BY NATE BRAMSEN
Across the stages of our Christmas plays, backgrounds of our nativity scenes, and pages of Advent-themed books, there is an ominous absence: a group of characters whose example should cause every life to take inventory. In many ways, they had a front-row seat to Christmas but didn’t show up.
Enter the chief priests and scribes. Matthew’s Gospel introduces us to their role in the story of Christ’s birth. When the Magi arrive in Jerusalem, they ask, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2) Herod summons the chief priests and scribes, and they know the precise location, quoting, “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6)
Yet here is the shocking reality: not one of them is recorded going to Bethlehem to see the newborn King. These men were steeped in Scripture, were able to recite it from memory, and had the right answers, yet when the most significant event in history happened a mere five miles away, they stayed home.
In light of this irony, let’s consider three questions as we celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth.
1. Am I content with deeply knowing the Scriptures while rejecting Christ’s invitation to walk closely with the Savior?
I understand the primary readers of this devotional are believers in the Lord Jesus, yet the warning stands. A vast chasm exists between accumulating knowledge and walking in wisdom. Between the copious amounts of literature and the enormous capability of AI and internet search engines, knowledge is readily accessible, though Paul warns it “puffs up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1)
Wisdom, however, comes from our response to knowledge. As we walk with Christ, who is “wisdom from God,” may we never be content to merely sit in front of the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 1:30). Rather, may we always respond to the Spirit who speaks through the Scriptures.
This brings us to our second question.
2. Am I willing to point others to Scripture’s authority while personally refusing to surrender to the Spirit’s conviction?
As the father of three daughters, I often hear my voice exhorting my children to forgive “as God in Christ forgave [them]” while I recognize envy or bitterness in myself (Ephesians 4:32). Such irony prompts reflection: Am I guilty of knowing and pointing others to the truth while refusing to make the five-mile journey to Bethlehem myself?
The tragedy of the chief priests and scribes’ actions doesn’t end with Christ’s birth narrative. Fast-forward to His death, and you find the same chief priests now bribing Roman soldiers to propagate the message that Christ’s disciples had stolen His body (Matthew 28:11–13). Why would these religious leaders, who knew the Scriptures and even remembered Jesus’s prediction of His resurrection (which His disciples seemed to have forgotten), go to such lengths to cover up the truth?
Here, we uncover our third question.
3. Am I eager to point others to Scripture when it serves my interests while simultaneously compromising the Gospel’s truth to preserve my comfort zone?
The chief priests pointed the Magi to Christ when it suited their needs. But, when Christ threatened their preferences and position, they avoided the truth and led others away. If Jesus had truly risen from the dead, their entire religious system—centered on sacrifices, the temple, and their authority—was at risk. Christ’s resurrection didn’t just disrupt their theology; it threatened their relevancy. Their ministry was their comfort zone.
We are faced with the same dilemma: when God’s Word challenges our personal ambitions, security, way of life, or status quo, we can choose to resist or unconditionally surrender.
The truth of Christmas cannot merely rearrange our life. Jesus doesn’t come to be part of our life; He is our life (Colossians 3:4). Following Jesus isn’t just about knowing the right things—it’s about responding to the One who was once wrapped in “swaddling cloths” and is now “at the right hand of God” interceding for us (Luke 2:7; Romans 8:34).
In light of such glorious truths, may we relinquish our insistence on spiritual titles, positions, and preferences when they come at the expense of ignoring the trek to Bethlehem. n
Nate Bramsen serves in Special Areas.
Originally published in Missions magazine, December 2024. For more content, sign up for a free subscription (US and Canada) to Missions at CMML.us/magazine/subscribe.
