David Bahn – Reflections

They told Herod, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

I recall as a young boy learning about a famous person who came from a little town in MIssouri. Today I don’t remember who the famous person was, or what town he or she was from (sorry about that!). I do recall the aha moment, however, and being amazed that a famous person was actually from my home state. I guess famous people have to come from somewhere. I just thought they came only from famous places.

Not so! Not ever. Think of Saul hiding among the baggage when Samuel is looking for a new King. Consider David himself, when Samuel was seeking Saul’s successor. One was hiding. The other overlooked. Neither from a major political center. This, however, doesn’t seem to stop God from plucking a young shepherd boy and making him king. Nor does that prevent God from bringing the Savior of the World out of the small town of Bethlehem.

It’s easy for me to think of great things happening in great places. The best opera singers would surely be from Italy. The greatest dancers would come from the Russian ballet. The greatest financiers would come from Wall Street. You get the idea.

All that simply dismisses how God works. Not only does God not need celebrities to accomplish is will, he does not care where he must go in order to find servants to advance his kingdom’s cause. The lesson seems simply to be: God will work when and where he will and through whom he will, and from where he will. Don’t count yourself out, or your neighbor, or your town, or your church, or your lineage. All he needs is for us not to dismiss his servant because he doesn’t have the proper-to-us pedigree.

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”⁹ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. – Matthew 2:7-12

Forest Gump may be right: Stupid is as stupid does. But I am struck by the wisdom of the wisemen displayed in their actions recorded here:

• They seek Jesus – the “one born King of the Jews”.
• They worship Jesus with their bodies (bowing down) and their gifts.
• Warned in a dream they do not go back to Herod, but return home another way.

These wise actions may have been more political than religious. Their political considerations and decisions, however, betray a sensitivity to a deeper truth than the outward appearances of things. Herod appears to have all the power, but they are sensitive to things beyond outward appearances Their political savvy places them in  alignment with the agenda of God’s rule and reign (the kingdom of God).

There is someone – seemingly much less powerful than the ruthless and powerful Herod – whose rule and reign they value. They are willing to go to great lengths to honor this newborn  king.

Perhaps while they were in Bethlehem they inquired to learn more about him. Certainly their dream-warning triggered some further insight about the Child and the issues at stake in his birth and very existence. In the end, they simply return to their home by another way.

Life will go on, and they will not be mixed up in the political machinations of earthly kings. Their allegiance is to another; and that is the true mark of wisdom. Just as the object of our faith is what makes it strong, so the One to whom we give our allegiance marks the watershed of wisdom. Shall I fear Herod or God? True wisdom will lead us ever to fear, love and trust in God alone.

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. – Matthew 1:7-10It happened one Sunday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Arlington, Texas. Part of the service that morning included a dramatic skit, featuring an overbearing spiritual advisor who was wielding a pointing stick and barking orders. “Pray! Now! Don’t open your eyes! Kneel! Got it? OK, now DO it!” At one point during the diatribe the drill-instructor/spiritual advisor pointed his stick in a sweeping motion to his right. I was sitting in the front row in the direct path of the trajectory of the pointer as it flew out of his hand. He was mortified. I was amused. The congregation broke into laughter. It was such a joyous moment: I was not alone in my desire to do some things outside the box. We were one. In Christ. In mission. In joy.

This joy certainly must pale in comparison to the joy the wise men had when their search proved fruitful. Here he was: the One born King of the Jews. There it was: the star appeared again and led the way for them. Their search was not in vain. Their desire to worship the newborn king would be fulfilled. They had not come all that way for nothing.

What brings you joy? For many it is seeing their children succeed and do well in life. For others it is family unity on a larger scale. For still others, it is seeing the ministry of the church prosper. For still others it is seeing their favorite sports team win.

The purest joy is founded in seeing the promises of God materialize before one’s eyes. It is recognizing the faithfulness of God and his goodness and grace at work in our lives. Pure joy is linked to God’s promises and our anticipation and faith in those promises. Pure joy transcends threats, dangers, schemes of the evil one, and the devious plans of sinful men.

James says that we should count it as pure joy when we face trials of various kinds, because they produce endurance, faith and hope. He must realize that pure joy is not tied to outward circumstances, but to an inward reliance on the mercy, love, faithfulness and kindness of God. That’s a good reminder for us, and a glimpse of the wisemen’s heart.

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

I have a strong judgmental streak within my heart. I cannot deny it. On the highway today a large pickup truck came from an entrance ramp on our right, accelerating rapidly, and cut in front of me. I was in the right lane, ready to exit, and I knew he didn’t want to exit. He didn’t. So he cut in front of another vehicle to his left and got into the slow crawl of that lane. I’m sure if there was even an inch between cars to his left he would  have cut in front of them as well. I had an unkind word by which I identified him. It was out of my mouth before I could stop myself. I have little patience or grace for pushy people.

I guess that’s why I have little patience or grace for Herod. He is big and pushy. He will demand his way. He is king, after all. He will have his way. He will stop traffic if he needs to. He is in charge.

Contrast that to the Good Shepherd. Jesus is King of the Universe, yet he will not bully his way to the front of the line. He commands angels. He will still storms, and walk on water. Yet he was never pushy. His influence is of a kinder and deeper kind. He will lead his people like a shepherd leading his sheep. Protecting, guiding, correcting, inspiring, and transforming them into the most powerful and influential people in the world. He is a world changer, but not by means of power plays or bullying.

When our sons were teenagers we decided that we would rather have their hearts than their compliance with our rules. We wanted them, not just that they would do what we wanted them to do. You will have to ask them how well we succeeded, but though we might adjust one or two details of our approach, I would not change the goal or the approach. I believe that is what God does for us: he woos and welcomes, challenges and invites, urges and waits for his people to follow him.

It all becomes more clear in Bethlehem. Here is the One born King of the Jews, worthy of worship, feared by despots such as the Herods of the world. Those who are humble, repentant, and faithful find Jesus to be a humble, gracious, loving, and kind shepherd.

Read Matthew 2:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. – Matthew 2:1-4

When we first moved to Cypress, I stopped at the Kroger gas station near 290 and an unidentified road. Needing directions, and without the aid of a smart phone, I wanted to know where Spring Cypress Road was. So I asked the gas station payment attendant, “Where is Spring Cypress Road from here?” He gave me a vacuous look and pointed out the front of his booth (through me as it were) to the previously-unidentified road. I was on Spring Cypress Road! I felt kind of silly. But I was not above asking for directions.

The wise men have no reluctance toward asking for directions either. When they arrive in Jerusalem they apparently began asking around for directions to “the one born King of the Jews.” They are even willing to let people know why they are asking. Perhaps they thought everyone would know and be aware of his birth. After all they had seen his star in the east. They had come to worship him.

A careful look at the text will tell you that they did not ask Herod directly. Perhaps they didn’t even ask people at Herod’s palace. After all, why would you ask a ruthless and reigning king about a new-born king; King of the Jews no less? That would not seem to be wise. All in all the wisemen’s questions go to a conviction they held that something very special had happened in the recent past there in Jerusalem.

Through the insights of left-behind Old Testament Scripture texts, oral tradition, or possibly the living faith in the hearts of some still in Babylon (after the Babylonian Captivity of Israel some 500 years earlier) they were made aware of the promise of the coming Messiah: the King of the Jews. The must have thought that everyone would know about this coming king and his birth. It’s a remarkable question if you stop to think of it. Where is the one whose star we saw? And an equally remarkable admission: We have come to worship him.

The question somehow gets to Herod. And when he hears it, he is troubled. Kings do not share their power. They do whatever they can to protect their power. He recognizes that this Jesus is a threat to his power, and he is troubled by it. And when the king is troubled the populace is troubled – especially if the king is the kind of despot who will kill his own family members if he suspects them of doing something against him.

Whether there is actual harm in the wisemen’s question-asking is not clear. But the trouble that is stirred when Herod hears of it is real and will be dangerous. Thanks be to God that whenever we ask of him, he is never troubled in that manner. Nor is God going to do everything in his power to protect his throne. It is well-established. He will not be shaken. God reigns over all, and most delightfully so in the hearts of all who believe in Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Read Matthew 2:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1-2

We had a gift hanging on our door when we got home from worship on Christmas Eve morning. It was a small box of Christmas treats from the people next door; a nice gesture  of kindness. The act of baking, packaging and delivering this gift made it all the more special to us.

In the same way – albeit on a much larger scale – the wisemen’s gifts represent far more than simply the gifts themselves. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are certainly valuable, and maybe even precious. But look at the effort these men undertook to deliver the gifts.

You can certainly say that there was no UPS, FEDEX, or USPS in those days. Nor were there computer-aided astronomical charting systems. These wisemen took the trouble to watch the stars, piece together the witness of the heavens (cf. Psalm 19:1-6), and travel to Jerusalem seeking the one who was born King of the Jews. This is no mailed-in congratulations-on-the-new-baby card. There is effort, intentionality, and no little amount of trouble to which these magi are going in search of Jesus.

I wonder how much effort we make to worship our Lord. Some will let the slightest wrinkle get in the way of attending worship. Others will be there every time the doors are open. At least as important as making the effort is the focus of our worship. Jesus is not just King of the Jews; he is King of kings. He is worthy not only of our efforts to find him; he is worthy of a life of dedicated following.

The wise men offer an example of dedicated worship. Jesus is worth any effort we may make to worship and honor him.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

(which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. – Matthew 1:18-25

You may know the Luke 2 version of the Christmas story. In fact many have memorized those 20 verses – possibly from the King James Version of the Bible, replete with such prosaic phrases as “great with child, sore afraid, and she should be delivered.” The Matthew text focuses on Jospeh’s part in this story – a facet that offers us all an opportunity to reflect on the request Michael Card makes in his song, “Father show me how I fit into this plan of yours.”

I look forward to sharing that request and offering some hopefully-edifying insights to it today. For it’s a worthy request of all of us. Some may ask, “What does that have to do with me?” In fact many today ask it – if they even acknowledge it in the first place. The message of God’s Son being born is to them fable, fairy tail, or simply blatantly false. The only issue to them is why people make so much of it. It’s OK for those who find meaning in it, but it means nothing to them. I don’t have much of an answer to them; until they stumble upon their own inability to handle life and save themselves this will mean little.

But those who know their own limits will embrace this story gladly. For it speaks of fear, faith, courage, hope and salvation. It speaks of integrity and obedience. And it speaks of a Savior: Jesus.

Joseph took Mary into his home, but remained celibate with her until after the child was born, and gave him the name Jesus. In those few words we learn that a life of obedient faith and faithful obedience puts us in places of great blessing for others. Such a life comes from embracing the blessing of God in his Son, the one who has saved his people from their sins. Whether saint or sinner, we all have a place in this story. And those who recognize that by faith in Jesus we are both saint and sinner will embrace Jesus’ salvation and his calling to be part of this story – however we may.

Read Matthew 1:18-25

And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. – Matthew 1:19-20

“Self-serving fear is one of the most self-destructive forces in the human life.” That was a quote by a friend of mine several years ago. It seemed wise and insightful and the more I consider it, the more I believe it is profoundly true.

From a purely human level, think of how self-serving fear limits us:

• We don’t try to take on a goal for fear of failing.
• We don’t enter into a difficult conversation that could lead to reconciliation because we’re afraid of the person with whom we are at odds.
• We don’t speak up and defend someone because we’re afraid that those around us will accuse us of miscreant behavior.
• We don’t refuse to do something unethical because we’re afraid of being called self-righteous or unreasonable.

Consider the angel’s announcement to Joseph and the precious little he was given to go on in relation to taking Mary to be his wife. The facts were simple: Mary has not been unfaithful; the Holy Spirit has caused her to conceive the child. He is to renamed Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. There is no promise of angel hosts protecting him from slanderous rumors, from being slighted by his business associates, or from any other number of slings that could come his way by taking Mary to be his wife.

This will require courage on Joseph’s part. The courage it will require, strangely enough, is to choose whom to fear. The choice is simple, really: fear the world or fear God. Fear the world and you run, hide, prevaricate, and deceive. Fear God and you obey.

The key to fearing God, however, is not just a raw trepidation of his judgement and power. The key is fear mingled with trust and love. The key is to understand the Psalmist: “But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” (Psalm 130:4). It might also be the hymn: ‘Twas grace that taught my soul to fear, and grace my fears relieved.”

The grace of God in its utter depths and profound implications sustains our hearts. When we look over the edge of the chasm of God’s grace we must surely realize that if there is no grace, there is no hope. But with grace, love and mercy of God – shown in the birth of the Savior – we can truly fear, love, and trust in God above all things. We will not let man’s threats or pressures dissuade us. And when we fail, we return to the gracious and good God who has saved us from our sins. Thanks be to God! 

Read Matthew 1:18-25

But as [Joseph] considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:20-21

Many years ago a young adult, newly-confirmed in the Christian faith visited her friend’s Mormon ward Sunday morning service. When the time for the Sacrament she quite properly, and without making a scene, simply passed the bread and water to the person next to her. She did not partake; she realized that they were observing something quite different from what she was taught and believed. She believed that the Lord’s Supper is the true body and blood of Jesus, under bread and wine for us Christians to eat and drink, instituted by Christ, for the forgiveness of sins (cf. Luther’s Small Catechism).

A remarkable, sad, hurtful, and telling thing happened. As she passed the bread and water to the person next to her, someone behind her spoke in a stage whisper, “Sinner!” I can’t imagine what that might have done to a 14 year old young woman, but I suspect it was a hurtful moment. Maybe not scarring, but certainly harmful.

The person who spoke those words was at the same time, both 100% correct and 100% wrong. She was correct in her assessment of this 14 year old young woman. That would actually be true of anyone and everyone – including the woman who whispered it aloud. She was, however, 100% wrong in how she came to that conclusion. She was intimating that you are a sinner if you don’t take Holy Communion. Communion, however, is for sinners, not the righteous.

Jesus, the Savior, was born for sinners. Jesus came to save his people from their sins. That is a remarkable statement! Too often we want to nudge our husband, telling him that he needs to listen to the message. Too easily we think of all those people out there need saving: drug dealers, human traffickers, embezzlers, con artists, cheaters, drunk drivers.

Scripture is quite clear: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Bible teaches us that “there is none righteous, no not one” (Psalm 53:1-3). We ought really to plaster a big sign on our back as we head to the communion rail. It should have the word “Sinner” on it. It might have a modifier or two: “Repentant” comes to mind. So does, “Forgiven.” But Sinner is there. We might add, “And Saint”, for that is also what a believer in Christ truly is (2 Corinthians 5:17). But he is also yet a sinner. Jesus even goes as far as saying we are evil (cf. Matthew 7:11)!

But we are not just sinners, nor even repentant or forgiven sinners. We are not just sinner and saint: Those who believe in him are saved sinners. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. We line up at the foot of the cross with Paul, Martin Luther, Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, Walter A. Meyer, and all true heroes of the faith. The ground is level there. No one needs to call us out as sinners. We know this and acknowledge it, confess it, and repent of it. But we also know that we have been saved from our sins.

Thanks be to God, we are not just sinners; we are saved sinners. For Jesus has come and saved his people from their sins. Are you one of his people? I am, and I am deeply thankful to be counted as one.

Read Matthew 1:18-25

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

– Matthew 1:21-23

My office during the year of my vicarage (internship) was in the supply/mimeo/ditto machine room of Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I had a  manual Royal typewriter, a desk and chair and some shelves for books. There was also at least one folding chair across my desk for the (very) occasional visitor.

One day an exceptional visitor came into my office. He was a bit apologetic and tentative in his demeanor. But he finally got to the point. “I hope you will receive this in the spirit it is intended.” Then he handed me a check for $300.00. He told me, “When they (the voters at the church) voted not to cover your rent when you came early, I decided that I would do it myself.”

Diane and I had to be in Cheyenne before the official beginning of my vicarage term because she was expecting our first child. We were not going to put her or the child at risk by moving in her eighth or ninth month of pregnancy. We moved, and I worked in the local city park for two months before beginning my actual vicarage. The rent was a whopping $150 per month. Three hundred dollars was a lot of money! I received his gift gratefully. I still remember that man and his wife, and that day some 40 years later!

They fulfilled his own promise, and we were blessed for it.

2000 years ago the God of the universe fulfilled a promise he had made to the world: a virgin would conceive and bear a son and we call his name Immanuel, which means, “God with us”. What a great blessing: God made good on his word and we are the richer for it. God was (and is) with his people.

Think of it; God desires to be with us and for us to be with him. He delights in being near to us, going to the eternal extreme of becoming flesh in order to be with us. God’s presence is a blessing of protection, salvation, hope, courage, favor, and purpose. We are not alone. We are the object of God’s love. He made a promise and then did what he promised – a rare occurrence these days it seems.

The next time someone fulfills a promise to you, thank them and remember God. Remember that God is with us in Jesus – who promised, “surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).