Ancient Greek philosophers believed we could learn not only from what something is, but also from what it is not. “Light is bright; it is not darkness.”  And from centuries before Christ, we have considered not just the positive lessons but also what we can learn from the negative ones.

In this season leading up to Christmas, lots is written and said about Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the faithful who responded to the revelation of God in Christ. But what can we also learn from the people who missed it? How do we positively gain insight from those who got it wrong?

Matthew 2:1-5 records:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea…”

Even with the hottest intel from the traveling wise men, Herod, in his mad jealousy, failed to respond with humility and faith that God had come. Drunk with a sense of his own importance, he dispatched soldiers to kill every baby in the area of Bethlehem. He would resort to atrocities to stamp out any potential rival. The most powerful man in the realm missed it.

The Scribes with whom Herod counseled didn’t fare much better. There is silence regarding any effort on their part to announce the birth of the Messiah, to leave Jerusalem for the nearby village, or to shield Jesus from the imminent threat of Herod’s purge. Did this unlikely act of God not fit into their carefully curated theology? Is it possible that they were blinded by their supposed knowledge?

It also notes that “all Jerusalem with him.”  Why wasn’t there a pilgrimage? On the part of Jerusalem’s crowds, was the trek out too inconvenient (a 2-3 hour journey on foot)? Was it simply not in their schedule of important things to do that week? Was it just not comfortable?

Luke’s gospel famously records that in Bethlehem, “There was no room for them…”  If the citizens of the big city were just distant enough to overlook Jesus’ arrival, the people of Bethlehem were too busy and distracted. Years later, Jesus would rebuke Martha for being too busy to just sit with Him. Our busy pursuit of good things can keep us from the best things.

What’s humbling is to consider that every one of these issues is a sin of mine. Power, knowledge, comfort, busyness, and cynicism are all on my sin list. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. How much in common do you have with the people who missed it? How could we learn from them, and then humbly, eagerly repent?

Nothing in all creation can possibly compare with the LORD, God Almighty, the Holy One. God is incomparable, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So persuaded, wouldn’t it be good if we put down every competing allegiance in order to simply receive Him and His saving work?

Merry Christmas, and don’t miss it.