The Wise Men Came From The East To Jerusalem To Worship The Baby King Of The Jews
Now, it came to pass that after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
Can you imagine the stir this caused? Jerusalem, a city always abuzz with merchants, pilgrims, and the ceaseless chatter of daily life, suddenly heard this astonishing declaration. These men were not simple shepherds from the Judean hills, nor merchants from Jericho.
Perhaps they travelled across deserts and over mountains, on camels laden with provisions. Their journey would have taken many days. This tells us about the deep conviction of their belief. They weren't merely seeking a baby; they sought the King of the Jews.
The Wise Men Followed A Star Which Represented The King Of The Jews
The Wise Men were studying the skies when the star of the Baby King appeared. They said that they had seen His star in the east and had come to worship Him (Matthew 2: 2).
So they began their journey with great excitement, following the star of the Baby King. Of course, as was the custom for travelers and merchants traversing the vast, unlit wilderness, their caravans would have moved slowly. Listeners would hear the rhythmic creak of camel saddles a familiar sound in the quiet desert nights.
What was the star of the Baby King of the Jews
The Wise Men knew exactly what the star of the Baby King would look like. Maybe they had been looking for it in the skies all their adult lives.
Baalam spoke about the star of the King. Of course, when he did, the word meant a ruler. In the Bible, star also meant Angel:
"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A Star shall come forth from Jacob, A Scepter shall rise from Israel..." (Numbers 24:17)
He was quoting Jacob's prophecy in Genesis 49: 10:
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Herod's Troubled Heart: The King's Fear
When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Why troubled, you ask? Because in a land where the people longed for a Messiah, a true King of the Jews, the very mention of such a one was a direct challenge to Herod's fragile authority.
Herod was not a Jew. He was an Edomite, placed on the throne by the Romans. He was not of the lineage of David, and the people, though they tolerated him, yearned for a king of their own, a true descendant of Judah, as the prophecies foretold. Herod's reign was marked by paranoia and ruthlessness; he had even executed members of his own family to secure his power. The thought of a newly born "King of the Jews" would have plunged him into a cold sweat.
And Jerusalem with him? The common folk, laborers in the fields, women grinding grain at the mill, fishermen by the Sea of Galilee – they knew what a troubled king meant: suspicion, spies, and perhaps even bloodshed. Life was hard enough under Roman rule and Herod's heavy taxes without the added fear of political upheaval.
For the ordinary Jew, the hope of a Messiah was a deeply personal one, intertwined with the ancient promises made to Abraham and David, a hope for deliverance from oppression, not merely a change of rulers.
Consulting the Scriptures: Prophecy Revealed
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.'" (Micah 5:2)
Herod, cunning as a serpent, knew not where to look, so he turned to those who did know – the religious scholars, the chief priests, and the scribes. These men spent their lives poring over the sacred scrolls, meticulously copying and interpreting every word of the Law and the Prophets.
They knew the Scriptures intimately, passages that spoke of a coming Messiah, His birth, His lineage, and even the very town of His arrival. This was not hidden knowledge; it was the bedrock of our people's hope.
The reference to Micah 5:2 would have been instantly recognizable to any learned Jew. Bethlehem, a small village, hardly a significant place in the bustling world of Judea, was destined for greatness. It was the ancestral home of David, our greatest king.
This prophecy confirmed the Messiah's humble origins but also His ultimate authority – He would "shepherd My people Israel," a duty far grander than any earthly monarch. The shepherds, tending their flocks by night in those very fields, would have understood the significance of a shepherd leader. It was a picture deeply rooted in our agricultural way of life.
Herod's Deception: A Hidden Motive
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."
Herod's true intentions were as dark as a moonless night. His pretense of wanting to "worship" the child was a lie, thinly veiled. He sought to destroy this perceived threat. He meticulously questioned the Magi, trying to pinpoint the child's age based on the star's first appearance.
This detail, "what time the star appeared," was crucial for his wicked plan, though he presented himself with feigned piety, a common tactic of those in power who fear losing their grip. Such deception was a sad reality in the courts of rulers, where one's life often depended on understanding the unspoken motives of the powerful.
Led by the Star: A Divine Guide
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.
Imagine their relief, their renewed vigor, after the unsettling encounter with Herod! As they left Jerusalem, perhaps pausing to refresh their camels at a well, the star, which had perhaps been obscured by the brighter lights of the city or by the passage of time, reappeared. This was not a mere celestial body; this was an Angel, a divine beacon.
It moved, guiding them, not just generally towards Bethlehem, but specifically to the very house where the young Child resided. The awe they must have felt, seeing this celestial guide halt directly above their destination, is beyond words. Their joy, described as "exceedingly great," speaks volumes of the arduous journey and the unwavering faith that propelled them. This was a moment of profound spiritual affirmation.
Worship and Offerings: A King's Due
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.
Here lies the heart of their journey, the culmination of their arduous travels. They did not find Him in a palace, amidst opulent tapestries and a retinue of servants. No, they found Him in a humble house, likely a modest stone dwelling typical of Bethlehem, perhaps similar to those lived in by the local shepherds or carpenters. Yet, they did not waver.
The Wise Men understood the true nature of the King they sought. They "fell down and worshiped Him." This act of prostration was a sign of ultimate reverence, reserved for royalty or deity, a profound acknowledgment of His divine stature, even as a young child.
Then they opened their treasures – not common gifts, but precious commodities, fit for a king, and laden with symbolic meaning.
Gold: A tribute for a king, acknowledging His royal authority. It was a universal currency, a symbol of wealth and power, easily recognized by any merchant from Jerusalem to Egypt.
Frankincense: A fragrant resin, burned with the meat offering, a bread made with flour in the Jewish temple. The meat offering meant that He is the Bread of Life. It also represented His body on the cross, while the sweet and pure frankincense represented the sweet fragrance of righteousness that came from His life. .
Myrrh: Another fragrant resin, used for anointing priests and kings. Myrrh was used in the Jewish temple in the holy anointing oil, because He is the anointing. Myrrh was given to him on the cross in a drink and Joseph placed it on His body at His burial. Therefore, myrrh foreshadowed His eventual sacrifice and burial, hinting at His suffering and death for the sins of the world.
These gifts, carefully chosen and carried over vast distances, speak to a deep understanding of who this child truly was: a King, a God, and one destined for a unique path.
A Dream and a Different Path: Divine Protection
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
God's hand was upon them, protecting His Son from Herod's malice. In a dream, a common means of divine communication in those days, as recorded throughout our scriptures from Abraham to Joseph, the Magi received a clear instruction: bypass Herod. They obeyed without question. They chose "another way," perhaps heading south through the Judean wilderness, avoiding Jerusalem altogether, and likely the well-traveled routes where Herod's agents might be waiting.
This act of immediate obedience underscores their faith and their recognition of the divine authority guiding them. It also highlights the constant vigilance needed to protect the Messiah in a world hostile to His coming.
FAQ: Wise Men Visit Baby Jesus: A Story of Prophecy Fulfilled
Q: Who were these "Wise Men" or "Magi"?
A: It is commonly believed that the Magi were likely Persian or Babylonian astrologers, sorcerers and scholars, men of great learning who studied the stars. However, Archangel Michael told me they were Jews.
Wise men appeared in the Bible in the Book of Genesis. They could not interpret Pharoah's dream. The Wise Men in the Book of Daniel also could not interpret the dreams of the king nor the handwriting on the wall.
Jewish Wise Men were not the same as heathen wise men. They were filled with the Spirit of God and received amazing information from God that no other wise men could know. Daniel is an example.
More importantly, they were looking for the Star of the Messiah. He was associated with a specific star. They knew the sign.
Finally, God spoke to them in a dream, warning htem not to go back to Herod. Go back again to the scriptures, and you will see that God never spoke to any wise man in Egypt or Babylon. They did not know His secrets.
The very last thing is that the Wise Men obeyed God and did nor return to Herod. The interaction between God and the Wise Men showed that they were men of God.
Q: Why was Herod so troubled by the birth of a "King of the Jews"?
A: Herod the Great was a ruthless and paranoid ruler, constantly fearing rivals to his throne. As an Edomite, he lacked legitimate claim to the throne of David. He was therefore threatened by the idea of that a true Jewish king threatened his carefully constructed power, secured through Roman backing.
Q: What is the significance of the gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh?
A: These gifts were not random. Gold symbolized royalty, acknowledging Jesus as a king. Frankincense, used in priestly offerings, pointed to His divinity and role as High Priest. Myrrh, used in embalming, foreshadowed His sacrifice and death.
Q: How did the Wise Men know where to go after leaving Herod?
A: After leaving Herod, the very star they had seen in the East miraculously reappeared and guided them directly to the house where Jesus was. This was a clear act of divine intervention.
Q: What was the political situation in Judea at this time?
A: Judea was a Roman province, ruled by King Herod the Great, a client king appointed by Rome. The people lived under Roman occupation, longing for liberation and the coming of the Messiah who would restore Israel's sovereignty.
Conclusion
And so, my friends, this account reveals a deep truth: God's plans are unshakeable, fulfilling prophecies laid down centuries before. The might of kings and the schemes of men cannot thwart His divine will.
This story is not merely a historical record; it is a testament to the fact that even in the humblest of beginnings, a King was born, destined to shepherd His people and bring light to the world. A star led wise men from afar, yet many close by were blind. Are we not sometimes like Jerusalem, troubled by truth instead of embracing it?
Let us, then, learn from the Magi's example: to seek Him diligently, to worship Him with all that we are, and to obey His divine warnings, choosing a different path when His guidance calls us away from danger. Let this story inspire us to reflect on the sovereignty of God, who orchestrates even the movements of stars and the dreams of men to accomplish His purposes. What star is God calling you to follow today?
If this account has stirred your heart, I encourage you to delve deeper into the prophecies that foretold His coming. You can explore more about the Book of Micah and its rich messianic prophecies.
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