John Stott (April 27, 1921-)
I just listened to a 2002 Christmas sermon preached in London by John R.W. Stott. We're two weeks out and counting and I'd be pleased to hear a message like that every day until the 25th. John Stott may be our best living preacher in English. He's definitely in the top five. He'll be 90 next year, and he won't be a part of our world much longer. I believe his insights are too good to hoard.
The text was Matthew Two--The Visit of the Magi. I found the outline headings especially striking and wish them to be widely known. So I will share those headings followed by one or two personal observations. Anything lucid or helpful has to be from Stott. If it's muddled or off the mark assume it's mine.
I. No trouble is too great to seek Him.
It's snowed all day in Budapest. To render a small service to my King I faced the weather this morning and returned in a self-congratulatory mood. Then I listened to the story of the Magi. What was my inconvenience compared to their own? They embraced the weariness of distance, danger from the elements, danger from animals, danger from brigands. They didn't know their destination having only a general orientation .They didn't know His Name. They only knew they must find Him. And, appropriating God's help, find Him they did.
II. No people are too alien to find Him.
They were searching for the King of the Jews. They were certainly not Jews themselves. How common would it have been to search for a foreign king for the purpose of worship? The Jews were a conquered people. Why pay fealty to their King?
Under this heading the preacher made an assertion sure of disputation. I don't intend to defend the assertion; I only want to publicize it. As the observation is so politically incorrect it is necessary to emphasize that JRW Stott is not a right-winger from the Bible Belt. He took a Double First at Cambridge. His politics are decidedly left of center. He is a Socialist and a Unilateralist. He is a Pacifist who refused military service in WWII thus alienating himself from his own soldier father for years.
And yet in his message JRWS declared that Christianity is the only major non-ethnic religion .I don't expect much contention on that score from Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Shintoism, or Confucianism. From Islam I can well imagine something more aggressive than a slight demur. But Islam took root among the Arab people and those they conquered. The fulcrum of Islam's power was found at the point of a sword not in historical legitimacy or moral suasion. Whatever the personal faith of its adherents Islam was a useful apologetic in the service of Arab expansionism. Timothy Keller is fond of saying that Jesus' message was "Crown me or Kill Me." The Muslim message was "Convert or Die."So the potential for its message to convert beyond the Arab peninsula without the use of force must remain a hypothesis contested.
The Magi were likely practitioners of astrology or occultic arts. The very name suggests a kinship to 'magic.' But they came to worship Jesus. If they could be reached no one is beyond the pale.
III. No gift is too precious to give Him.
We are impressed by the variety of the gifts, the value of the gifts and the significance of the gifts. By significance I mean merely this. The requirements for the altar in Exodus 30 included elements of gold , frankincense and myrrh. The altar-- the place where the sacrifice was laid and atonement was made. Did they know or was the significance unwitting? We can't be sure but it doesn't matter. It is enough that God knew and that He orchestrated the thing. It is enough that we know and adore.
Though we can't be certain precisely what they knew it has been conjectured that they accessed Daniel's writings and ascertained the general time period.
It is hard to read:
"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and are come to worship Him." Matthew 2:2
--without imagining that they had somehow read:
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us, a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and his Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
They were looking for a King, perhaps because they knew the government would be upon His shoulder. They were intent upon worship, perhaps because they knew it was right to call Him 'The Mighty God.'
They didn't know everything but they knew enough to begin a quest highly rewarded.
Having read their story we share their reward.
Would that we would imitate their worship.
Before we even begin we know more with less effort than they knew after they arrived.
What obligations are placed upon us by that knowledge.
And what privilege.
