Matthew 2:1-12
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 1They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
Although their journey likely took about two years, the days from Christmas to Epiphany represent the waiting for the wise men. Today we celebrate the arrival of the wise men, who were from “eastern lands” and who were smart enough for a jealous king to consider them potentially useful. These men knew the stars, and they had discovered the appearance of a new star in the sky. In those days, stars provided direction, light, and clues into the heavenly realms. What’s interesting is that these eastern men followed the star and worshiped Jesus. Their study did not detach them from the supernatural, but rather connected them to heavenly activity.
Here’s your freedom for today: Jesus reveals himself to all people.
The wise men were looking for clues in the sky, much like some look for “signs” today. Is there a God? How did we get here? What happens when we die? The truth is not limited only to scholars, and in fact Jesus appealed to the illiterate masses much of the time while he was on earth. It doesn’t matter who you are: Jew, Gentile, intelligent, uneducated, popular, rejected, or anything in between. Jesus came for you. And God has revealed himself and continues to reveal himself in multiple ways so that all may know him. As we move into prayers for the New Year tomorrow, I pray that you will connect with the Spirit more deeply and discover God’s truth in new ways in 2019!