Matthew 2: 2-12
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 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.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Imagine the confusion that Mary and Joseph must have felt when some men from a distant land approached their new born baby on their knees in reverence. This child was not the child of a noble king or wealthy landowner. This was simply a carpenter’s child. Rich men, men of learning, men with status traveled far and wide to worship a carpenter’s son. Why?
Certainly nothing about an infant child’s outward appearance would command this type of awe. As Joseph’s son living in the tiny “suburb” of Bethlehem would not ordinarily have been news to Bethlehem itself. There must have been something more to this child. These men from the East must have known something about this child that not many others knew.
As our reading plan continues and we will begin to see His life play out before us, we will watch as this boy becomes a miracle worker, a healer, and a teacher. We will marvel as he makes blind men see and cripple people walk. Our breath will be taken away when, with a word, he gives life to what was dead. Our hearts will breaks as nails are driven through his flesh. Our joy permeates as His eternal life is passed to us.
It turns out that the child in Bethlehem was a pretty big deeal. He actually was a King worthy of praise. He did not look like it then. As the Magi approached Jesus with awe and reverecne even when it looked like he shouldn’t. We too today will do the same. Approach Jesus this day with the reveernce and awe he deserves even though our sitation may not look like what we wanted. Bring your gifts before him! This boy in Bethlehem is the Son of God come for all people; people from every race, tribe and nation that ever was and ever will be.
Pastor Mat