“During
the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where
is the one who was born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have
come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
No
ordinary star
Wise
men from the east travelled from Mesopotamia following a peculiar star which
led them to a place where a special event had occurred. This prophecy is
recorded in the book of Numbers where allusion is made to a star. “I see him,
but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a
sceptre will rise out of Israel.” (Numbers 24:17) It is believed that Jews in
the diaspora would have shared their belief about the coming of the Messiah,
which triggered the research.
These
wise men who had followed that star were astrologers no doubt. They were not
kings as religion has made us believe throughout these centuries. They were
scientists. Nowhere in the Bible is it said that there were three wise men
either. For close to two years they had followed that star; “....and the star
they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place
where the child was.” (Matthew 2: 9) Supernaturally, these wise men – like
fishermen at sea who are guided by the stars – traced their way to the place
where the child was born.
The
star did not only announce the exact timing of this virgin birth, the place
(Bethlehem) where it occurred, but it also pointed to the house where Joseph,
Mary and the child were lodged. By this time they were no longer in the stable
at the inn. The picture religion has painted of this scene is that the sages
visited in the stable and presented their offerings to the family. It further
deduced from the gifts offered that the wise men were three. The Bible records
‘wise men,’ no number is given.
Wrong
address
These
wise men did not get it right the first time; they inadvertently stopped at
King Herod’s palace in the belief that a king should be found in a palace - not
this king unfortunately. He came in meekness and humility, with no pomp. They
asked: ‘Where is the one who was born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the
east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2) That caused a stir in the
palace; a king other than the one Rome had installed? After a closed-door
interview with the wise men, Herod extracted from them information that he
desperately needed. Then panicked-stricken, he summoned an emergency meeting of
the local chief priests and teachers of the law to find out “where this Christ
was to be born.” (Matthew 2:4) “In Bethlehem in Judah,” they replied, “for this
is what the prophet (Micah) has written.” (verse 5) “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 be shepherd of my people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6)
A
disturbed Herod
Herod
could not contain his disturbed state of mind. He literally feared that this
child was going to dethrone him. But he needed to act cautiously in order to
get more information added to what he had gleaned from his religious advisers.
So he told them, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you
find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” (Matthew 2:8)
That was deceitful, for when the wise men did not return “... they returned to
their country by another route” Herod was enraged and ordered that children
from zero to two years be slaughtered. He would not tolerate another king in
his kingdom. Little did he know that baby Jesus had no intention of unseating
him for his kingdom was not of this world. (John 18:36)
Overjoyed
Weren’t
these wise men overjoyed that they had come to the end of their prolonged
search? Indeed, every treasure we lay hands on becomes a fulfilment of our
purpose. Joy overflowed in the hearts of these wise men as they bowed down and
worshipped Jesus. We should be filled with similar sentiments when we look for
and find Jesus. Then we too can worship Him as the King of kings and the Lord
of lords.
These
wise men did not come to Bethlehem empty-handed; they brought treasures with
them for King Jesus and their treasures were worth their weight in gold,
frankincense and myrrh. Coming to the Saviour is in itself an act of worship.
And when you come offer Him your heart, your
soul, mind and strength (that is your life) as an act of total commitment that
you may be blessed beyond measure.
