Wise men

This week's verses are Matthew 2:1-12:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written this way by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are in no way least among the rulers of Judah,
for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.” After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.

The wise men, also known as the Magi, likely came from Zoroastrian Persia, in what is modern day Iran.  The Greek word Magus (Magi is plural of that) means a Zoroastrian priest. Their scriptures spoke of a coming Messiah, and they were known for being experts in a kind of astrology. So, it's pretty cool that God noticed how interested these people were in finding the Messiah, and arranged for them to have the chance to do it. Even if they weren't Jewish.

We see this happen sometimes nowadays. I'm reminded of the testimony of a guy whose baptism I attended recently. He grew up Muslim and was on vacation somewhere and happened to stop and rest in a church. As he was resting, he instantly had the impression that God was there. So he was like, "no, that's BS, but I'm going to find out who God is and where he is." So he studied a whole bunch of religions and finally came to the conclusion that Christianity had it right.

So, when Jesus says "seek and you will find, bang on the door and I'll open it," he's got some evidence to show us what he's talking about. He wasn't even born yet, and he had already set the wheels in motion for these devoted people to find their way to him. He literally moved heaven and earth to bring them to his doorstep. (Would he have done it if they were just scrolling their phones instead of looking for signs and evidence?)

By the time they arrive, Jesus and his family are no longer in temporary housing in the barn, but have made their way back to their village and their house. People guess a couple months have passed. But based on Herod's mass murder of the kids in his village, it may have been as long as two years that these guys were doing the research and making the hard journey from Persia to Judea. Believers or not, these guys were hard core in their pursuit of the truth.

When they arrive, they have with them the most precious gifts money can buy. How strong would your beliefs have to be that you would pack this kind of treasure as a gift to give to a strange family, a family who is obviously not wealthy or connected? Would you give gold and expensive fragrances and medicines to some random baby? You'd have to be really super extra sure that it was the right one!

After the Magi encounter Jesus, God speaks to them directly and sends them home by a different path. No stars needed. It is his direct message.

These guys should be an inspiration to us in our Christian journey. Are we really seeking to find Jesus and adore him? Do we really believe that he is the Messiah that history tells us he is? It's humbling to compare the efforts the Magi went through to pledge their loyalty and confirm the truth, with what passes for devotion these days.

Imagine this week that you are one of the Magi, and that you've discovered the Bible for the first time. How would that change how you spend your time and money, and how you express your devotion? How does it change how you relate to God, and how you see Him?