Wise Men Follow the Star to Find an Unbelievable King
The wise men follow the star to an unbelievable king, and we should continue to follow Jesus, the same king, as we faithfully journey today.
I sometimes imagine how it would have been to journey through the story of the nativity birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I am intrigued by the role of the Magi or wise men in the story.
Magi in Matthew 2: The Wise Men follow the star
Matthew 2: 1-2 NIV says, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.’”
As a little girl in the church Christmas play, I felt excited to read Matthew 2 and to see how the wise men follow the star to baby Jesus. I always thought how wonderful it was the Magi, or the wise men, always brought baby Jesus some gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In my childlike eyes, I thought this meant that God was signaling to the world that his Son had been born and that even the wise men worshipped baby Jesus. While my childlike thoughts were true, the wise men’s story teaches us so much more.
The wise men follow the star until they find Jesus.
The wise men follow the star on an amazing journey to seek out the king of the Jews. Scholars are not exactly sure where the wise men started their journey, but could you imagine riding a couple of weeks on a camel? Can you imagine the supplies that they would have needed? Can you imagine the journey to follow and seek after a king?
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” -Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” –Matthew 7:7 NIV
God promises that if we seek him, we will find him. The wise men follow the star relentlessly in search of a king, and they set their eyes on seeking baby Jesus. They found the king of the Jews born in a humble stable in Bethlehem, most certainly an unbelievable king.
The Wise Men respond to the birth of Jesus.
When the wise men follow the star and then find baby Jesus in the humble stable in Bethlehem, they worshipped and adored him. The wise men find a king born in a stable, which is a lowly place of birth. Despite their surroundings, they knew this baby was sent by God.
I am sure that when the wise men arrived to welcome baby Jesus they did not find a palace fit for a king. They could have decided to turn away or to re-evaluate what the star meant. Instead, they chose to respond to the birth of the king with gifts, worship, and adoration.
The Bible commands us, as Christians, to respond to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” The Bible tells us to respond.
In Luke 10, a man questions Jesus about eternal life, and Jesus responds by asking him about what the scripture says. The man answers, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). In verse 29, Jesus says, “You have answered correctly…Do this and you will live.”
How will you respond today? Will you follow the star like the wise men? Will keep your eyes on the baby born in a stable this Christmas season regardless of circumstances and distractions around you?
Today is an amazing day to respond. Seek Him until you find him, and respond to him with worship and adoration. Consider beginning a 30-day faith journey with us to ask Jesus to come so that you can respond to him with worship and adoration.
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One of my favourite stories too – those who seek will find – loved your reflections!