MATTHEW 2:1-12 | WHERE’S JESUS?

WHERE’S JESUS?

MATTHEW 2:1-12

JANUARY 3, 2016

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, BACK AROUND THE SECOND WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER I WAS IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN WITH RON ZEMLICKA FOR A GREEN BAY PACKERS GAME.

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE GAME, JUST AFTER GOING TO BED, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD, SCREECHING ALARM GOING OFF IN MY ROOM.

AT FIRST, I THOUGHT SOMEBODY STAYING THERE BEFORE ME HAD INADVERTENTLY SET THE ALARM CLOCK ON THE BEDSIDE TABLE, SO I GRABBED IT PUNCHING ALL KINDS OF BUTTONS TRYING TO GET IT TO STOP, BUT THE SOUND CONTINUED.

THEN I REALIZED THE ALARM WAS COMING FROM MY IPHONE. IT WASN’T A SOUND I’D EVER HEARD BEFORE, AND WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED THAT IT WAS MY PHONE MAKING ALL OF THIS NOISE, I GRABBED IT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE AN AMBER ALERT – A LOST CHILD IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA.

IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO FIGURE OUT THAT BECAUSE I HAVE THE MONROE COUNTY SHERRIFF DEPARTMENT APP ON MY PHONE, MOSTLY TO MONITOR TRAFFIC UP AND DOWN US 1 – THAT I WAS TIED INTO THE NATIONAL AMBER ALERT NETWORK.

THE ALERT WAS FOR A LITTLE BOY WHO HAD BEEN IN THE BACK SEAT OF A CAR THAT HAD BEEN CARJACKED;

AND FORTUNATELY, BY MORNING, WHILE WATCHING THE MORNING NEWS, I LEARNED THAT THE CARJACKER HAD BEEN FOUND IN A MOTEL NOT FAR FROM WHERE HE TOOK THE CAR AND THE CHILD, AND THE LITTLE BOY HAD BEEN RETURNED SAFELY TO HIS FAMILY.

IF YOU’VE EVER LOST YOUR CHILD, EVEN FOR JUST A MOMENT, IN THE GROCERY STORE OR AT THE PARK OR WHEREVER, YOU KNOW THE SHEER PANIC OF LOSING YOUR CHILD.

IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE ABDUCTED, OR WHO RUN AWAY, MUST GO THROUGH.

NOW THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER, BUT THE FACT IS, JESUS WAS FOREVER GETTING LOST.

FROM THE MOMENT HE WAS BORN – JESUS WAS NEVER WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

THE SHEPHERDS GO IN SEARCH OF HIM JUST AFTER HE’S BEEN BORN, LOOKING EVERYWHERE, PRESUMABLY IN ALL OF THE INNS AND BOARDING HOUSES, ONLY TO FIND JESUS AND HIS FAMILY OUT BACK IN THE BARN.

(CAN’T YOU JUST SEE MARY GETTING ON TO JESUS, LATER, AS A TEENAGER, FOR SAY, LEAVING THE FRONT DOOR OPEN, AND SAYING, “WHAT, WE’RE YOU BORN IN A BARN?” “WHY, YES, YES I WAS.”)

WHEN THE WISEMEN CAME LOOKING FOR JESUS, THIS ONCE AND FUTURE KING, THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO HEROD’S PALACE, FIGURING THAT A KING WOULD BE IN HIS PALACE, BUT THEY TOO FIND JESUS IN THE MANGER.

WHEN WARNED IN A DREAM OF HEROD’S PLOT TO COME AFTER JESUS, JOSEPH TAKES HIS FAMILY TO EGYPT, WHERE THEY CAN GET LOST FOR A WHILE.

AND WHEN IT WAS SAFE FOR THEM TO RETURN, JOSEPH HEADS FOR NAZARETH, A BACKWATER VILLAGE OF QUESTIONABLE REPUTATION, SO MUCH SO THAT LATER ON, WHEN JESUS IS ACTIVELY RECRUITING HIS DISCIPLES, ONE OF THEM, NOT YET FULLY ON BOARD, ASKS WHETHER “ANYTHING GOOD CAN COME OUT OF NAZARETH.”

BUT AS I SAY, JESUS WAS FOREVER GETTING LOST. AT AGE 12 HE IS LOST AT THE TEMPLE, HIS PARENTS RETURNING TO JERUSALEM TO FIND HIM SITTING AMONG THE TEMPLE SCHOLARS AND AMAZING THEM WITH HIS TEACHINGS.

“DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT I WOULD BE IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE?” JESUS ASKS THEM.

AND HIS PARENTS, IF THEY WERE LIKE ANY OF US WHO HAVE MOMENTARILY MISPLACED OUR CHILDREN, I’M SURE, WANTED TO AT ONCE TAKE HIM UP IN THEIR ARMS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SCOLDING HIM FOR WANDERING OFF.

JESUS EVEN DISAPPEARS IN THE BIBLE FROM THE TIME HE’S TWELVE UNTIL THE START OF HIS MINISTRY, LIKELY AROUND THE AGE OF 30.

AT THE OUTSET OF JESUS’ MINISTRY, HE GETS LOST IN THE WILDERNESS, ONLY TO BE TEMPTED THERE BY THE DEVIL, REFUSING TO GIVE IN, AND SETTING THE COURSE FOR HIS FUTURE AND HIS MINISTRY.

QUITE OFTEN JESUS ROSE BEFORE HIS DISCIPLES DID IN THE MORNING, WANDERING OFF TO BE ALONE, TO PRAY AND TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD, ONLY TO HAVE HIS DISCIPLES GO IN SEARCH OF HIM, AND FINDING HIM, HEADING OFF INTO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DAY.

SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE DISCIPLES COULD NOT FIND JESUS, LOOKING FOR HIM EVERYWHERE, THEY FOUND HIM WITH PEOPLE WHO NEEDED HIM, LIKE THE TIME HE WAS WITH THE WOMAN AT THE WELL.

ONCE WHEN JESUS TELLS THE DISCIPLES TO HEAD OFF TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE OF GENESARETH WITHOUT HIM, THEY LOSE HIM AGAIN, ONLY TO FIND HIM WALKING TOWARD THEM ON THE WATERS OF THE LAKE.

EVEN AFTER JESUS’ DEATH THE DISCIPLES LOSE TRACK OF HIM, GOING TO THE TOMB IN WHICH HE WAS BURIED, ONLY TO FIND HIM MISSING AGAIN!

JESUS WAS NEVER WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE; AND PEOPLE WERE FOREVER LOOKING FOR HIM.

THEY STILL ARE. WE STILL ARE. WHERE’S JESUS?

COMING OFF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF ANGST ON THE PART OF SOME CHRISTIANS ABOUT CHRIST MISSING FROM CHRISTMAS.

THEY COLLECTIVELY WRING THEIR HANDS AND THEIR MINDS OVER THE SUBSTITUTION OF “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” FOR “MERRY CHRISTMAS;”

FRET OVER THE ABSENCE OF NATIVITY SCENES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY;

AND BEMOAN THE FACT THAT IN SOME COMMUNITIES CHRISTMAS TREES ARE RENAMED HOLIDAY TREES.

BUT WHEN I ASK THE QUESTION THIS MORNING: “WHERE’S JESUS?” I’M LESS CONCERNED WITH KEEPING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS AS WE KNOW IT, THAN I AM WITH KEEPING CHRIST IN US.

THE FACT IS, I’M NOT SURE WHAT CHRIST WOULD THINK OF OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS, CONSUMERISM, AND GLUTTONOUS CONSUMPTION.

AND MOST OF THE FOLKS I KNOW WHO ARGUE THE POINT OF KEEPING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS ARE EVERY BIT AS MUCH CAUGHT UP IN THE SECULAR CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS AS THE REST OF US;

IN FACT, MANY OF THEM PROTESTING THE LOSS OF CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN CHURCH AT CHRISTMAS (OR OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR), OTHERWISE BUSY WITH CHRISTMAS PARTIES, FAMILY EVENTS, OR QUICK TRIPS TO THE CARIBBEAN.

AS I SAY, I’M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT CHRIST BEING LOST IN CHRISTMAS, THAN I AM ABOUT HIS BEING LOST IN US; AND LOST TO THE WORLD.

AND WHILE I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO SPEAK CHRIST’S NAME AT CHRISTMAS WITH THE COMMITMENT AND CONVICTION OF A BELIEVER;

AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN THIS COUNTRY SOUND MORE LIKE THE TRUE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST;

AND TELEVISION AND MOVIES PORTRAY THE WORLD IN THE IMAGE OF GOD’S KINGDOM;

(YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A REAL FORCE AWAKENS – WAKE UP THE CHURCH; YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT REAL JOY – FIND THE JOY OF CHRIST);

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AND I’D LIKE TO SEE THE CHURCH TALKING ABOUT, JESUS MISSING IN PLACES LIKE WHAT TO DO ABOUT VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.

JESUS MISSING FROM OUR PRIVATE AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE AND THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE, AND TREAT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT THAN US.

EVIDENTLY THE GOOD SAMARITAN AND THE GOLDEN RULE HAVE GONE MISSING AS WELL, AND MUST BE HIDING OUT WHEREVER JESUS IS HIDING.

I’M TALKING ABOUT JESUS MISSING IN OUR FAMILIES, IN OUR HOMES, IF HE WAS EVER THERE AT ALL;

SOME OF OUR FAMILY PORTRAITS LOOK LIKE A PAGE OUT OF A WHERE’S WALDO BOOK – JESUS IS THERE SOMEWHERE – HE’S JUST HARD TO FIND, HIDING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN AUNT GRACE AND COUSIN HENRY.

I’M TALKING ABOUT JESUS MISSING FROM OUR DISCIPLESHIP – IF WE ARE, AS WE SAY WE ARE, CHRISTIANS – NAMING OURSELVES AFTER HIM;

CLAIMING TO BE HIS FOLLOWERS – HIS DISCIPLES, APOSTLES, AMBASSADORS;

WHERE’S JESUS IN OUR OPINIONS, OUR WORDS, OUR ATTITUDES, AND OUR ACTIONS?

DON’T GET ME WRONG – WHEN I SAY THINGS LIKE THAT – I KNOW I’M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, AS THEY SAY;

I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN THE HOURS AND HOURS OF SERVICE MANY OF YOU GIVE.

I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS YOU CONTRIBUTE;

I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, THE ACTS OF KINDNESS, THE SUPPORT OF CHARITIES BEYOND THE CHURCH THAT HELP OTHERS WITH ALL KINDS OF NEEDS; THE MINISTRIES YOU PERFORM; THE GOOD WORKS YOU DO;

I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN YOUR FAITH AND CONVICTIONS;

THE FACT IS, MANY, IF NOT MOST OF US HERE THIS MORNING DO THESE VERY SORTS OF THINGS.

SO WHEN I STILL ASK “WHERE’S JESUS?” I’M SAYING IT TO MYSELF; AND TO THE CHURCH; AND TO BELIEVERS WHO DON’T COME TO CHURCH; AND TO NON-BELIEVERS AS WELL.

BUT AS THE CHURCH, AS BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE NOT A SERVICE CLUB; WE ARE NOT A SOCIAL ORGANIZATION; NOT A CHARITY; NOT A BOOK CLUB; NOT A COFFEE KLATCH; NOT A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE THEIR PURPOSES, AND ALL OF THEM DO GOOD THINGS; AND THE CHURCH DOES MANY OF THE SAME SORTS OF THINGS, BUT WHAT MAKES US THE CHURCH?

WHAT MOTIVATES US AS BELIEVERS; WHAT DRIVES US AS DISCIPLES, APOSTLES, AND AMBASSADORS; WHAT EMPOWERS US WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS JESUS CHRIST.

HE’S MUCH MORE THAN THE REASON FOR THE SEASON; HE’S THE REASON FOR OUR EVERYTHING AS BELIEVERS.

IT’S NOT THAT THE CHURCH – AND WE ARE THE CHURCH, BY THE WAY, ISN’T DOING, GIVING, SERVING, WORSHIPPING, LEARNING, MINISTERING, ETC. – WE ARE! – AND QUITE GENEROUSLY, I MIGHT ADD…

IT’S “WHERE’S JESUS?” IN WHAT WE DO?

THE SHEPHERDS AND THE WISEMEN COME LOOKING FOR JESUS AND WHERE DO THEY FIND HIM?

WITH HIS FAMILY – AND HE SHOULD BE WITH OUR FAMILIES AS WELL.

JESUS GETS LOST AT AGE 12 AND WHERE DO HIS PARENTS FIND HIM?

IN THE TEMPLE, IN CHURCH – HE SHOULD BE IN OUR CHURCHES AS WELL.

THE DISCIPLES GO IN SEARCH OF JESUS AND WHERE DO THEY FIND HIM? – WITH   GOD, IN PRAYER.

JESUS SHOULD BE IN OUR MOMENTS OF REFLECTION AND IN OUR PRAYERS AS WELL.

THE DISCIPLES CAN’T FIND JESUS, AND WHERE DOES HE TURN UP?

HELPING THOSE IN NEED, AND HE SHOULD BE THERE WITH US, WHEN WE DO THE SAME.

PERSONALLY, I AM LESS CONCERNED ABOUT CHRIST BEING LOST IN THE HOLIDAY GREETINGS OF A DEPARTMENT STORE CLERK;

OR ON THE STEPS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS;

OR IN OUR CELEBRATIONS OF TREE TRIMMINGS, GIFT GIVING, AND OUR HOLIDAY FEASTING AND DRINKING;

THAN I AM IN HIS BEING LOST ON US, AND IN OUR WORLD.

IF WE WANT TO KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS, AND IN THE REST OF THE YEAR, AND IN THE YEAR AHEAD, WE WOULD DO WELL TO KEEP HIM IN OUR HEARTS, AND ON OUR LIPS, AND BY OUR ATTITUDES TOWARDS OTHERS, AND IN OUR DEEDS OF SERVICE TO THOSE IN NEED.

IN OTHER WORDS, IN ALL OF THE PLACES JESUS, HIMSELF, WAS OFTEN LOST, AND FOUND.