We Saw His Star
Opening Prayer
God, I want to seek You so earnestly that I would set out in as radical a way as these wise men did. Please lead me.
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 THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What lengths did these wise men go to find the Messiah?Today we encounter a group of “Magi” or wise men—learned foreigners who are star-gazers, well used to interpreting the night sky. The star somehow alerted them to Christ’s arrival, inspiring them to leave everything and travel west to Jerusalem. These Magi are generally believed to be from Persia, modern-day Iran. Perhaps they knew something of the Scriptures since the prophet Daniel had lived in that region and exercised such influence in Babylonian culture. Maybe they were expecting a star to announce the birth of Christ from reading Numbers 24:17, which describes a star coming from Jacob and a King from Israel.Reflect on the truth that the God who made the universe, including all of the planets and stars, sent a star to guide seekers of truth to find his Son. The cosmic Lord who created time and matter guides people within time using all sorts of different means so that they can find Jesus and worship him.Today we encounter a group of “Magi” or wise men—learned foreigners who are star-gazers, well used to interpreting the night sky. The star somehow alerted them to Christ’s arrival, inspiring them to leave everything and travel west to Jerusalem. These Magi are generally believed to be from Persia, modern-day Iran. Perhaps they knew something of the Scriptures since the prophet Daniel had lived in that region and exercised such influence in Babylonian culture. Maybe they were expecting a star to announce the birth of Christ from reading Numbers 24:17, which describes a star coming from Jacob and a King from Israel.
Reflect on the truth that the God who made the universe, including all of the planets and stars, sent a star to guide seekers of truth to find his Son. The cosmic Lord who created time and matter guides people within time using all sorts of different means so that they can find Jesus and worship him.
Apply
Allow yourself to be provoked by the diligent seeking and unrelenting pursuit of the Magi from the east.
Closing prayer
Lord, give us wisdom to seek You, light to guide us, courage to search until we find You and grace to worship and offer all.
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