see

There’s this thought that struck me reading the Christmas story that the wise men saw, so they came. And then having come, they saw. 

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’ … ‘After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshipped Him. Then opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11)

They saw, so they came. And having come, they saw.

Growing up with a little brother who was six years younger than me added much hilarity and entertainment to my life. And when he would call “Come look”, it didn’t mean from inside out the window or across the room. It meant “Come and look close”. Whether it was football, basketball, his latest lego vehicle creation going through another crash test safety rating, or the time he emulated the winter Olympics in our southern climate by “downhill skiing” our steep driveway on rollerblades with whiffle ball bats for ski poles leading to a broken arm… He wanted us to come close so we could really see. To give our full attention.

We’ve all experienced seeing something from a distance that draws us in. You come close, and then you can see even more.

Seeing a picture of a video or even a glimpse from a distance of the Grand Canyon compels and draws you closer. But then as you come close it completely captivates and stuns you silent as you see even more of the fullness of its glory. It’s beyond what your senses can take in and yet you see more in coming.

I don’t see all, but I do see a lot. I’m constantly watching, taking things in.

I grew up in a sweet little church full of people who loved Jesus, loved the Word and loved sharing the gospel with the world. And parents whose lives modeled abiding in Jesus and His word and serving. I saw them doing it, I came along and saw even more for myself.

They helped person after person move, and so did I…carrying little boxes. They setup for church in the school building, and so did I…setting out song books on chairs. They helped young couples with their wedding, and so did I…dipping strawberries in chocolate for the reception. It’s just what you did. And I saw even more what it meant to be the body. I saw them study the Bible, so I did too. And in so doing, I saw more!

They were volunteers at the Billy Graham Crusade in Columbia when I was a little girl so I went along…because that’s just what we did. (Johnny Cash sang there, so apparently I got to see him live which is quite epic, even though I didn’t realize it at the time and I don’t even remember it now.) But as Billy Graham shared the beauty of following Jesus, and I had seen so many I loved following Him, I knew I wanted to come as well. So I told them, and they took me seriously, didn’t doubt me or belittle me that I was too young. Remember, I was always watching and taking things in and they knew I was paying attention and knew what I was saying… at least as much as I could as a little child. But isn’t that how we’re told to come? Like a child.

Eyes wide, drawn in, aching to be closer, seeing even more, and delighted and drawn in even more.

Wherever you are, see! Here. In this season. And come closer. You’ll see more. Taste and see that He is good.

Later in Matthew 7, Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Respond to the light He gives you, and He’ll give you more.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). This means diverting from the path we were on, turning away from where we were going and what we were doing, and toward Him. There was another group of people who came and saw, the Shepherds, and I doubt it was their plan to stop their work and go worship Jesus.

So look! Don’t numb out. Don’t be afraid. Let’s not persist in our own plans. Don’t turn away. Look. And come. Come close. And see. See more fully.

A favorite band of mine has a Christmas song called “Shepherd Song” that says: 

“So we went with joy inside
Leaving doubt behind as went to see Him
And on and on
He has sent the One
Who extends freedom grace and love
So come on”

So having come and seen, who can you go and tell?

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying. ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’ When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and thereby as He lay in a manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about they Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds… The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” (Luke 2:10-20)