A Noticer: Embarks on an Expedition

A Christmas Series

Last week, we mentioned many things that "get in the way" of Christmas. One more belongs on this list: travel.

With a kid, without a kid.

Booking a flight, fueling up the car.

Across the country, down the block.

For two weeks, for two hours.

Travel plans differ from person to person, but it's fair to say travel in general can "get in the way" of the Christmas plans we want to have. Even the not traveling for some - can't we forego the gifts this year and go on a trip instead?

For the first Christmas, travel was required.

This was true for Mary and Joseph as we discussed last week, but the most committed travelers we see are the wise men. They are believed to have come from the East, potentially from Persia, traveling a distance of roughly 500 to 1,200 miles. Their journey to Bethlehem likely took a few weeks to a few months by caravan.

An expedition is defined as a journey or voyage undertaken for a specific purpose, often involving exploration, research, or discovery; commonly associated with activities like mountaineering, scientific research, or historical exploration. 

An expedition would be climbing Mount Everest, and though gift buying and tackling the crowds at various shopping malls and stores can feel like an expedition with all the mental energy and list-making involved, it is just an errand.

If we were to climb Mt. Everest, preparations would need to be made. We would want to research what the conditions are like, read books of people who have gone before, watch documentaries so we are as prepared as possible. We have to be willing to ask questions, to learn new skills and strategies, be willing to be taught. If we just showed up with mustered-up mental energy and list of gear we think could be useful, we wouldn't make it very far.

No, an expedition requires humility.

By definition, these wise men were not merely traveling, they embarked on an expedition - one marked by humility. We read about it in Matthew 2:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?"

They note the scientific research informing this expedition as they continue:

"We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.

They tell Herod of the historical documentation confirming this:

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. - Matthew 2:1-12

Did you catch that? "...returned to their country..." It's worth saying again: these men were foreigners. They exhausted time and resources to embark on this expedition - all to celebrate and worship the King, though he is still so young and helpless. They noticed and were present with their Savior because they had learned how to study and be noticers of creation. God revealed this beautiful miracle to them through His creation.

I find this remarkable when we compare the wise men to James, the brother of Jesus.

Unlike the wise men, James didn't have to pack up his belongings for a month-long trip. He didn't have to go out of country or even out of town. In fact, he didn't have to leave his house! He grew up as a sibling of Jesus.

He had the unique perspective of a front-row seat to Jesus, celebrated so many of Jesus' birthdays with him, yet each of those "Christmases" he missed because he did not believe.

At one time, Jesus' brothers claimed Jesus was out of his mind (Mark 3:21) and another time pressured Jesus to go to Judea for the Jewish Feasts of Tabernacles, saying "No one who wants to be a public figure acts in secret...show yourself to the world!" (John 7:1-5).

It wasn't just his brothers but his hometown of Nazareth that rejected him. Jesus was too familiar; He didn't fit their expectations. How could a Savior come from such a small and obscure rural community? Because they associated importance with size, they missed God walking, playing, eating, teaching, living in their midst - as their brother and next door neighbor.

After Jesus died and was resurrected, He appeared to James, and James finally believed (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). His eyes were opened to see the truth that had always been right in front of him, and like the wise men on that first Christmas, James embarks on his own expedition. The expedition of the wise men was to another country, for James, it was an expedition in his heart - a spiritual journey undertaken for a specific purpose, involving exploration, research, and discovery.

We have proof of this faith expedition in his letter he wrote which is now part of the New Testament. His words are blunt and to-the-point. He now lives out his genuine faith and wants us to have genuine faith, one tested by trials. Genuine faith isn't merely an intellectual belief, but a living, active force that impacts how we as believers live and interact with the world. Our faith is not just a trip to church on Sunday, but is meant to be lived out as an spiritual expedition - the greatest adventure of a lifetime made rich through good deeds, compassion, and wisdom. 

The wise men and James both became noticers of God in their midst. The key to starting their expedition is the same key for us today - it's not our background, family line, status, knowledge or anything we can create. It's belief.

Grace invites us to believe and opens our hearts to become aware of God here with us.

We, too, are being invited to embark on a faith expedition today. This is so much bigger than going to church. That, like the holiday shopping we mentioned earlier, is a glorified "errand" on Sunday or Wednesday or both. James, we see, was focused on keeping the Jewish law and traditions, while the wise men were studying, researching, keeping their awareness sharp and crisp, preparing for what they believed would come - a sign in the heavens, and not wanting to miss it when it did.

What about us? Are we keeping traditions or are we embarking on a personal faith expedition? Are we asking questions? Is our curiosity growing stronger every day or has it become a bit dull (important but dull, lacking intrigue and fascination) to us?

Faith - this belief - is meant to be an adventure! James eventually learned this, which is why he wrote so much about trials and not discounting these as something in life to skip over but to view the adversity in our path as an opportunity for our faith to grow, for our belief to develop deep roots!

As we embark on this faith expedition, others around us may not understand. The question the wise men and James had to answer is one we need to answer: Am I trying to please God or man? For the wise men, they felt the pressure to please Herod because of his position and political authority. For James, he felt the pressure of his hometown. Both chose to please and pursue God, letting their faith be more than words but action. In the midst of all their questions, they surrendered the need for certainty and chose faith. Will we?

There's something beautiful which comes as we find the courage to take our first step of faith. Our eyes stop focusing on the pressure around us and start looking at something else - God. As we learn to trust God's power and His position above our circumstances, our vision sharpens and we start to see through the lens of faith. We become a noticer of God's grace.

God has made a way for all of us to experience and notice Him in our midst. But many, like James, will celebrate Christmas - celebrate Jesus' birthday, without recognizing the significance of it. They'll miss Christmas because they do not believe. Friend, I don't want this for us.

In these weeks leading up to Christmas, we're looking at those who missed Christmas so we can learn how to be a noticer. How can we become aware and spiritually awake so we do not miss the miracles and God's presence in our midst. I so hope you'll join us next week, and if this is encouraging, consider sharing this link with a friend and rating it on your favorite podcast platforms so it can reach and encourage many more this Christmas!

May we find strength as we lean not on ourselves but seek strength from above. May we be surprised with joy in the middle of the inconveniences as we begin to practice trusting God in these spaces, and may we experience peace as we notice God's presence here with us. May we find our hearts rest easy when we abide and stay closely connected with Him.

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.