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 in the east and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 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. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“‘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.’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 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.”
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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:3-12
It’s almost time to start unwrapping the gifts under the tree, and the excitement and pleasure of giving and receiving is upon us, but I don’t want you to miss this part of the story! Why did the wisemen travel so far? What did they find and how did they respond?
It is believed that the wise men were gentiles from a neighboring country to the east who came to seek the baby born a king, in Bethlehem. The shepherd’s came to see the baby when the angel’s announced his birth, but where were the rest of the people of Israel? Did they not know where to look? Did this baby’s birth not fit what they were looking for in a king?
In Matthew Henry’s Commentary on this passage he states, “We should be glad of every thing that will show us the way to Christ.” Even if your neighbors, city or country are not interested, if you have seen a beam of light about this baby, then you can come, like the wisemean and follow the light until you see his face. You’ve heard of Him, who has come. It is your own hearts’ journey that needs to follow the light, even if you do it alone.
We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Psalm 105:3
There is nothing that can compete with this joy which the wisemen received when they saw the truth. What they sought on their journey, they received, and in turn, offered their gifts and worshipped with joy.
The inexpressible joy of receiving this gift from God will be worth all the trouble of your journey. The One who calls us is faithful.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil – this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:11-13
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you. 2 Tim 1:6
Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in it various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8
Opening His gifts,
Laurie
Print this post by clicking on the green ‘printer friendly’ bar below, and write your answers to these questions.
Question (feel free to journal your answer here) Do you know the joy of the wisemen after searching through the dark of night? If you do, have you opened your gifts and given any of them away?
Your prayer (feel free to write your prayer here)
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