Tomorrow, the church celebrates a day often lost or forgotten in the US, buried in the aftermath of the holiday season: Epiphany. We remember the story, found in Matthew Chapter Two, of the Magi reaching young Jesus to pay him homage. They are, in many ways, the opposite of the shepherds who were the first to worship the Christ Child—high in socioeconomic status, well educated, journeying from afar. One might see this longer journey, this far removal, as foreshadowing Jesus’ later statement in Matthew 19 regarding how difficult it will be for the wealthy to reach the kingdom of heaven. Here we receive the memorable image of a camel trying to pass through the eye of a needle (v. 24). In a classic case of value-inversion, money, a remover of worldly obstacles, becomes an obstacle itself in godly matters—indeed, more money, more problems. Upon hearing Jesus’ metaphor, the disciples are understandably frightened. In this world, it is impossible to thread a needle with a pack animal. With all our shortcomings and challenges, the cumbersome weight we bear, it is impossible for us to deserve what God desires to give. But the disciples have shown again that they are of little faith. Jesus points out to them that God knows no impossibility. The Magi had a long journey to make, perhaps because of their wealth and so-called wisdom. Yet, by starlit grace—and, we may imagine, by camel—they reach their destination.
Christians often fall into the trap of speaking as though Jesus’ birth represents an independent action on the Savior’s part, jumping in front of humanity to block the wrath of God. We misconstrue the belief that Christ is an intercessor, that the cross is mercy, to mean that the Father and the Son represent prosecution and defense. In our fervor to emphasize grace, we wander back to legalism. Instead, we must recall our conviction in God’s triunity. God does recognize our sins; God does see our failures. God also forgives, conquers, strengthens, and guides. In this kingdom, justice and grace need not be at odds. In fact, God’s recognition that the human race strays again and again in its multi-millennial journey is itself a gift. If our Guide did not acknowledge our deficiencies, understand our starting point, how could we even take the first step? We are not fugitives, concealed by Christ as we flee from a murderous overlord. God is not Herod. God is in the manger. God is with us. God both meets us on Earth and invites us to draw nearer—nearer to Bethlehem, and nearer to heaven.
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