When we look at the shepherds and the Magi, we are struck by the phenomenal differences between these two groups of people. They are almost exact opposites. Let’s look at the contrasts between them.
The first contrast we observe is that of social status. The shepherds stood on the bottom rung of Israel’s social ladder, if they were even allowed onto the ladder! They were despised by just about everyone. Shepherds had developed a reputation for stealing anything that was not nailed down. They were such liars that they were not permitted to testify in a court of law. Everyone looked down on them and mistrusted them.
Then there were the Magi who stood at the very opposite end of the social scale. These were scholars and politicians. These were men of international influence and power. When they arrived in Jerusalem they began to speak about the birth of a new “king of the Jews.” When they spoke, people listened! Even Herod took note of what they were saying. He invited them to the palace to have a meeting. The Magi were given an audience with the king and were taken into the king’s confidence. On the other hand, shepherds would never have been allowed anywhere near the palace!
The second contrast we observe is that of financial standing. Shepherds were among the poorest of the poor. The only people in Jewish society who were poorer than shepherds were beggars and even then some beggars probably did better than the shepherds. Manual labor and field labor paid better than shepherds’ pay.
The Magi were obviously just the opposite from the shepherds. They were very wealthy men. Their status in Parthia allowed them to live at the very top of society. They were highly valued members of the king’s court and they were remunerated accordingly. They had the time and the money to take a long and expensive trip to Palestine to inquire into the signaled birth. They brought gifts! Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were incredibly valuable, expensive gifts.
Third, notice the contrast in their educational accomplishments. The shepherds had no education whatsoever. If they had any education they would have been doing something else for a living. They were classified as “people of the land.” That meant they had not received even the basic education that would allow them to read the Torah.
The Magi were known around the world for their brilliance and academic achievements. They were the lawyers, the doctors, and the scientists of their society. They were expert in the law of the Medes and the Persians. They were also the scholars and theologians of their religion, Zoroastrianism. Their study of astronomy led to a great deal of power because of the common belief in astrology.
Finally, the shepherds and the Magi came from very distant geographical locations. The shepherds were locals. They lived in the area of Bethlehem and were in the fields outside Bethlehem on the night the angels announced the birth of Jesus to them. Jesus was born right in their own neighborhood. The Magi came from what is now Iraq or Iran. It took them two years to prepare for and take the journey to Jerusalem. They came from a completely alien culture and society to worship Jesus.
What we conclude from examining the dramatic differences between the shepherds and the Magi is that Jesus Christ will accept anybody who comes to him. The gospel message is for all kinds of people. It is for the rich and the poor, the famous and the unknown, the professional and the laborer, the moral and the immoral, the religious and the irreligious. No one who comes to Christ will ever be excluded. No one can say he is too low or too poor or too uneducated to follow Jesus. The shepherds and the Magi show the width and breadth of the scope of Christ’s ministry. In his ministry Jesus would address the rich and poor, the wise and ignorant, the respected and the despised. He reached out to the religious and the sinners. The shepherds bowed before him in a stable and the Magi worshiped him in a house but all men are on the same level when they come and kneel before the King of kings. Christ’s kingdom makes brothers of those who would never have associated. It makes brothers of kings and slaves, multimillionaires and paupers, doctors and dropouts, Sunday School teachers and prisoners. No matter who you are or from where you come, you may come to Jesus!
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