WHERE THE JOURNEY
takes us
O
ur journey to the heart of Christmas isn’t complete without a closer look at the most puzzling characters of all:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” MATTHEW 2:1-2 Much mystery surrounds these curious figures: the Magi. They are usually depicted on Christmas cards in royal splendour presenting their gifts to the young Jesus; but we really know very little about them. Who were they? And how did they know to look for this newborn King of the Jews? It is possible that they were from Babylon where Daniel (from the Old Testament book of Daniel) had been one of the chief wise men during Israel’s exile. Perhaps he taught them to look for the Messiah and his teaching had been passed on. We don’t know for sure, but it’s a compelling idea. Whoever they were, they play an interesting role in the story of Christmas; they were the first ones to seek Jesus in order to worship Him. It’s true that the shepherds sought the baby Jesus to see if what the angels said was true; but the Magi were different. They left everything and made the long journey from a foreign country, bringing extremely valuable gifts . . . simply to worship! Take a moment to consider what “worship” meant for them. First of all, it involved their minds. They had to study to understand the significant details of the birth of Christ; the timing and the specifics regarding the guiding star. Next, their worship cost them money; money they could have spent on improving their own homes and lives. The gifts they gave were not cheap; they brought no token offerings for the King of kings.
Then, their worship required them to leave their home, their family and friends, and even their country—everything that was comfortable and familiar—and head to a foreign land, following a star in the night sky. Yet as they drew near, the Magi made a mistake; one that we can all make. They took their eyes off God’s guidance. For us, that often means a growing complacency around God’s Word and spending time with Him. For the Magi, this meant turning aside from the star that God had provided, and instead drawing their own conclusions about where they would find the newborn King. After all, surely the King of the Jews would be born in the palace? So they ignored the star and went to Jerusalem seeking the Messiah. It is here that we are introduced to some surprising reactions to the news of Jesus’ birth. The appearance of these imposing strangers caused great disturbance in Jerusalem. Herod, the notoriously paranoid king, called for the Bible scholars and asked them where this newborn King of the Jews was to be found. They seem quite casual in recounting the prophecy that He was to be born in Bethlehem. It’s strange how those religious leaders who knew so much about Him had no desire to go find and worship their own Messiah; they were just indifferent. Not so Herod; he was full of hatred. There was no way he was sharing the spotlight with another king; not even a tiny one. So he pretended to be a worshipper while secretly having no intention of bowing to anyone but himself. It is highly significant that ones who did desire to worship Jesus were foreigners. In the Old Testament, God had instructed His people to stay separate from other nations because of their idolatrous practices. This led many of the Jews to assume that they were the only people God loved. Therefore, there was a tendency to feel superior to outsiders; as though they were the only ones qualified to worship God. But God’s heart has always been for the world; not just Israel (GENESIS 12:3). How interesting that it was foreigners, not Israelites, who first made the journey to the heart of Christmas to worship the King of the Jews.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. JOHN 1:11-12 That first Christmas was the beginning of a new era of global worship of the one true God. That’s where most of us fit in the story; we are outsiders who have been brought into God’s family by seeking, finding and believing in Jesus. And it is our joy and privilege to bow before the Saviour of the world and worship; that is the destination of our journey. This year, as many of our comforts have been stripped away, we have an opportunity to follow in the excellent footsteps of the Magi who left everything to worship Jesus. We’ve seen something of the vulnerability of the things in which the world places its trust; and perhaps it has given us a new appreciation for the rock-solid security of knowing Christ for ourselves. Maybe the trials we have been through this year, and this journey we have been on this Christmas, have been the reminders we needed that Christ is of infinitely more value than anything else in our lives. Or perhaps we’re still on the journey of discovering Him. Whatever the case, remember the Magi. Those who were far away are brought near on an incredible journey of worship.