Matthew 2:3-12 NKJV
Isaiah 60:1-6 NKJV
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When the Wise Men from the East followed the Star that led them to Jerusalem to the court of King Herod, they met the esteemed King and his chief priests and scribes.
The Wise Men asked King Herod to direct them to where the babe lived who was born King of the Jews.
The Wise Men also gave King Herod information that would have infuriated Herod. They announced that a great Star led them and because of that they wanted to WORSHIP the King of the Jews.
See…King Herod thought he was the only king in town who deserved the right to be worshipped.
We learn from Matthew 2:3-6, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
Not only did King Herod discuss the matter of the new king in town with the chief priests and scribes, he put out an APB in all of Jerusalem for the new king.
Herod meant business. But, he was a sneaky sort.
He told everyone that he wanted them to find the child and present him to King Herod so he could worship him also.
Matthew 2:7-8 says:
“Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
The Wise Men, however were on to Herod’s plot.
In Matthew 2:9-12 we read, “When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
The Wise Men continued to follow the Star and God led them to the child who would be King of the Jews.
The Wise Men were filled with wonder when they saw the child and they were filled with great joy!
They did worship the child.
And they did give valuable, meaningful gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the child.
The Wise Men who had followed the Star found what they were looking for near Jerusalem. Bethlehem was a sleepy little town nearby and the Star led them to a simple place to what looked like an ordinary child.
But the Wise Men were WISE. Even though the child lived in a small town in a village, in a simple home owned by a carpenter, they believed he was the King of the Jews.
They had followed the Star over 5,000 miles and they met with King Herod and everyone in his court. Then the Star led them to see Jesus.
After they met the child and gave Him the gifts, we learn in Matthew 2:9-12, “Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”
The Wise Men believed the dream was from God and they didn’t go see Herod again.
The Prophet Isaiah wrote centuries before in Isaiah 60:1-3:
“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.”
The light came. The Lord came. When the darkness came the glory of the Lord was seen.
The Gentiles came to the heavenly light.
The glory of the Lord will shine bright because of this King of the Jews.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Come to the Light
Turn to Jesus, the light. Let His light shine on you.
In God, Deborah
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