One of our favorite holiday past times is to watch Christmas movies. We start our holiday movie binge sometime after Thanksgiving and continue on through Christmas day. While I would like to be super-spiritual here and say we only watch Christian movies, that would not be true. We enjoy our annual dose of “The Santa Clause” series, “The Grinch”, along with a variety of Hallmark Christmas movies. One of our favorites is “The Nativity” which came out in 2006.
This movie combines both Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the birth of Christ. It provides some background of the time that while it is not necessarily scriptural, it is based on historical information. It also gives us insight into the lives of the people. I find it interesting that despite having been told of the Messiah’s coming for centuries, there were actually very few people who were actively seeking Him out.
One group of seekers was the Wise Men. These men, likely from Persia or modern day Iran, traveled 800-900 miles in search of the newborn King.
Many questions pop into my mind when I consider their part of this story. What prompted their search? How long had they been researching and preparing? Why was it so important to them? While I don’t find the answers to these questions in scripture or historical documents, I find them thought provoking all the same.
Matthew’s reference to “wise men” is not the first in scripture. Actually, Daniel, while in captivity in Babylon was made “chief of the of the governors over all the “wise men” of Babylon.” (Daniel 2:48) This happened as a result of his ability to interpret the King’s dream.
It is also noteworthy that Daniel prophesied about the coming of the “anointed one” several times in his writings. If in fact, the wise men that visited baby Jesus, were from Persia, they would have had access to Daniel’s writings as well as the historical references to this world changing event.
I also find it interesting to note that these men, while aware of the prophecies, did not have any significant connection to the promise of the Messiah. They were not Jewish. They were not under the thumb of Roman rule. They had not been praying and hoping for the Messiah to take his rightful place on the throne of David. But they were still seeking and willing to make the long journey to honor and worship the new king. What did they know that others overlooked?
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying,
Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east,
and are come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2
After arriving in Jerusalem, the Wise Men visited the palace of King Herod. I’m sure they were thinking that if a new King had been born, then the ruling King would be aware of it. Much to their surprise, while the King was aware of the prophecies, he did not know where the baby was. After much discussion between Herod’s scribes and priests, they narrowed it down to Bethlehem.
So Herod “sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.”
As they departed, the star which they had been following went before them and stopped over Bethlehem – where the baby Jesus was.
Matthew 2:10, tells us “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
After finding the house where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were, they brought gifts of gold, and frankincense and myrrh and worshipped him.
These men came looking for a king, yet they found a baby living in humble surroundings. They found a young mother in simple clothing and a “father” who was a carpenter, a blue-collar worker. But they were not put off by what their eyes took in. They still believed Jesus was a King and treated him as such with the gifts and honor they presented to him.
Fast forward to today.
The gift of the Savior is available to everyone. John 3:16 tells us that “whosoever” believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. You my friend are a “whosoever”.
The birth of Jesus was made known to a select few, yet salvation has been offered to everyone. No exceptions. No exclusions. No expiration date on the offer. Yet there are still people who don’t understand it, don’t want it, and believe they don’t need it. They couldn’t be more wrong.
Like the people in Jesus’ time, we are so focused on everything that is wrong with our world, we don’t understand or can’t conceive that Jesus is the answer. The long awaited one. The hope and peace he brought was not a physical one, but a spiritual one. The wise men recognized that.
Jeremiah 29:11 is a very popular verse. It is brimming with the promise of hope. But many stop at that verse and never read the rest of the passage.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
Verses 12 & 13 go on to say that we have a part in seeing this promise come to pass.
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Do you still seek the Lord? Or, instead are you going though life content to stumble over the blessings that God puts in your path without ever seeking to truly know and understand all that the Savior has in store for you.
First Corinthians 2:9 reminds us that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him”
This Christmas, purpose in your heart to become a seeker. Even if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, there is still so much to learn and experience. He has gifts for you that you can’t even imagine.
I understand that life puts a lot of demands on us. At the end of the day, we’re tired and worn out and just want to sit on the couch and veg. But God has so much more for you. He has love – genuine love, not the kind we see in the movies. He has true joy and peace for our spirits. He wants to give us the gift of forbearance so we’re not always on the edge of losing it. He has kindness and goodness for us because He knows there’s just not enough of that in the world today. He has the gift of faithfulness for us because He recognizes that love and faithfulness go hand in hand. Finally, he has gentleness and self-control for us as a reminder that a soft word turns away wrath (anger) and that having a grip on our emotions means that our spirits are free to follow His leading.
My challenge to you? Be Wise. Become a true seeker and like the Wise Men, you too will find the true King and Savior.
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