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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
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
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Jesus, the Son of God and the long prophesied Messiah, had been born in humble surroundings within a stable in Bethlehem, the hometown of Israel’s renowned King David. He came into the world with little fanfare outside of the angel and company of the heavenly host who appeared before a group of shepherds who were in the fields outside of town watching over their flocks by night. The divine appearance happened on the occasion of proclaiming the birth of a Savior who would be found wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And with that, Jesus had His first visitors as the shepherds rushed into Bethlehem to see this little baby who was the Lord.
After seeing Jesus, the scriptures tell us the shepherds returned to their fields as changed men, “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen”. This was after they took time to spread “the word concerning what had been told them” about Jesus, sharing the good news of great joy with everyone they encountered in the town. For they had seen the true King of all kings and Lord of lords first-hand and all who heard their testimony were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
Now, one can never know how far news may have traveled during biblical times but we do know that there were others who were specifically seeking this newborn Messiah, the One who was born to be the ruler of Israel and thus considered the true King of the Jews. We know this by reading the second chapter of Matthew’s Gospel and here’s what we learn in the opening two verses:
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.”
We should note that we’re not given a specific time when the wise men (or Magi) came looking for Jesus. We only know it was some time after His birth in Bethlehem, a time during the reign of King Herod, the appointed Roman ruler over Judea. These men came from the east looking for a child who had been born to be the King of the Jews and it’s widely believed they were well-versed in the Jewish prophecies of old and also astrology. In regard to the latter, they would have carefully examined the night skies regularly and in doing so, observed an unusual star which they felt would lead them to the child they sought. So they set out and traveled west to the holy city of Jerusalem, the place they assumed that a King of the Jews would be found.
Once they arrived, we read where they began to inquire about where they might find the one they sought, an inquiry that brought more than a little anxiety in the heart of the Roman King Herod which we will see in tomorrow’s devotion.
But before we get there, a quick question:
What led these wise men to seek this predicted king with such intent although there was no certainty that they would find anything?
After all, they had no guarantee that there even was a baby born to be the King of the Jews and so truly, their actions were a pure act of faith as they desired to find the newborn king so to bow down and worship Him. Their motivation was grounded completely in hearts that were full of reverence and adoration toward what God had done in bringing this little child, His only Son, into the world just as the prophets had foretold.
Friends, as we get set to turn the calendars over to a new year, we would be well suited and served to adopt the same heart attitude of the wise men, pursuing Jesus with a renewed vigor and zeal that shows our fullest adoration and devotion as we worship Him and continue to diligently seek to be like Him in every way.
For He, Jesus, is the true King, the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords, the One who God has given all authority over all things in Heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), the One who is the Way and the Truth and the Life as well as the only way to God the Father and eternal life (John 3:16, 14:6).
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
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