On the thirtieth day of Christmas, my Bible said to me...The magi did what mattered most - they worshiped Jesus. Worship Jesus today!
Today's Reading: Matthew 2:1-12
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, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Devotional Thoughts
NOTE: The following is a simple telling of the story of the Magi, based on historical research and biblical teachings. More mythology and lore has surrounded them. Just read and enjoy...and worship!
In Bethlehem, a baby was laying in a manger, is weary mother resting after the birth and his father caring for them both. Shepherds were walking the streets of Bethlehem looking for the baby the angels had promised.
Many hundreds of miles away, a group of astrologers scanned the night sky. They were known as Magi and people respected them because they were believed to have special knowledge, by watching the movement of the stars they could discern the affairs of men. Parthians by descent, remnants of the Persian Empire, they lived in modern Iran. They held great political influence, helping to select kings by searching the stars.
This night, something strange appeared. Far to the west, near the horizon, an odd star appeared; abnormal, unexpected. Their ancestors had passed down to them lore of a man named Daniel, a Jew who had been carried captive into Babylon. His insight was gained not from the stars but directly from God. He'd become the chief of Babylon's wise men and when Persia had conquered them he was pressed into service for them. He'd continued to demonstrate his worth and his godliness and character. A Persian king named Darius threw him into a den of lions but he emerged unharmed. Daniel explained to the Persians the truths of God's Law and shared prophecies from the scrolls he had learned. One had stuck with them. "A star shall come out Jacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel." This group of astrologers, seeing this unusual star, surmised the prophecy must have come true. The ruler Daniel promised had been born.
So, a group of them, no one knows how many, set off after the birth of Jesus to find the baby whose birth the star announced. It was a long and difficult trip. Days and months went by as they trekked across the Fertile Crescent until finally they reached Jerusalem. What a stir they created when this troupe of Persian kingmakers wandered the streets of the city asking where the newborn king was.
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
No one in Jerusalem had much of any idea what he was talking about, but finally Herod heard of the disturbance and he was upset. He'd achieved the throne by political means and they were talking about someone who'd been "born king of the Jews." BORN king. He simply could not have that!So he determined to nip this in the bud.
He summoned the scholars of the Jewish law and asked them to research where the Messiah was to be born. He entertained the Magi until the scribes returned and told him that Bethlehem, a little village in the hills about 6 miles south of the Temple mount was the prophesied birthplace. In his most pious tone he sent the Magi to Bethlehem to find the baby and asked them to return so he could also worship him.
It was night when they made their way out of Jerusalem. Did the fact that no one in Jerusalem seemed to care that their king had been born bother the Magi? We will never know. But they again saw the star they had seen the night of Jesus' birth and they followed it for a couple of hours through the hills to the little town. The star somehow pointed them to a house where they were greeted by a young man and his wife and a boy, now a toddler, perhaps learning to walk. His name was Yeshua...Jesus. Yahweh is Salvation.
These proud, wealthy, powerful men fell on their faces before this little boy, as they would to pay respect to any king. But they knew that this was no regular human king. This was the king whom Daniel had promised, the scepter that would rise out of Judah. They opened before him their treasures. They gave him gold, the proper gift to pay tribute to a king. They gave him incense; what the priests used in their prayers. And finally, they gave him a precious spice called myrrh, which had many purposes; among them to anoint the dead for burial. They gave him these gifts and they worshiped him.
It is likely that they gave these gifts because they were valuable and for no other reason, but to us these gifts hold significance. The gold represents Jesus as King of kings - the rightful ruler and lord of all. The incense speaks of his divinity, the one who receives our prayers. He is Immanuel, God with us. The myrrh reminds us of the ultimate purpose of his life. He came to die. The next time we read about myrrh in the Gospels they are using it for Jesus' burial. He is the Lord of all, born to die for our sins. And they worshiped him!
The next day, when they arose, they departed for their own country. God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. Like the shepherds so many months earlier, they returned to their homes rejoicing, for they had seen the king. Not just any king, mind you. They'd seen the King of kings.
Think and Pray
So much myth and lore has sprung up around the Magi, but one thing is known - they traveled far to worship Jesus.
Worship Jesus today. .
Carol of the Day
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light
Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light
Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light
Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav'n replies
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light
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