"The Visit of the Magi' (Matthew 2:1,2) and the Message of Christmas

Dear readers,

For the last 2 days, while mother and I painting the house, and while enjoying my uncle’s Christmas songs (for which he loves to vibrate his Christmas songs in full volume); my mind often ‘struck’ by the event of the Magi (Wise Men) who went visits Jerusalem to worship baby Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Here are my short observations upon reflection on ‘The Visit of the Magi’…

“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 in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2NIV)

‘Magi’ traditionally thought as ‘Wise Men’. In the New Testament times, the term ‘Magi’ (magoi) loosely covered a wide variety of men interested in dreams, astrology, books thought to contain mysterious references to the future, and the like. They probably, I suspect are stargazers, astrologers ‘from the east’ which some commentators suggest were from Persia or southern Arabia. They were Gentiles; which simply mean non-Jew and they come ‘to worship’ Jesus ‘the king of the Jews’. It funny, when I thought on these verses because the first worshipers, the hunger for the truth, the not-satisfy-only-hearing about the Anointed One, Jesus Christ would settle, but went beyond that by seeking after Him even from afar. They wanted to see Him with their own eyes. It amazed me because they were the foreigners not the Jews! Oh, since the beginning of time, it is God’s desire to bring us to Himself through His Son, Jesus, regardless of our nationality, races and languages – He want to reveal Himself to those who honestly seek after Him.
That’s the message of Christmas!

Somehow God in His Sovereignty used the Magi’s calculations (I suspect that they may had read the Old Testaments) that lead them to the 'star’ (I forbid Christians to practice astrology, but here I just want to emphasis that God can used anyone or anything for His Righteous purposes) to show that whoever honestly looking for Him, will find! Formal knowledge of the Scriptures does not in itself lead us to knowing who Jesus is. Knowing about the Savior only doesn’t save your soul. Seeing ‘star’ is not equal to seeing Jesus… all these ‘signs’ are pointing out to a Person – Jesus Christ.
That’s the message of Christmas!

Oh this is one of WOW verse… Do you realize that they didn’t say, “Where is the one who born TO BECOME king of the Jews” but “Where is the one who HAS BEEN born king of the Jews”??? They seems to indicate that infant Jesus was king even before John the Baptist testified concerning Jesus “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me” (John 1: 15) and even before the Father Himself publicly declared, “This is my son in whom I am well please.” (Matthew 3:17) God had revealed this revelation to them about Jesus’ Kingly status… Oh, God is ready to reveal Himself if only we seek after Him!
That’s the message of Christmas!

This Christmas, as you contemplate on the birth of Jesus Christ, as you look at the Father’s Gift for us thoughtfully and as you think about the mystery of Divine baby that was conceived by the Holy Spirit – I pray that you may become like ‘Magi’; though they may come from far away as you might think that you’re at this moment are far from the Kingdom of God because of your sins; though they just the foreigners as you’re foreign to this God of the Bible; though they only saw ‘star’ as you only have little knowledge about Jesus – come my brothers and sisters…
Come and see, who is this Man that the Angels sang about.
Come and see, who is this God that the shepherds bowed their head in adoration. Come and see, who is this God-Man that comes as the Savior of the World.

As you come, you’ll be guided. As you see, you’ll be amazed. Yes – His Birth on the mangers, His life as the perfect Image of God  and His death on the Cross you’ll see!

Ah, may we seek and “come to worship him”… that’s the message of Christmas!

With Love,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.