Matthew
2 reminds me of my own personal reaction to Jesus. Like the
participants in today’s chapter, at different times in my life I
perceived Him differently. I ignored Him, I investigated Him, I was
disturbed by Him and I even followed Him, but it was not until I
worshipped Him as God that I was saved. The chapter begins, “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?’”
To King Herod, this came as a surprise, I’m sure he thought he was
king. We read, “he was
disturbed“, but note that he
understood the importance of their question, he gathered the teachers
of the law and asked them, “where
the Messiah was to be born“.
So who were these strange Magi? I believe they were Babylonian
scholars that had studied Hebrew Scriptures along with their study of
science and astronomy. Daniel explains the Babylonian way was to
take the best and brightest of the conquered people and add them to
the team. Daniel and his friends had studied God’s Word and rose
to rule the nation and “placed
him in charge of all its wise men”
(Daniel 2:48). I believe these men understood the significance of
the Jewish Messiah. They said, “We
saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him“.
It is also important to read that the Jewish leaders quoted
scripture explaining Messiah was to be born “In
Bethlehem in Judea“. They
studied Messiah, but nowhere do we read they sought to find Him.
The
chapter continues with deception, “Herod
called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the
star had appeared… As soon as
you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him“.
They were not fooled and wasted no more time with him. Instead they
continued following the star, “until
it stopped over the place where the child was“.
Was this an astronomical phenomenon, or was it an angel? All we
know is, “On coming to the
house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down
and worshiped Him“. We read
they presented Him 3 gifts that to me confirm they understood His
purpose. Gold represented His role as King, frankincense His role as
High Priest, and Myrrh His preparation for death. He was the sinless
Savior, fully God and fully man; born to die for the sins of His
people. What is Jesus to you?
The
Magi, knowing Herod was a brutal king, went home a different way.
Joseph and Mary were warned in a dream escaped to Egypt, “Stay
there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to
kill Him“. Herod was furious
and “gave orders
to
kill all the boys in Bethlehem
and its vicinity who were two years old and under“.
This same Herod was so paranoid that he had killed his whole family
for fear they might try to take his throne. “After
Herod died… he… took the child and His mother and went to the
land of Israel… to the district of Galilee, and
he went and lived in a town called Nazareth“.
Friend, do you recognize yourself in this chapter? I tried living
for myself as ruler of all and ended up frustrated. I tried studying
the word and philosophy of Christ and became proud. I even looked
for signs and pursued personal righteousness and failed. It was not
until I came on my knees in humility and asked for His forgiveness by
faith that I became grateful. He did not wait for me to get right,
“But God demonstrates His own
love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
(Romans 5:8). Have you tried worshiping Him as Lord of your life?