Read and Believe in Jesus.

“And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.” Matthew 2:11

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REVIEW – When Joseph heard that his betrothed “wife” was pregnant (and not by him), he was in turmoil. What to do? He loved Mary and didn’t want to shame her. But that she was pregnant meant only one thing, right? Infidelity. So sadly, he decided to “divorce” her privately, saving her from a spectacle or even severe judgment.

But before he could act, an angel visited him in a dream and explained the whole amazing story. Mary was pregnant by … the Holy Spirit! Her morality was intact! He, Joseph, would be the child’s legal father and so pass the right to King David’s throne to the boy. Joseph was to name this stepson Jesus because… He would “save His people from their sins.” The angel nodded at the dreaming Joseph and assured him it was right in God’s sight for him to marry Mary. So he did.

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And now we take a giant step in time.

If you read Luke’s gospel, you know that Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem “for a census” (or so Rome thought), but actually it was to fulfill scripture that the Messiah would be born in David’s hometown of Bethlehem. While there, Mary gave birth.

Eight days later, a local priest (perhaps even Zechariah, John’s father) circumcised the boy, and Joseph named Him Jesus. Forty days after Jesus’s birth, to fulfill all the Jewish laws, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to “redeem” Him, as all firstborn males were to do. This was also the time of Mary’s ritual cleansing after a birth. She could now become “a wife” to Joseph. For this, they brought two doves, which were the appropriate sacrifice for the poor.

In the temple, old Simeon also blessed Jesus and identified Him as the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, and “a light for the Gentiles.” He told Mary that her Son would “pierce her heart.” An old prophetess, Anna, also blessed Jesus and His parents.

Then, preferring to live in Bethlehem and not return to Nazareth, the couple found a house, and Joseph set up his carpentry.

TWO YEARS HAVE PASSED.

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Matthew 2:1-2.

Then, one normal day in Herod’s palace, a foreign delegation arrived and upset the king and his household, and in fact, all Jerusalem, forever.

These majestic, blue-and-gold, star-crested, robed, and bejeweled foreigners dismounted their camels and entered the palace with smooth, assured bearing. They looked around, and then, in a tone that told they were used to dealing with mere “human” kings, asked Herod,

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose, and have come to worship Him“

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(NOTE: People have wondered about the star for ages. Could it have been a supernova? A conjunction of planets? Halley’s comet? Consider what Bible commentaries say: that this was supernatural reality, similar to the Shekinah that guided the Israelites in the days of Moses. Read Exodus 13:21; it is very enlightening.)

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Matthew 2:3-6.

Herod is stunned and angered at their audacity. HE is king of the Jews. HE is the one who rules in Jerusalem. What do they mean, a new King has been born?? But then a cold chill turns his heart to ice. King of the Jews? Do they mean … the Messiah? NO! It can’t be!

Smiling on the outside, Herod invites his important guests, these “Magi,” to a lounge to perhaps be refreshed and entertained while he finds the answer to their question.

Quickly, Herod assembles the chief priests and scribes and asks them WHERE the Messiah was to be born. These men are familiar with the Scriptures and don’t need to go searching. They know the passage written by the prophet Micah (5:2), and they quote it.

“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”

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Matthew 2:7-8.

Calming himself and perhaps taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Herod calls back in these important Eastern “wise men.” First, he casually asks when they first saw this star, and then he directs them just a few miles southeast of Jerusalem to the little town of Bethlehem.

“Oh, and be sure to let me know where you find Him. I want to come worship him too.” Herod adds with false fervor as he escorts the men to their waiting camels.

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Matthew 2:9-12.

After getting the directions, the Magi (three or a dozen) went on their way. And, lo and behold, the star appeared again and seemed to lead the way. They rejoiced greatly and eagerly followed it. Soon it came to rest over a small house in Bethlehem. (What a stir they must have caused in the sleepy little town!)

They each took a prepared gift from the saddlebags of their camels and went to the house. Inside, they saw Jesus with his mother. They fell down before the little boy and worshipped Him. Then, they opened their treasures and gave Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

I imagine Mary sitting (or perhaps standing by a stove with a wooden spoon in her hand), her mouth wide open in wonder at such a sight – the richly attired wise men, their worship of her Son, their magnificent gifts. WOW. Did she go call in Joseph? Did they stand in wonder?

And Jesus? Grinning and pointing with a chubby hand at the fancy-dressed men. Reaching for the shiny gifts, patting them and clapping His hands. “Looka, Imma! See, Abba!”

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Matthew 2:12.

How long did the Magi stay? Perhaps they brought in sweet treats from Babylon – baklava, honey & wafers, raisins & dates – and shared sweet wine with the family. But at some time, at least one of them received a warning dream from Jehovah God.

“Do not return to Herod!”

So they all mounted camels, waved at the joyful boy in Mary’s arms, and went towards their homeland … by another route.

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I know the Bible does NOT call these visitors Kings. And nowhere does it tell us how many there were, but the Christmas Carol “We Three Kings” has always been my favorite. Especially the final stanza, which describes what their three gifts “could have” depicted.

"We Three Kings" by John H. Hopkins (1820-1891)

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

Refrain

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.

Refrain

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

Refrain

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

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