25 Days of Christmas
On the twenty-fifth 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
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah:Because out of you will come a rulerwho will shepherd my people Israel.”7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
Through the Bible Readings: Zechariah 5-6, Revelation 15–16, Psalm 147:1–7, Proverbs31:14–16
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional:
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.
Father, thank you for your son. I join the Magi today to kneel and worship him.
Think and Pray :
So much myth and lore have sprung up around the Magi, but one thing is known - they traveled far to worship Jesus.
Worship Jesus today.
Worship Jesus today.
Carol of the Day:
We three kings of Orient areBearing gifts we traverse afarField and fountain, moor and mountainFollowing yonder starO Star of wonder, star of nightStar with royal beauty brightWestward leading, still proceedingGuide us to thy Perfect LightBorn a King on Bethlehem's plainGold I bring to crown Him againKing forever, ceasing neverOver us all to reignO Star of wonder, star of nightStar with royal beauty brightWestward leading, still proceedingGuide us to thy Perfect LightFrankincense to offer have IIncense owns a Deity nighPrayer and praising, all men raisingWorship Him, God most highO Star of wonder, star of nightStar with royal beauty brightWestward leading, still proceedingGuide us to thy Perfect LightMyrrh is mine, its bitter perfumeBreathes of life of gathering gloomSorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dyingSealed in the stone-cold tombO Star of wonder, star of nightStar with royal beauty brightWestward leading, still proceedingGuide us to thy Perfect LightGlorious now behold Him ariseKing and God and SacrificeAlleluia, AlleluiaEarth to heav'n repliesO Star of wonder, star of nightStar with royal beauty brightWestward leading, still proceedingGuide us to thy Perfect Light
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