Pondering the ‘why’ behind the Magi’s quest to see Jesus
By Joe McKeever
joemckeever.com
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him’” (Matt. 2:1–2).
Only men would have done what the Magi did. Only a group of buddies, all of them sharing the same drives and curiosities and interests, only such a band of brothers, would have gone to such lengths simply to see a baby.
It’s a man thing.
If that sounds condescending to the women in the audience, I apologize, but it’s the truth. Women talk about this all the time, how men do crazy things, disregarding the risk.
The greatest puzzle
To me, the greatest puzzle of the Magi story is not the star they followed, not their origin and not even the religious significance. Instead I wonder simply why they did what they did.
Why would a small group of men, albeit wealthy ones, put their lives on hold and travel at considerable expense across uncharted territory for a great distance when they were uncertain where they were headed, how far it was, or what they would see when they got there? As I say, it was a man-thing.
It simply was not logical. It didn’t make sense in a hundred ways. After all, it was only a baby. There could hardly have been any political considerations or international angles to their venture.
It was only a baby. And babies do not know when you come to see them. They can’t respond with a thank you and be forever in your debt. It makes little sense to us today. But I think I know.
They came for their own sake. Something inside them said, “I want to see, to be there, to know, to touch.”
It’s not enough to send a greeting card or letter. It’s not enough to read about it in the paper or watch it on television. Some things you want to experience in person. You just have to be there.
It’s not sufficient explanation to say, “They wanted to see the King of the Jews.”
The Jews were not much of a nation and hadn’t been for a long time. Not important at all. There is no reason why anyone would travel even 5 miles to see their new king, much less thousands of miles.
True to themselves
Even if you were King of the Jews, you weren’t king of much. And He was just a baby and would not be a king at all for some time to come, if ever (humanly speaking).
I wonder what happened when the men returned home.
I can hear their wives: “Well, report in. What did you do? What did you see?” And most of all, “Was it worth it?”
Wives are nothing if not practical.
The Magi would have answered, “We saw a baby. … We worshipped him and left some gifts. But other than the murderous tyrant King Herod putting a bounty on our heads, that’s all.”
The Magi were being true to themselves when they came to Bethlehem, sought out the King, bowed before Him and worshipped Him with gifts. They did not know the gifts they brought, especially the gold, would be needed to finance the family’s sudden trip to Egypt to escape Herod’s rampage. They did not know that years later, Matthew would add the strange little tale to his account of the life and ministry of this Jesus.
They had no way of knowing over 2,000 years after they had lived and died, you and I would still be discussing them, wondering about them and admiring their resolve.
We wish we had been with them. We wish we were as wise as they. And so many things we wonder.
I wonder what bold thing God wants me to do which I have held back from because I was fearful and unwilling to take risks or to incur the wrath of some around me.
I wonder if when we get to heaven, we will find the Heavenly Father did something through those eastern visitors to Bethlehem completely unknown to us and of great benefit to the little holy family.
I think of the Lord’s statement in Luke 18:8. “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth.” And I think, “Find it in me, O Lord. In me.”
“Father, make me less cautious, more daring, more willing to launch out into the deep at Thy word. Amen.”
Greatest gift of Christmas
In a land far from the old farmhouse of my childhood, the greatest gift to humanity arrived.
The ultimate present of all the ages came wrapped in rags and placed in a manger.
His arrival didn’t happen as the world expected. If there had been magazines in that day, it wouldn’t have been a cover story.
But this gift, Jesus, is the greatest gift of all time. He came to change the lives and eternal destiny of all who would receive Him.
Christ left the beauty and glory of heaven to take the form of a human, live a sinless life and sacrifice His life for us.
And the gift keeps giving! Believers in Christ find reconciliation with Holy God because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Jesus gave us a Comforter, the presence of the Holy Spirit, to guide us through life on earth. We will spend eternity with our Lord in heaven.
Ah, the unfathomable and unspeakable joy of God’s gift to us!
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
This Christmas, I hope you will experience the joy of God’s perfect gift.
Savor the gift of each moment of the season.
Don’t get caught up in the commercialization of this sacred celebration.
It’s not about beautifully wrapped packages or a perfectly decorated tree.
It’s about the Savior of the world. The perfect gift, given to us with love.
Charlene Miller
“Gifts and Giving”
(Read the full post at leanintojesus.com/blog)
This gift of God we’ll cherish well, That ever joy our hearts shall fill.
“How Great Our Joy” Traditional German carol
Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Matthew 1:21 says, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
This verse tells us Jesus will save us from our sins. What are our sins? Sin came into the world when Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden. Since we are all descendants of Adam and Eve, we are all born sinners so we need a Savior.
This Christmas, the greatest gift you could receive is the gift of Jesus as your Savior.
Gregg Potts
Cartersville, Ga.
As I look around at the world, I become more and more aware of the mess of brokenness and disappointment sin has created.
For the sake of reflection, suppose for a moment that God’s plan for the world ordained that we would each spend some amount of time in heaven before living on earth. I don’t think I would have the courage to make that transition, and I certainly wouldn’t have the desire!
Yet Christ did just that. And during His season on earth, He bore more than we will ever know or be required to endure.
That reality in and of itself speaks of His love for us.
Rosalie Chesley
Managing editor, Baptist LIFE
Our goal is to be obedient, and [God] has put people in our lives who have just blessed us and blessed us. … What’s your story, how are you able to connect with people God puts in your path, wherever that is?
Trennis Henderson
Regional correspondent
TAB Media
Christianity is extremely rational — it’s not a blind faith.
Matt Adams
Illusionist and evangelist
All my life I’ve been afraid to (get baptized), so I just put it off and said I’ll do without it. But as I got older I got to thinking about it, and I just decided to do it.
Joy Stamey, 86
New member of Liberty Live Church in Hampton, Va.
From the Twitterverse
@ValleydaleSBC
If you are in need of joy during this Christmas season, ask God. Joy was one of the great promises of Jesus’ birth. #christmas #joy #emmanuel #GodWithUs
@bcmlink
Advent simply means arrival. Advent Past is what we look back on at Christmas as Christ’s first coming. Advent Future is what we look forward to as His return. Advent Present was initiated by Jesus when He said: “As the Father has sent me, I send you.”
@ERLC
Advent is when Christians remember the long-awaited arrival of the Messiah. As we look forward to Christmas, we stand in the sandals of those who waited centuries for the arrival of the One God had prophesied would come. —@champthornton
@BaptistPress
@AaronBWilson26: “As you reflect on peace this Christmas, pause to consider the richness of the peace your spiritual adoption brings and the calling to courageously embrace the temporary battle that accompanies it as we await Jesus’ return.”
@PaulTripp
What could produce more heartfelt gratitude than rescuing, forgiving, accepting, adopting, transforming, empowering and delivering grace?
@Lifeway
“Of all the Christmas programs churches offer in December, possibly the most important is simply reading the biblical account of the Christmas story itself.” — @smcconn
@BaptistStandard
Christmas teaches Jesus’ way is counter to the way of power. Christians, of all people, ought to pay close attention to this lesson … .
@sPeytonHill
If you don’t read and interpret the Old Testament with Christ as the focus and goal, then you miss 95% of the beauty of Christmas carols.
@nathanafinn
Friends in ministry: pride comes in many forms. Take care that you never “outgrow” your home church that first nurtured your faith. Some of your views might change — Lord willing, because of maturity. But remain ever grounded, humble and thankful for your roots in the faith.
@scottdawson
Alabama grieves with the families devastated through the tornado’s path … We know how they feel and pray for every family impacted.
Stronger together.
Share with others: