I heard on Classic FM - so it must be true - that a role you undertake in a Nativity Play can shape the rest of your life. How that places you if you were a donkey or a tree I am not sure but those who had more distinguished roles are given pause for thought. As I shared on my Facebook page recently my grandson Busby’s acclaimed performance as a Wise Man was actually following in my footsteps. The only time I was given a part in a Nativity Play was as one of those mysterious men who came from a far country to worship the King who had been born in Bethlehem.
First off, let’s get one thing clear. I don’t mind too much that they are called Wise Men as in the Authorized Version of the Bible but the NIV translation is better: Magi. This is more or less a direct translation from the original Greek and refers to a specific group of people. They are sometimes described as a tribe of Persian priests who were the intellectual movers and shakers of their day. They were well versed in the science, medicine, philosophy and religion of their day and although some of them dabbled in the dark side of spirituality, the occult, by and large they were in the words of William Barclay ‘honest seekers after truth.’
We can only speculate as to how they knew about Jesus and how they connected him to the cosmic disturbance they observed. But with their knowledge of religion it is not inconceivable that they possessed at least fragments of the Hebrew Bible. From this source they became acquainted with the hope of the Jewish people that one day someone would arise out of their nation who would hold the key to understanding all the mysteries of life. So it was with anticipation of an encounter with him that they set out on their long journey. We don’t know how many there were only that they brought three gifts. And they are not named by Matthew who tells their story. But his original readers would understand why men like these would be interested in Jesus. They were ‘honest seekers after truth.’
This is where I would hope to connect with them. The idea that being a Wise Man fifty-nine years ago has had any impact on my life is probably highly amusing to those who know me best. But I can say that the search for truth has been important to me for as long as I can remember. I believe it’s important for everyone although it might be expressed in different ways. And that search is as important now than it has ever been. We constantly hear about ‘fake news’. Politicians are persistently called liars. We are told that there is no truth only what the individual recognises as truth. The only absolute truth is that there is no absolute truth.
It is in this cultural atmosphere that Christians are called to proclaim the message that the Word became flesh and lived among us. He claimed to be ‘the Way and the Truth and the Life.’ Even more startlingly he said: ‘No one comes to the Father except through me.’ (John 14: 6) The Magi were not aware of this when they came to the place where Jesus was but their response to him was entirely appropriate: ‘they bowed down and worshipped him.’ (Matthew 2: 11) This is where the search for truth ends, acknowledging the One who embodies the truth about God and humankind and who has made it possible for the Spirit of God to live in us.
25 December didn’t always belong to Christians. The Roman Saturnalia and other pagan festivals were celebrated around this time. So people should be free to celebrate Christmas as they see fit. But at this time of the year I always cherish the hope that the cards, the carols, the services aye and the Nativity Plays will touch hearts with the truth that can only be found in Jesus.
