Baggage Claim

Is it too soon for me to say that we are getting ready to pack up and put away Christmas for another year? I suppose there is a variety of people on that spectrum. Some people might be taking down the Christmas tree the very next day after Christmas. I imagine that most people leave all the Christmas decorations out for the week and pack it all away sometime on or after New Years Day. And then there are those people who still have Christmas lights on the outside of their house in July. But at some point, everything gets put away till next Christmas.

I know today is the day after Christmas, but I want us to think for a few minutes today about what it means for us to leave another Christmas season and walk away from Christmas for another year. In the Charles Dickens classic tale, A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge makes a vow after he is visited by the three spirits that he will keep Christmas in his heart all year. But for Dickens, that is little more than a moralistic trope in which Scrooge promises to stop being a greedy miser and instead be a more generous and benevolent person. Is that what it means to hold Christmas in our hearts all year? Is it some kind of santa-clausey-type lesson to be a good person all year? That feels a bit shallow, as though there ought to be more to it than that.

Let’s take a look today at two different examples of some people who react in very different ways to the Christmas story. We began our advent journey four weeks ago with the story of the Magi in Matthew 2. But we began that story by picking it up right from the point where the Magi leave and Joseph is told to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. Today I want us to back up to the beginning of that story in order to see the contrast between the Magi from the east, and king Herod along with the ruling class in Jerusalem. The scene is set for us by pointing to this little insignificant village of Bethlehem.

Micah 5:1–5a NIV

1 Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod. 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

Matthew 2:1–12 NIV

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The theme we have been using all through advent brings us back to the airport again. We have talked in previous weeks about layovers, about being rerouted, about preparing to land, and about arriving at the terminal gate. Today we are past Christmas Day; we are off the plane and walking away. There is one more stop to make on our way out. Before leaving the airport we need to swing by the baggage claim area where all the suitcases come sliding down a conveyor belt and circle around in a carousel until they are picked up and taken away by the arriving passengers.

People can mark their suitcases in unique ways. Sometimes I see baggage with brightly colored yarn or a flamboyant bandana tied around the handle. This helps the owner quickly spot their own bag from the pile as it all comes sliding down the baggage claim chute. However people choose to do it, everyone makes sure they pick up and walk out of the airport with the same baggage they brought into the airport when they checked in for their flight.

a person who continually struggles with past experiences is sometimes said to be carrying a lot of baggage

Sometimes we use the term ‘baggage’ to not only refer to the luggage we use to pack our travel items. Sometimes we use the word ‘baggage’ to describe the past experiences which have formed and shaped our life—experiences we still hold onto in some way as significant. We carry those experiences around with us, as though it were baggage. Perhaps you’ve heard the term used that way before; a person who continually struggles with past experiences is sometimes said to be carrying a lot of baggage.

It is true for all of us. Every person accumulates baggage as life goes on. We all have life experiences that shape us in ways that can be either good or hurtful. And I think we all know that the hurtful experiences are so much more difficult to shake off—we tend to carry those around a lot longer. It becomes our baggage.

a glimpse into a person’s baggage tells you a great deal

A glimpse into a person’s baggage tells you a great deal. In the case of air travel suitcases, you could find out pretty quickly by what is in the baggage if a person is on a business trip or vacation. Are they packed with business suits or bathing suits, dress shoes or flip-flops, laptop computer or paperback mystery novel? The baggage a person carries tells you something about them. It is also true about that other kind of baggage—the baggage of our past experiences which we carry around. We can tell a lot about someone by that baggage too. Let’s consider first what that looks like in the story we read today from Matthew 2.

the Magi are intent upon finding this king so that they may worship this king — they will give up whatever they have to give in order to come before this newborn king and bow in worship

The Magi come with baggage. It is literally true because they are travelers from a foreign land. The baggage that Matthew shares with his readers are the gifts which they bring for Jesus. But those gifts also give us a glimpse into that other kind of baggage which the Magi carry. They have come to find and worship the king of the Jews, which was signaled to them by the appearance of a star in the sky. These Magi are important high-ranking officials who have significant wealth to travel so very far and present such extravagant gifts. But the distance or difficulty of the journey does not stop them. The months of time this journey takes away from their everyday lives does not stop them. They are intent upon finding this king so that they may worship this king. They will give up whatever they have to give in order to come before this newborn king and bow in worship.

the Magi’s baggage tells us that they recognize their need to set aside their own agenda and worship the king — they are humble enough to set aside their lofty position and bow to the small child they encounter in meeting Jesus

the Magi are overjoyed

Neither is this some kind of mafia kind of arrangement. Matthew does not give us any sense that this scene with the Magi was diplomatic. They are not trying to form any kind of backhanded alliance for their own political gain. They are not doing a favor to Joseph and Mary which someday will have to be returned. The Magi are not trying to position themselves to pull any kind of personal reward from this. They are here to offer worship to Jesus; that’s it. Their baggage is one of humble worship. Their baggage tells us that they recognize their need to set aside their own agenda and worship the king. Their baggage tells us that they are humble enough—even in their high rank—to set aside their lofty position and bow to the small child they encounter in meeting Jesus. And here is the key: Matthew tells us that they are overjoyed. Not just happy, they are ecstatic, a prolonged state of deep gratitude.

Herod is terrified

Now let’s contrast that with Herod and the ruling class in Jerusalem. Matthew tells us that they are disturbed. Other English translations say that Herod was troubled or frightened or alarmed. It is the Greek word tarasso from which we get the English word ‘terrified.’ Herod’s baggage is very different from the Magi. We can tell that because Herod’s response to the news of Jesus is the complete opposite of the Magi. The Magi saw Jesus as a king to be worshipped. Herod saw Jesus as a threat to be eliminated.

Herod is a shrewd politician who sought alignment with the Roman Empire

A little bit about Herod. He is not technically in the Jewish royal lineage. Herod is a shrewd politician who sought alignment with the Roman Empire when Jerusalem was invaded by Rome in 63AD. By pledging himself to be subservient to Rome, the empire installed Herod as the local ruler in Israel on behalf of the Roman Empire. But at the same time, Herod got in tight with the local Jewish elite by investing heavily in Jewish ruling society. Herod funded many of the religious expenditures of the priests and temple activity. Herod did what he needed to do in order to be valued by the religious leaders in Jerusalem.

Herod’s baggage contains a look into the ways in which he had become corrupted by power

This is why Matthew tells us that the news of Jesus not only terrified Herod, but all Jerusalem as well. Everyone who rode on the coattails of Herod and had a stake in Herod’s power felt the same threat that Herod felt upon this news of a new king who was born. Power. That word cannot be emphasized enough. Herod’s baggage contains a look into the ways in which he had become corrupted by power. Herod was so paranoid about keeping his grip on power that ancient historians have documents the way in which he executed his own family so that they would not pose a threat to his hold on power. Caesar Augustus is famously quoted as once saying, “It is better to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son.” Herod’s baggage is weighed down and bursting with his toxic fixation on maintaining power at all costs.

baggage is not only a part of who they WERE, it also shows up as part of who the ARE and continue TO BE

The contrast is significant. The Magi were willing to give up whatever they had to in order to bow beneath king Jesus and offer worship to him. Herod was willing to take whatever could in order to make sure he stayed on top of king Jesus and would never have to bow to anyone—except, of course, the Roman Empire who provided for his powerful position. The baggage tells us a lot about the kind of people they are. We might even be able to push this one step further and say that their baggage defines them. It is not just something they carry around as part of their past experiences. It is also something which influences and controls their present experiences. Their baggage is not only a part of who they WERE, it also shows up as part of who the ARE and continue TO BE. Baggage can be a strong part of a person’s life like that.

what baggage are you carrying around?

if you leave your baggage at the door, you might get a few moments here to be free of it for a little while, but as soon as you leave it all comes right back

So, what about us? What baggage are you carrying around as we walk in and out from another Christmas? What experiences shape the way you come before king Jesus? It is worth spending little time today for consideration because I am guessing we often fail to bring that in here. Church tends to be a place in which people check their bags at the door and leave that baggage outside. Church is a place where people go to get away from all of that baggage. Church is a place where all the worries and concerns of the world can just hit pause for a little while. Here is the problem with that. If you came here today and checked your baggage at the door, that means it is waiting right outside there by the door for you to pick up again when you leave this place. If you leave your baggage at the door, you might get a few moments here to be free of it for a little while, but as soon as you leave it all comes right back.

So, I will ask it again: what baggage are you carrying around as you walk in and out from this place today? Maybe it is uncertainty about friends at school. Maybe it is a restless apprehension about your career or line of work. Maybe it is baggage full of what you think are past failures which leave you feeling worthless. Maybe it is baggage full of what you think are fractured relationships which leave you feeling abandoned. Maybe it is the loss that comes along with aging, feeling as though your valued contribution to the lives of others has diminished. Did you check any of that at the door before walking into here today? Because if you did, all of that is waiting right outside for you to pick it up and carry that load again as soon as you leave here.

instead of checking our baggage at the door, how about we bring our baggage in here with us?

Let me suggest something different today. Instead of checking our baggage at the door, how about we bring our baggage in here with us? Herod thought Jesus was a threat; Herod’s baggage got in the way. Jesus is not a threat; he does not want your baggage to get in the way. In fact, it is just the opposite; Jesus wants you to bring your baggage to him. Imagine standing at the airport baggage claim carousel waiting for your baggage to come sliding down. The baggage you are waiting for is a suitcase full of your own broken sinfulness. It is a suitcase full of your failures and hurts. But as soon as you see that bag come sliding forward towards you, someone else steps in a picks it up. It is Jesus who picks up that bag with all your brokenness inside. But, sitting there beside Jesus is another suitcase. It is his own baggage. The suitcase of Jesus is filled with his own perfect righteousness. This suitcase belongs to Jesus; it is his alone. Now Jesus looks at you and says to you, “I will take this baggage of yours filled with brokenness and failure and hurt; you take this baggage of mine filled with perfect righteousness.”

The clothing inside of your own baggage are garments of brokenness that you do not want to put back on again. The clothing inside of the baggage given to you by Jesus are garments of righteousness. Jesus says that they are for you. Look at how the Prophet Isaiah tells us exactly the same thing.

Isaiah 61 NIV

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 6 And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. 7 Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. 8 “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.” 10 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

you are clothed in the righteousness of Christ

Because of Jesus, you are clothed in righteousness. That is the baggage you have now. Let that be what defines you now. Don’t pick up that old baggage by the door. Bring it in here and leave it here with Jesus. And then leave this place with the new baggage that Jesus gives to you, to be clothed in his perfect righteousness. You are clothed in righteousness; let that define you, let that become who you are and who you will continue to be.

even when all of the other reminders of Christmas are packed up and put away, this is the gift that stays with you everyday

Wear that perfect righteousness of Christ humbly because it is a gift given to you by God which you cannot earn and that you did not deserve. But also wear that perfect righteousness of Christ with pride because God loves you enough to say that this extravagant gift is for you; do not cover it up. You are clothed in righteousness. This is God’s gift to you at Christmas; even when all of the other reminders of Christmas are packed up and put away, this is the gift that stays with you everyday.