Matthew 2:1-2 NKJV
BE Grateful Series
We don’t exactly know why the wise men from the East followed the Star.
We do know they probably traveled at least 5,000 miles to followthe Star. They didn’t actually know where they were going, but they somehow felt so drawn to follow the Star that they packed their bags and went on a very long journey.
It is not known when they actually arrived but scholars believe they arrived sometime in the first two years of the birth of Jesus.
We know they made the trip because they believed a king had been born.
They came prepared to worship him and pay homage to the king with three gifts.
In the Armenian Bible three “Magi of Bethlehem” they are mentioned as as Balthasar of Arabia, Melchior of Persia, and Caspar of India (Nersessian, Vrej (2001). The Bible in the Armenian Tradition. Getty. ISBN 978-0-89236-640-8.)
In Matthew 2:1-2 we learn, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
When I was a child I don’t remember anyone explaining to me how far the Wisemen traveled or why they went to see Jesus. We didn’t talk about why they made the trip. We just thought it was cool that there were Wisemen who brought gifts to Jesus.
Even so, whenever I heard the Christmas story there was always a ‘deal’ about the Star.
In every Nativity scene and in books or paintings, there was always a bright and shining star.
I remember thinking the Star was really a miracle because it was a star that appeared specifically to lead others to find the baby Jesus.
When I prayed about this lesson I wondered if there had ever been another time there was an appearance of a star that miraculously appeared. When I did some digging I found a lot of evidence of stars disappearing but no evidence of new stars appearing. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It could mean it wasn’t documented.
However, I’m a firm believer in miracles, mostly because I’ve witnessed a lot of miracles in my lifetime. Every time I have a dream or a vision from God, it comes true later and I consider that a miracle. In over fifty years I’ve never had a dream from God that didn’t eventually come to pass.
I’ve witnessed miraculous healings.
I’ve met people God specifically sent to tell me messages.
Miracles DO happen. THE Star that appeared WAS a miracle.
The Star sent a message to anyone who would believe.
I think the Star is still sending a message today. When we remember the Star we remember it proclaimed the birth of Jesus 5,000 miles from the place of His birth.
The Star would have been seen all around the world in the 1st Century. We don’t have record of others seeing the Star over 2,000 years ago but people all over the world would have seen the same Star and they too probably wondered if it meant something special.
I believe the Star was nothing short of a miracle over 2,000 years ago. It’s the kind of miracle that keeps giving because the star gazers who spotted the Star believed a miracle had occurred. They believed in it so much that they put their lives on hold so they could follow the Star to an unknown country in an untraveled region.
When they arrived in Bethlehem of Judea they went to see the King of that region but somehow they knew he was not the ONE they were seeking. Then even after they met the man who WAS the crowned King of that region they still believed the Star would lead them to a king of a different kind and so they continued to follow the Star.
Because of the Star they relentlessly believed.
They refused to give up.
Even though they had no evidence the Star led to something, they continued their search…
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Believe
Today. Even when you do not SEE what you seek, believe. Do not give up. God will show you the answer. Know that as you seek God will walk through the fire with you. God surrounds you. God is IN you. God is for you. You will never be alone. Not ever.
God will show you the way.
In God, Deborah
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