.
Jesus even
saw his death in the light of this restoration of Isaiah. To his disciples,
Jesus made this comment just before his
death. “And I, when I am lifted up from the
earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). I will be the banner
that is raised in this world, and even those who are the farthest away
from me will come. And then the restoration of the world can really begin.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah
6
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