The Advent of Perspective – December 7, 2013

Suggested Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12

I love optical illusions.

I particularly enjoy them when I'm not expecting them. I like that moment of wonder and surprise when you find that the picture you were studying is actually something else entirely, the flash of recognition when you suddenly see something that was there all along, but you failed to notice before.

The birth of Jesus was nothing of consequence from the perspective of the Roman Empire: just another Jewish boy born far from Rome, in an inconsequential corner of an unimportant province. Neither his mother, nor his father, was anyone important. He was just another Jewish boy born to Judean peasants who paid very little in taxes and who would never trouble the might of Rome. Little did Rome know that this baby boy would change everything.

The birth of Jesus was a perceived as a political threat to Herod. He saw a potential rival for the throne; someone whom his enemies could use to displace him. He feared the messiah would become a rallying point for the rabble, someone to lead them against him and his Roman allies. Little did Herod know that this little boy was no threat to his throne. He wasn't born to assume political power or lead a violent insurrection. He was a revolutionary, but He was after men's souls not their thrones.

The birth of Jesus was announced in the stars to those who knew where to look. Astrologers from the East searching the stars for answers had seen something that caught their eye. They set out on a quest to see for themselves this thing they had traced on their charts. Having met the baby born in a stable, they fell down and worshipped this unlikely King. They recognized what others had missed. It's difficult to say how much they understood, but they laid their treasures at His feet.

Sometimes we miss Jesus. We may see Jesus and yet miss God incarnate. We can be staring right at Him and still not be seeing him.

It's a question of perspective.

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Questions:

What things in your life daily direct your attention to Jesus?

What do you see when you look at Jesus?

How will you respond to Him today?