December 21, 2023

Matthew 2:1-12  (HCSB)
Wise Men Seek the King
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, 2 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.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. 5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:  6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: because out of you will come a leader who will shepherd My people Israel.” 7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him.” 9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

Jason Ricciardi
We don’t know how old Jesus was when the Magi came to visit. We can guess He was possibly something like 1-2 years old given how Herod reacted. There is little we actually know about the Magi. They came from the east, were high-ranking officials, sought a king, and knew at least some biblical prophecy. Church tradition gives us some names and possibly nationalities, but we don’t know. Yet, more importantly, we know the Magi bowed down and worshipped a baby! You bow down to superiors, not inferiors. These were eminent leaders, and they understood the majesty of the One that laid largely helpless before them. What do you find yourself getting excited over the most? Matthew records that the Magi “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” In that moment, Jesus’ worth was incomparable to anything –not a bank account, not health, not time, not their jobs, or even their social standing. If you are like me, you can get distracted by some of those things. Hopefully we can both find adequate time to rejoice exceedingly with great joy over our Messiah this season!