Christmas Ep. 5: “The Worship of the Wisemen”
The Worship of the Wisemen.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him… When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him…” Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11
When it really boils down, there is so little shared in the Bible regarding the greatest and most earth-shattering event in human history. 3 chapters…that is all. Matthew 1 and 2; Luke 2. The miracle of the Incarnation is summed up in several pages. The very event that paved the way for the crucifixion and the resurrection can sometimes be callously observed and read through a sterile lens. If you’ve been in church at all, you’ve seen tiny “Mary’s” and tiny “shepherds” quote Luke 2. If you haven’t been in church, you’ve heard Linus quote Luke 2. And, somehow, the beauty and brilliance of the story gets lost in the fact that it’s become “ordinary.” Somewhere, hidden under lights and trees, trappings and trimmings, baking and buying is the incredible, jaw-dropping, shocking display of Love manifest in a tiny form in a manger. It can be easily overlooked.
So it was that first Christmas. It all happened in such a simple and unassuming way that most overlooked it.
This year, the wisemen have been particularly impacting to me. They did not overlook the miracle, because they were looking for the miracle. “…we have seen His star in the east…” They had heard, even in a distant, foreign land, the promise of a coming Messiah, and they were watching and waiting.
When they arrive in Jerusalem, they very clearly stat their intentions: “AND ARE COME TO WORSHIP HIM…” I have done a little (inconclusive reading) regarding where they were from and how long their journey would’ve been to come and pay homage to the newborn King. From what I’ve seen, it would’ve been 6 months to 2 years of travel. Wow. They were willing to travel to worship. Let’s say it was only 3 months…3 months over desert terrain. In all likelihood, the travel involved blazing hot days and freezing cold nights. This was treacherous travel for the sake of worship. The severity of the journey did not stop them from seeking the Savior.
Also of note regarding their arrive in Jerusalem is the fact that Herod and ALL OF JERUSALM WITH HIM are troubled at the news. Jesus born “King of the Jews,” yet His own chosen people are “troubled” by the news instead of thrilled. Instead of waiting and watching, they were lost in the busyness of Jerusalem. Or maybe, it was simply the fact that they were looking through their own expectations. They expected a King to come like they thought He should and would. Yet, as we often find with God, He works in the ways we would least expect.
When Herod hears this troubling news, he brings the spiritual elite in and demands of them where Christ should be born. (Matthew 2:4) “And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” (Matthew 2:5-6)
Once Herod has heard the prophecies that he should have already known, he calls for a special, private audience with the wisemen. And Herod is diligent: he “enquired of the diligently what time the star had appeared.” (Matthew 2:7) Then he sends them on their way: “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word, that I may come and worship Him also.” But Herod’s “diligence” is motivated only by jealousy of a potential rival to his rule. He speaks the right words with the wrong “why.” The news of fulfilled prophecy brings no joy, but rather maniacal envy.
Yet, the wisemen hear the words of the king, and depart to finish their diligent search: They knew the Scriptures, they knew what they had seen in their homeland, they knew their purpose: “and are come to worship Him,” and they knew they would find the Messiah. Their faith was evidenced in their diligence. Their persistent pursuit proves the words of Hebrews 11:6: “HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” When they stepped out the doors of Herod’s palace, the Bible says, “Lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them and came and stood OVER where the young child was.” Their diligence led to their reward!!! And that reward brought joy: “…when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy! And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, His mother, and FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPPED HIM.” (Matthew 2:10-11) They found what they were looking for; they had found the object of their desire and their travels. And they gave their best gift first! They were come to worship Him, and worship Him they did! As Matthew Henry wrote, “They presented themselves to him: they fell down and worshipped him. We do not read that they gave such honour to Herod, though he was in the height of his royal grandeur; but to this babe they gave this honour, not only as to a king (then they would have done the same to Herod), but as to a God. Note, All that have found Christ fall down before him; they adore him, and submit themselves to him. He is thy Lord, and worship thou him. It will be the wisdom of the wisest of men…if they be humble, faithful worshippers of the Lord Jesus.” We often think about the wisemen’s gifts, but we fail to think of the wisemen’s worship. Their worship was what they did first, and what they did best. He was their reward, and they instantly presented themselves prostrate before Him. Before gold. Before frankincense; before myrrh. Before their wealth and symbols of their means, they offered themselves and their worship.
At the end of the day, that is what the King of Kings is after. He is still looking for those who will “diligently seek” Him. He is looking for those who will “present their bodies, a living sacrifice,” and see it as nothing but “reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1-2) He is looking for worshippers. As Jesus stated in the years of His earthly ministry, “But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” (John 4:23)
He still longs for our hears and our worship. And that is just what the wise men gave. They gave themselves before they gave their gold. Anyone can give money, but only true worshippers can give their hearts.
They were “come to worship Him,” (Matthew 2:2) and their mission was accomplished. They did what they had set out to do all those weeks or months or years before.
This begs the question: to what lengths am I willing to go to worship? Will I worship when worship is inconvenient? Will I worship when a long, treacherous journey is required to do so? How much effort will I put forth to get into His presence; to find Him? Will I hazard my own life, surrender my own life before Him? Will I bring the best I have to offer? Will I present all I have and am? Will I diligently seek Him?
And if the answer to the last question is “yes,” then, I like the wisemen will be rewarded, because He is still “a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
And He is still the reward.
So thankful for this beautiful depiction of worship from men we still call “wise.”
(Henry, M. "Commentary on Matthew 2 by Matthew Henry." Blue Letter Bible. Last Modified 1 Mar, 1996. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Mat/Mat_002.cfm)