They Came From Afar 

The manger scene often depicts Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, along with the shepherds and wise men, but we’re not certain when the wise men actually arrive. It might be right after Jesus is born, 12 days later, or two years. Regardless, the wise men play an important part in the Christmas story.

Having traveled a long way, maybe even a thousand miles, the wise men follow the star to Jerusalem and start asking around, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?” King Herod, taking notice, views the child as a threat to his kingship and begins to plot. He calls for the wise men secretly, not wanting this news to spread, and he learns from them, the time when the star first appeared. Intending to use the wise men to locate the child, he points them to Bethlehem, which his chief priests and scribes say is the place where the Messiah was prophesied to be born.

We can learn several important truths from these wise men from the east:

They are dedicated and focused. They went out of their way to find Jesus. With Herod, later, ordering all the male children, two years and under, in Bethlehem to be killed, it seems to indicate the wise men may have been traveling for that long to find the Messiah.

They take heed of the warning dream that God sent to them, and don’t return to Herod.

Our God is for everyone, no matter where you are from.

He is worthy of our worship. When the wise men finally see the child with Mary, they fall down and worship him, offering gold, frankincense and myrrh. They sought him out for who he was, and they gave him gifts of great value.

Do we? Each Christmas season, I see Christmas cards, saying, “Wise men still seek him.” I hope that I would have endured a two-year walk through the desert to find Jesus, but sometimes we can take our faith for granted and not really seek him out.

And seeking him out is key. My wife and I came to Seacoast eight years ago, with a broken marriage. It wasn’t until we focused on seeking Jesus, putting him first, enduring a difficult path, that we were able to heal our marriage. It took a long time, but finding Jesus made all the difference in our lives.

So, seek out the One who offers hope, forgiveness, and everlasting life—and offer him gifts of gratitude and your undivided attention. He deserves our very best.

Reflect:
We have a clear path to our King, but what might be keeping you from seeking him out?