Speaking Their Language
Opening Prayer
As you come to today’s reading, ask God to speak to you once again from this portion of his Holy Word.
Read Matthew 2:1-12
[1] After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem [2] and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” [3] When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. [5] “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: [6] “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'” [7] Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. [8] He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” [9] After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. [11] On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. [12] And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How did the king’s advisors know where Jesus would be born?We’re often rather embarrassed by the Magi. I don’t think we should be. This passage shows us not that astrology is true, but that our God speaks all languages under the sun. God proclaimed to the Magi the wonderful truth of Jesus’ birth in a way that the Magi could understand. He graciously did the same for us; Jesus, a human, was “language” we could understand. Rightly understood, this story is a wonderful illustration of the incarnation. It shows us that God will go to extraordinary lengths to speak to the people he longs to save and bless. Because God has spoken to them in their language, the Magi are enabled to bring Jesus costly and discerning worship: frankincense (which was used in worship) proclaims his divinity; gold proclaims his royalty; myrrh proclaims his future suffering. However God spoke to them, they discerned the truth and responded to it with costly, heartfelt worship. It was costly because the gifts they bring are treasures, heartfelt because it takes them up to two years and a long, hard journey to bring their offering. To what extent is our worship costly and heartfelt?
Apply
What gifts are you called to give Jesus in worship at this time? What would best reflect your heart?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I would bring You my costly and heartfelt worship just as the Magi. Show me how best to give it.
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