Proverbs 25:2. It is…the glory of kings is to search things out.
Do you remember the story of the three wise men? Of the two birth narratives in the New Testament this one is probably the lesser known. The story is found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter two. Matthew’s entire focus in his gospel is to present Jesus as the King of the Jews. The rightful heir of David. So it’s no wonder that Matthew includes the story of magi travelling from the East to worship a new born king.
There’s a lot of misinformation about these magi too. They weren’t kings as the old Christmas carol says they were. Also, we have no idea how many of them visited Jesus. Catacomb art depicts anywhere from two to twelve. And what exactly is a magi? A priest? An astrologer? A dream interpreter? Likely yes to all of these. The men called upon by Pharaoh and King Nebuchadnezzar to interpret their dreams were called magi. Therefore, Joseph and Daniel would have been numbered amongst the magi of the Old Testament. Magi supposedly had supernatural abilities. We know Joseph and Daniel were Hebrew magi that had the power of God in them to interpret the dreams sent by God to these powerful men.
The magi of the Matthew’s gospel would have reminded his readers of Joseph and Daniel and at the same time the story would be a bit shocking. Pagan magi from Persia? Astrologists? Why are they in this story at all? Well, to show that God can bring anyone to faith in Christ. Even a pagan astrologist. Even you. Even me.
Proverbs 5:2 says that it is the glory of kings to search things out. That’s what the magi did. They searched for the Christ child.
A magi was someone who spent their entire life searching for the answers to all of life’s questions. They wanted to solve all the puzzles of the universe. They would look to the stars in the sky for answers. But the wise men in the Christmas story weren’t just wise because they could search for interstellar signs. They were wise because they went searching for Jesus. God put a star in the sky to guide them, and the wise men “followed” that star all the way to Bethlehem where they found the baby Jesus and worshiped him.
Matthew 2:10-11. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.
There’s absolutely no reason why we can’t be wise as well. Especially in Christ. We don’t have to go searching for Christ as the magi did. Christ has gone searching for us. He lives in us! All that’s left is to worship him. To bow down at his feet and present your life as an offering to him.
Romans 12:1. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
May this new year be the year of worship for us all. Worship that is a response to the mercies of God in Christ Jesus. The mercies of his cross. The mercies of his resurrection life. The mercies of our union with Christ.
You: Do you worship God from mercy or to get mercy?
You in Christ: Why do we not have to go searching for Christ through signs and wonders anymore, but simply through faith?
Christ in you: How can you make worship a daily habit in the new year?
Pray: Father, thank you for searching for me first, so that I could search for you, and find you in your word and in my heart. Amen.
To Live is Christ 