Verse: Matthew 2:11-12
And after entering the house, [the wise men] saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, after opening their treasure chests, they presented to Him gifts [fit for a king, gifts] of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned [by God] in a dream not to go back to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. (AMP)
Devotion
There are lots of worthy subjects in this passage. There are the wise men. Who were they? What did their gifts signify? There is the wonder of the star—God went to great lengths to draw far-away strangers. There is Herod and the message about listening to God to avoid danger.
What stands out to me, though, is that the wise men encountered a little “Child” with his mother. The Greek word, paidíon, “a little child in training” (Strongs 3813), points to a noticeably young child, a childling, an infant, a little one (perhaps seven years old or younger). (Id.)
Jesus (Yeshua) was “raised” by parents like the rest of us. I picture a three-year old watching three serious older men bowing down in front of Him. How would any three-year-old react? The act of being incarnate is beyond comprehension. When Jeshua was a human child, he really was a child. “Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” (Phil. 2:6-7) Somehow, he surrendered infinite awareness and understanding to assume a fully human existence in an act of deep humility and sacrifice. Despite having access to all divine powers, he set them aside for a limited time during his life.
Subsequently, God chose Mary and Joseph to provide his early training. It looks like they did a lot right. When he was twelve, his interactions with them indicated that he was in a safe and loving relationship. He did not live in fear of punishment for ill-advised actions.
Unlike Jesus, some have been raised by parents who only have one way of dealing with childish misbehavior and mistakes—i.e., punishment and anger. Sometimes, parents who are hurt by a child’s misbehavior can justify actions in the heat of the moment that simply overwhelm small people with anger and harshness. This is punishment.
Providing only punishment for bad choices causes children to live in fear. Because everyone makes a boatload of mistakes, these children live in fear of punishment daily. No skills are taught to deal with perplexities and mistakes. There is only punishment, and “because fear has to do with punishment, . . . whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18) These children don’t understand how much God loves them regardless of their (many) failures.
Our good Father is focused on relationship. Even in the midst of discipline, He is walking it out with us and is there to hold us while we deal with consequences. He never wants to walk away from his relationship with us. He does not punish. We don’t have to fear.
When Yeshua was twelve, he appears to have had a relationship “with” his parents; he was not in fear “of” them. Thus, he could have a frank conversation with them in a situation where many kids would fear punishment. (Luke 2: 44-50)
When he was twelve, Jesus had gone with his family to Jerusalem to attend the annual Passover Feast. When his family left to go home, without telling anyone, he decided to stay in Jerusalem. His parents began an anxious three-day search to find him. They discovered him serene and nonplussed in the temple at Jerusalem interacting with religious leaders.
His parents were not so serene. “When they saw Him, they were overwhelmed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Listen, Your father and I have been [greatly distressed and] anxiously looking for You.” His parents did not react in anger and punishment (out of fear and hurt). They had a conversation (probably animated) based on relationship, so that Jesus could respond right back: “Why did you have to look for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
His parents did not understand what he was talking about (leading us to believe that, at home, he lived as a normal boy in a typical family). He trudged back to Nazareth with his parents. There were probably “consequences” because, afterward, he “was continually submissive and obedient to them.” These were parents who brought Yeshua up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, which by definition requires relationship, not fear.
Prayer
Lord, I’m Your child too. I don’t have to fear punishment which seems so justified to the human mind. Relationship is what You want. You never turn your back on me when I make a mistake or chose badly. Lord, today I am grateful and thank you that I do not have to fear—that You walk with me through the consequences of bad choices and help me. You comfort me. You do not leave me or forsake me. Thank you. I can rely on you.
Author: Tanny Higgins
Recent Comments