Have you ever been close enough to meet someone, but were
unaware they were so close? Friends,
maybe family, maybe even celebrities that turn out to be very close to a place
you were, at the same time you were there, but neither of you knew about it,
and so no meeting occurs. The analogy of
ships passing in the night with neither aware that they did comes to mind. Often timing is everything, but timing
without awareness can mean a lot less.
Take Herod the Great for instance.
Most of what we know, or remember about Herod, is his wickedness in
ordering the slaughter of male babies in Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth.
But did you ever wonder why Herod gives that order for babies up to two
years of age? Seems like a new-born
would be easily distinguishable from 1-year-old, let alone a 2-year-old. Easy baby math, if the kid walks he is not a
new born. If he talks, he is far from a
new born. Seems more likely then,
that between the timing of the actual
birth of Jesus, and the timing of when that order went out, there may have been
a chunk of time in between.
Luke gives us a hint of this in his gospel letter accounting
of some of the events around the birth of Jesus. He begins with moving the players into
place. Picking up in chapter two, and
verse 1 it says … “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [verse 2] (And
this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [verse 3] And
all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.” Caesar Augustus was actually Octavian the son
of Julius Caesar, and coincidentally a continued friend of Herod the
Great. Herod was a bit of a survivor,
having begun his friendship with Mark Antony, and then able to continue it when
Octavian defeated Antony once and for all.
Herod had been named king of Judea in Rome by the senate years before,
and re-confirmed by Octavian later, along with granted Roman citizenship for he
and his children. Herod was one of the
only folks who really wanted to rule Judea and was given an army to do just
that. He did. And once taking command he proceeded to tax
the people to begin some fairly large construction projects of his own. He builds the “second temple”, or as it was
known then “Herod’s temple”, and known now as “the Temple mount” which survives
even still. But he also builds a
fortress with a great palace in it (from which to rule) called Herodium about
12 miles south of Jerusalem.
But Herod did not govern Syria independently at that time,
which is why Luke mentions the governor Cyrenius. I am sure Herod’s old friend Caesar Augustus
did not actually care “how” the taxes were gathered in the provinces, only that
they were. The idea of sending each Jew
back to the city of their lineage could have come from anywhere – either
Augustus, or Cyrenius, or even crafty old Herod (whereby he could develop an
accurate census at the same time). But
all these were the machinations of men, men who sought power and wealth, and
cared not for the salvation of Israel, or any other people for that
matter. Taxes were painful. Nobody liked them. And the people were not only taxed by Rome,
they were also taxed by Herod (who had the army and backing of Rome). So whether this caused hardship to you or
not, if you did not pay, you could be enslaved twice over. It was to avoid this outcome, that Joseph
would take his now very pregnant wife on a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Without this painful motivation, they would
have stayed put, at home (and prophecy would have been denied). But it was not denied.
Sometimes the pain in our lives comes, not to torture us,
but that the greater will of God might be fulfilled. Luke continues in verse 4 saying … “And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,
unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house
and lineage of David:) [verse 5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being
great with child.” This was no easy
decision. Traveling on the dusty roads
between cities was never easy, and when you are 9 months pregnant, even less
easy. Mary could lose the baby. Worse, she could need to deliver the baby on
the road, with no one within screaming distance to help – let alone fresh
water, or blankets, or things to dress a new born in. To obey Caesar, was to incur risk, and
hardship. To disobey Caesar was to live
in hiding of the edict, perhaps hiding forever, and if discovered, to be
enslaved or murdered on the spot. It was
a hard decision, but to obey, is what he would choose.
Luke continues in verse 6 saying … “And so it was, that,
while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
[verse 7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the
inn.” No one knows why the relatives of
Joseph (presumably being from Bethlehem would have meant he had some kin in
this town) did not take Joseph and Mary in.
Even if one did not have sympathy for Joseph (bad planning and all), he
was with a severely pregnant wife. Most
hearts melt at helping the pregnant lady, especially the hearts of other women
who could sympathize. But none did. The inn was full. So were the homes of the relatives. It might have been that gossip being what it
is, the relatives of Joseph still believed Mary’s “miracle” pregnancy was
actually just more of a conventional one where she cheated on him. Joseph may have forgiven her this. But his sanctimonious relatives might still
be holding a grudge. They may not stone
her in deference to Joseph, but helping her out, was a bridge too far. Hard to imagine there were people who thought
of Mary as nothing more than a common whore, a slut, who did not deserve their
help, but it may have been just that.
Meanwhile, the birth of Jesus is not just the event to end
all events in this world – it is the event to end all events in the entire
universe. Angels knew this. We may be blind to it, even cruel to it. But those who loved their Lord were not
so. And their tongues needed the release
of praise. They chose those who were
already awake. Luke continues in verse 8
saying … “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night. [verse 9] And, lo, the angel of the
Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they
were sore afraid.” Imagine the life of a
common night shepherd. You are used to
looking through the dark, to try to ward off wolves, coyotes, even lions from
time to time. You are used to the quiet
sounds of sheep grazing, or lambs cooing. The gentle refrain of hooves over rocks, or of
nearby water flowing in creeks. Bugs who
sing at night are your constant company.
And without the pollution of our days, nor the constant lighting we are
accustomed to, the stars provide a panoply of the power of God’s creation on
display. This is the life you know, the
sounds and sights you know. So when
Gabriel appears in a dazzling light you have no words to describe, what is
common is no longer common again.
Luke continues in verse 10 saying … “And the angel said unto
them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people. [verse 11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [verse 12] And this shall be a sign unto
you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” This was the news the angel was dying to
share. This was the late breaking CNN
bulletin that would have interrupted any regularly scheduled show in any time
from then to now. The Savior is
born. The Messiah has come. He is in Bethlehem. (No need to guess where). He is in a manger (really strange place for a
newborn, especially a king, but OK). And
he is wrapped in swaddling clothes, perhaps they had found a mid-wife after all
who was both kind and prepared. The Shepherds
were being told all of this, not to just hear it, but to take action based on
it.
Luke continues in verse 13 saying … “And suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
[verse 14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men. [verse 15] And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them
into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made
known unto us.” In my mind, the inspired
refrains of George Frederick Handel’s Messiah echo over and over again – Glory
to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the Highest, and peace on earth. Good will … the song echoes triumphant, but
in pale comparison to the harmony and beauty of perfect angel voices singing
with a passion we do not understand still, but will someday. The sky breaks forth. The darkness is rolled back seemingly from
one horizon to the other. But not just laterally,
vertically as well. It is as if the
shepherds are to see Jacob’s ladder ascending up to heaven. And in this 3-dimensional display for the
ages, singing breaks forth from a number of perfect beings too many to imagine
counting. That sound would be one, no
shepherd would ever be able to match again.
The shepherds decide to move. Not a one of them will stay with the
flocks. They will leave the safety of
the flocks to the angels that have just appeared to them. For every shepherd to a man seeks first the
discovery of Jesus, more than all the earthly wealth their flocks might ever
provide. And while they love their
sheep, as every good shepherd does, they are bound to love their Messiah even
more. And I believe not a lamb was lost
that night, even if left alone, or rather, left to the care of angels who
tarried to protect the innocent, so that these men could share in history’s
greatest event. But not only these men
are moving on this night. Luke does not
account for them, but Magi from the east have been following a star in the
heavens guiding them to a manger in Bethlehem.
The Magi likely did not encounter the shepherds until the manger
itself. Ships passing as it were. But at the feet of Jesus, all are welcome,
both the poor, and the learned.
Luke continues in verse 16 saying … “And they came with
haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. [verse 17] And
when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them
concerning this child. [verse 18] And all they that heard it wondered at those
things which were told them by the shepherds. [verse 19] But Mary kept all
these things, and pondered them in her heart. [verse 20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told
unto them.” The shepherds both come to
the feet of Jesus, then leave to wake up the whole region to the truth they
have been told, and have witnessed for themselves. They return with still others eager to see
(even if the message came from a shepherd they knew, instead of an angel they
did not). Mary treasured all of this,
laying up these events in her heart to ponder over the course of her life.
Bethlehem was a buzz with activity this night. But all this activity did not reach the ears
of Herod. Herod was blissfully sleeping
at home in his palace of Herodium, confident that the wise men, the magi, would
be returning to him soon, with the precise location and names of the family of
Jesus. Herod claimed he would use this
information to worship as well. But the
only worship Herod had in mind was the worship of self, and power that self had
long fought for. Herod was in no mood to
share a kingship with any other Messiah.
Herod was a king. Herod was a
Roman citizen. Herod was a long-time
friend of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and now even Octavian called Augustus
Caesar. Herod was plugged into
Rome. Herod was well connected, well-armed,
built many well-loved construction projects.
Who was this bastard baby to even think about replacing Herod as king? Better one baby die, than risk upsetting the
fate of an entire nation. So Herod slept
soundly, awaiting only the news of where, so that the one might die, a
sacrifice made for all – even if only the sacrifice Herod imagined, not the one
God did.
And the night continued on …
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