The iconic Christmas figure, Buddy the Elf, has forever changed the way we all see the coffee at dive diners, maple syrup, mail rooms, smiling, and Christmas cheer. If you have never seen the movie Elf, you don’t know what I mean, but you must admit that it intrigues you. Buddy was a human that was raised by elves in the North Pole. Even though he is an adult, he has a childlike wonder about everything. Relationships are very important to Buddy, in particular, his relationship with Santa.
When Buddy visits New York City (by way of the seven levels of the candy cane forest, through the sea of swirly-twirly gum drops, and then through the Lincoln Tunnel) to find his biological dad, he gets a job in a department store. That store announces that Santa is coming to town to see them. Buddy loses his ever-loving mind. He gets so excited that he yells “SANTA!! I know him!!!” He jumps up and down, runs around, and in eager anticipation, he spends the entire night decorating the store in amazing detail to warmly welcome Santa when he arrives.
I have been studying about the Wise Men this week and several things occurred to me regarding this group’s anticipation of the arrival of the Christ child. I pictured the joy of Buddy the Elf.
Through much study of the Jewish scripture and stars and their alignment, the Magi learned and became excited about the arrival of this baby King. They knew the signs to look for and they did so. Their eager anticipation caused them to plan a massive trip to find and worship this newborn King when He arrived. I imagine them seeing the star as God’s announcement: Jesus the Christ is coming to town! Once it appeared, they were ready to follow it, and they did it with such commitment! They loaded themselves down with gifts for this King they were absolutely sure they would see. This was to be such a long, incredible journey, with no candy cane forest or sea of gumdrops, but rather potential danger from robbers, disease, hunger, little rest, etc. Would they ever even make it home?! What faith! What excitement!
I don’t know if you have ever followed a star, but to me, there isn’t much exactness to it when it comes to which house the star might be hovering over. So, they came to the largest near-town where it led them: Jerusalem. They diligently searched and began asking as to the whereabouts of the “King of the Jews.” Herod the Great, who actually went by this title, “King of the Jews”, got real paranoid. There wasn’t enough room in his domain for 2 Kings of the Jews and he wanted no competition. He assembled the Jewish leaders to find out where the Christ (or Messiah) would be born. They informed Herod that the baby would be born in Bethlehem and gave scripture to back it up. And THAT WAS IT! These religious leaders had been looking and hoping for their Messiah since they became a nation, yet when they were told He had arrived by outsiders, and that two prophecies about him were already a match, there was not one whoop, not one yell, not one jump up or down, and no curiosity to go ahead of, or with, the Magi!
Herod asked for a secret meeting with the Magi to ask when the star had shown up and for them to inform him of where this baby was once they found him (so that he too could worship). We can only guess as to all of the timing since it isn’t specifically reported in Matthew 2: 1-16, the only scripture to report about these Magi/ Wise Men/ Learned astrologers. They eventually found Jesus and “they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy,” “and they fell down and worshiped Him”!! Can you imagine?! All the study, the long, arduous journey, their passion and excitement being the only thing that propelled them – and then they saw exactly what they knew they would see! The Christ child. Their eyes beheld their salvation! And they responded appropriately: these wise and knowledgeable men, FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPED the small child. The gifts they brought to Jesus were the best that their land had to offer and fit for a king. If you have ever had to travel with Christmas gifts for your family, it is no small task to lug all of them with you in addition to what you require for your journey. But they did it with intentionality. They brought him their best: their devotion, their hearts, their best possessions, and their worship.
How passionately do we follow Jesus? Do we give a whoop and a hallelujah when we talk about what our study of our amazing Messiah has revealed to us? Do we prepare by decorating our hearts and minds with the joy we receive from Him? Do we jump at the chance to go wherever He asks us to go as our act of worship? Do we give Him the best of what we are and what we have as our gift to Him? When we do these things, we will spread the best kind of Christ-mas cheer!
