Not everyone is in the stable, not everyone sings in the angel choir. But the silent figures in the Christmas story are more than mere extras. They show that God speaks to everyone. The question is: who will answer?
The manger is ready, Mary and Joseph are watching over the Child, and the angels are singing: “Glory to God in the highest.” But there is more going on behind the scenes: the scribes of Jerusalem are silent, the residents of Bethlehem lock their doors, and far away, wise men follow a star. These are the extras in the Christmas story. While they stand in the shadows, their roles still represent a call to action for us today.
How God finds His place nevertheless
The census ordered by Emperor Augustus led to overcrowded accommodations in Bethlehem. Everyone had to register in their hometown, and so Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem, the city of David.
The term “inn” does not describe an inn in the modern sense, but rather a simple room where travellers could find shelter and accommodation. It was also common at the time for families to take in travellers. But there was no room for Mary and Joseph. Perhaps there were other, wealthier travellers.
While the special circumstances of the heavily pregnant Mary also went unnoticed, it was not merely a lack of space that led Mary and Joseph to the stable. It was a world that did not recognise the arrival of God: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”
No room for Jesus!—This sounds more relevant in our time than ever before. After all, it is happening today too: people are too busy, too full of everyday life and its worries and distractions to make room for Jesus. Even today, however, such circumstances will not prevent God from fulfilling his plan: in the midst of all the distraction and rejection, the Saviour of the world is close to humanity.
Seeking, asking, finding
The wise men from the Orient, astrologers from the East, saw a new star rising. For them, it was the sign of a new king—the King of the Jews. It is in these events that the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: “The Gentiles shall come to Your light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising.”
Often, however, their journey is reduced to their arrival at the stable and the gifts they brought—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But long before the astrologers could even arrive at the scene, they had to set out on a long and arduous journey filled with uncertainty.
And where did they come from? Probably Babylonia, Persia, or Arabia. These men belonged to cultures that had other religious practices, such as the Zoroastrianism of Persia or the astrological traditions of Babylonia. And yet it was precisely these Gentiles who set out to find Jesus.
So it is that the wise men give us something to think about even before they even arrive in Bethlehem. Long before Jesus ever gave his disciples the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,” it was non-Jews who sought Him out and worshipped Christ. This is a strong indicator of the universal significance of Jesus’ birth: He is the Saviour of all people, not just for the people of Israel.
All too often, people focus too much on arriving at their destination, but the search is already an important part of the path of faith. This path is a journey into the unknown, without precise information or instructions. But God is already at work when we begin our search for Him.
Knowledge without faith
The wise men were looking for the newborn King of the Jews in the only place they could imagine to be the right one: Jerusalem. Horrified by the news, the reigning King Herod called together the scribes and priests and asked where the Messiah was to be born. They knew the Holy Scriptures by heart and even provided the precise information: “In Bethlehem.” This had already been prophesied by the prophet Micah.
Herod’s counsellors had heard about the birth of the Saviour and even knew the place where He was to be found. And yet they lacked faith and the willingness to act. While the Magi, unbelieving Gentiles from the Far East, actively sought Jesus, the scribes remained passive. They were so close to the truth, but did not recognise it for themselves. Even though they were experts in the Scriptures, this knowledge did not change them. They had no interest in seeking a personal relationship with Jesus.
Christians know the Christmas story and its meaning. But how often does this knowledge remain theoretical? As passive supporting characters in the Christmas story, the scribes demonstrate that knowledge alone does not lead to God. This requires faith, courage, and the willingness to actively seek Christ.
The extras from Bethlehem remind us of the danger of missing out on the call of God, while the wise men show what it means to seek Him. Then as now, faith requires movement, courage, and an open heart. After all, even today God speaks to everyone. The question is: who stays where they are and who sets out to find Him?
Photo: James Middleton – stock.adobe.com