The Peace Child
We actually know very little about them. And there has been quite a bit of tinkering and modifying done to their role in the story through the years. I’m speaking about those characters who appear in everyone’s nativity scene known as Wise Men.
Wise Men. Now there are two words that rarely go together Wise – Men. I’ve known some wide men, I’ve met a few wise leaders. And there’s certainly a difference between being a wise-guy and a wise man.
Again, there’s a great deal of Internet research and revisionist thinking going on about these characters in the Christmas story. Some of have suggested that things would have been considerably different if these wise men had actually instead been wise women. And things sure would have been different. If it had been ‘Wise Women’ instead of ‘Wise Men’, they would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts from Baby’s-R-Us, including diapers, wipes, bibs and formula. But that’s an entirely different story…
Matthew is the only gospel that tells us about the visit of these Magi. And the way he tells the story reveals a bit about his intentions I believe. Matthew is very concerned with Jesus being the promised Messiah – the fulfillment of the Hebrew prophecies and law. Matthew is very concerned with Jesus being the promise to Israel – the King of the Jews. And Matthew is also very focused on revealing the hidden purposes of Jesus – the secret ambition of this clandestine King – Deity wrapped and hidden in the confines of His own creation.
Matthew doesn’t reveal the place of origin of these Magi. He isn’t concerned with their role in their society or their place in hierarchy in government. Their presence alone, and their assumption and conversation with the local Governor, Herod, reveals their official status and purpose in seeking the newborn King. We don’t know much about how many people were traveling with them… Was this a small group sent to welcome a new ruler? Or was this a large, impressive entourage meant to impress and endear themselves to the new King? We don’t know, Matthew isn’t led by the Holy Spirit to give us those details. We don’t know their names, or their nationalities.
In fact, Matthew only gives us two details at all. First, the Magi are indeed seeking someone they are confident is a new King for the Jewish nation. Important. Secondly, Matthew takes a moment to mention the three coffers or treasures that the magi have brought as an offering to the newborn King.
They bring Gold. A gift of value still today – greatly significant – a gift suited for royalty. Also turned about to be fairly practical as well, as Joseph and Mary will very soon discover their need for a travel agent to Egypt.
These Magi also bring Incense. Incense is a gift given to Deity in worship. This demonstrates that the Magi have a deep respect and possibly an appreciation for the faith and worship of the Hebrew people
Both of these gifts also reinforce Matthew’s purposes in the authoring of His account. Remember, Matthew is trying to emphasize to Hebrew writers the Sovereignty and King-ship of Jesus and the Divinity and God-ness of Jesus. Here he demonstrates the baby being given very symbolic gifts of both.
But the third gift… Very different. Myrrh. Myrrh was a very aromatic resin – and a very versatile substance in ancient times. We hear it mentioned first in the Bible in Exodus as a principle ingredient in the holy anointing oil. It was a primary ingredient in perfumes of the day. You may also remember that is was mixed with wine-vinegar to create a mild analgesic, very commonly offered to criminals before their execution. But, mostly, and most clearly in Matthew’s mind as he pens this narrative is the knowledge that Myrrh is a primary salve used to prepare bodies for the grave.
Gold is given to symbolize his authority as the King of All Isreal – indeed all of creation.
Incenses is given to demonstrated his deity and sovereignty as Immanuel – God with us.
But the myrrh – a gift which demonstrates the foremost mission of the life of this new child-king. From the moment of his birth, he is marked for death. He is born to die. While the infant lays in the manger, cooing or crying as babies must, the deity within him, always present within him, knows that what awaits him at the end of his journey. As he learns to walk, that which is divine knows that each footstep takes him one step closer to that cross.
And you can see the image of the cross following him and facing him every step of his life – knowing that his life is lived in the shadow of that torturous death.
It is the very reason he is born. He is born to die. We were told so, long before his coming. Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah:
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:1-12
And hear again these amazing words from the Apostle Paul, almost said in passing in the first chapter of his letter to the church at Colossae:
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Col. 1:19-20
‘by making peace through his blood’ – could there be a simpler way to explain why Jesus was born? He was born to bring us into peace with God through the shedding of his innocent blood – for sinners like us. Like you.
I know, Jesus died to save the world. All the world. But he had you mind. He was there at your creation. He has been with you throughout every day of your life. He knew the mistake you would make and knew the separation that would ugliness that would come between you and the unbelievable love of our Father God. And he had you in mind when the nails were driven into his hands. He had your heart and your soul in mind when struggled on the ground of the Garden of Gethsemane saying with all his heart to God the Father: ‘not my will but yours.’ He was born to die – for you.
A story is told about a missionary living oversees, desperately trying to introduce the good news of Christ to two different pagan tribes. The missionary has been working tirelessly to learn the language of the tribes, and to find local metaphors, which will powerfully communicate the Gospel and God’s truth. And while the long months and years of service to members of the tribes has earned him great respect and interaction with tribal members, they seem to be no closer to understanding this message He’s preaching.
Now the war-feud going on between the tribes is a long and bitter one. They have lost many to attacks, raids and the ravages of war. Both tribal leaders know that neither tribe will survive much longer if something doesn’t change. There are several nights in a row of heated and passionate discussion among tribal leaders, then an emissary of both tribal chiefs contacts the missionary and invites him to be at a specific place the next morning.
As the missionary arrives at the familiar field, often in recent years a battle-field, he is troubled to see both tribes already there standing quite some distance apart, facing one another. In face, he sees not only both tribes, but everyone from both tribes. All the people of the tribes; the men, standing in a forward position, weapons of war in hand; women, with their children in their arms just a few paces behind them. Everyone.
The terror of the possibilities races through his mind. Both tribes could be completely decimated in one morning’s battle. His calling, his hope to bring redemption to these people now suddenly seemed to be slowing falling into the shadow of impossibility.
They had already been here since before dawn. There was a terrible sense of agony and anxious waiting across the field. Nothing short of the air surrounding them seemed to be holding each tribe back from the other. This unbearable waiting continued for what seemed like two hours.
Then, without any warning, a man on one side of the battlefield, throws his weapons to his feet, darts backward to his wife who begins to shake and backpedal and cry… He grabs out of her arms his new born son and then begins to run with all his might towards the opposing tribe. The wife lurches forward, now screaming and tearing at her husbands clothes, but she is dragged to the ground by her own people… The father runs, striding as hard as he can and finally reaches the other tribe. He slowly, using every muscle he has to overcome his own instincts, extends his hands holding out his son, giving him over to a warrior/father from that tribe. He backpedals to his own tribal line, all the while keeping his eyes focused on the child he has given over.
The tribes both stand there for another hour, when suddenly the same process is repeated from the other direction. Within the line of the second tribe, a warrior-father reaches back and takes a newborn daughter from the arms of his wife and races across the field to place her into the arms of the other tribe.
After he has returned to his tribe, they stare at one another… they slowly begin to move… away. Each tribe begins to leave, with only the tribal leaders left standing where their lines had once been. Each leader then begins to walk over towards the stunned and shocked missionary. They explain that had decided to enact this ancient ritual to bring an end to the warfare. What has been done is a giving of a peace child. As long as that child lives, there will be peace between us.
And the missionary realizes that through this dreadful, horrible act, he has discovered a symbol and a way to introduce Jesus to these people.
Jesus – our peace child. Given to us to bring us to peace with almighty God. Given to us to prove once and for all just how far God is willing to go to bring us back into peace with Him.
If you have ever doubted how important, how loved, how valued you are… come to face to face with the new born babe and king Jesus who was born to give his life for you. His body born to be broken for you; his blood created to poured out for you - A peace child born to prepare a way for you to see, to hear, to taste and to forever know the love of your Father, Creator and Savior God.
Kyle Meador
New Heights Church of Christ
106 N. Main
Owasso, Oklahoma 74055
newheightschurch@yahoo.com
www.newheightsfamily.org
