UNLIKELY WORSHIPPERS
Opening Prayer
My Jesus, I worship You. My heart bows in adoration of my King.
Read Matthew 2:1–12
The Magi Visit the Messiah
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] 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.’[b]”
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.
Footnotes:
a Matthew 2:1 Traditionally wise men
b Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2,4
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Count your blessings today.Yes, it’s Christmas day! No surprise there though – Christmas advertising and events have been inescapable for weeks. Yet when the Magi arrived in Jerusalem – possibly as much as two years after Jesus’ birth (16) – Herod and the people of Jerusalem had heard nothing of it (3). Christmas really had come silently. Even today, despite all the noise of Christmas, many people are not really aware of the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.
One thing is clear, however: when God wants to get a message to people, he can. Joseph had a dream (1:20). The Magi, hundreds of miles away from Judea, saw a significant star (2). Ordinary shepherds near Bethlehem saw and heard a host of angels (Luke 2:9, 13). Simeon and Anna were in the right place at the right time to see the eight- day-old Messiah they had been waiting for (Luke 2:27, 38). Are we ready to hear from God today?
For the Magi, when the star stopped (10) their mission was almost accomplished. And what was the mission? For these affluent (look what gifts they brought!) pagans it was to worship the Messiah (11). Their mission is ours too.
Apply
Think of your friends and family who have not really grasped what Christmas is about. How can you share the good news about Jesus with them today?
Closing prayer
Father, I pray that the real meaning of Jesus’ coming will dawn on my friends and family today.
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