Read Matthew 2

“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

These wise men from the East were truly wise! They had traveled countless miles to do one thing: worship the King of kings. How perplexing it must have been for them to arrive at the capital of Israel, Jerusalem, only to discover no one knew of whom they were seeking! How could this be? — that wise men from the East sought out the Jewish King, and the Jewish people themselves were unaware of the whole matter?

Ah, but what an admonition for us! May we be careful to never assume that just because we have the Scriptures in our laps that we have it in our hearts! No, but we must study the words of God and let them dwell in our inner being richly (see Colossians 3:16).

After a rather awkward conference with the wicked Herod, the wise men from the East set off to find this Child King. How curious that no one wanted to venture with them to discover the Messiah and worship Him. Yet, we find no unsteadiness in their mission. Rather, they were resolute! They continued confidently to complete the task they set out to do: worship!

Dear Beloved, this raises a question for all of us: Will you go and worship the King even if no one else joins you? The quest appears foolish to others, but remember it is the journey of wise men.

Finally, the arrival. The star had served its purpose and led the wise men straightaway to the home of Joseph and Mary, with their now 2-year old named Jesus, who was appointed to save His people from their sins (see Matthew 1:21). Rejoicing ensues, and then what happens next is nothing short of miraculous. When they saw the young Child with Mary His mother they fell down and worshiped Him and presented their treasures!

Wise men indeed! Men of stature and knowledge and prestige were sprawled out on the dusty floor of a humble home to pay homage to the 2-year old King! Christ was but only a couple of feet tall, but the wise men knew they must bow below Him. And we notice, they bowed down specifically to Jesus, not Mary. There was only one divine in their presence!

How very foolish this may have looked to a bystander or an outsider if they saw such a thing. Decorated camels adorned from the east were parked outside a meek home in Nazareth. Three? Ten? Twenty wise men? We're not sure, but they were all bowed low before the Messiah Child. Did they care about the appearance? Certainly not! For when a wise man sees his Savior, oh, what can he do but bow and worship?

Church, may we be wise men and do the same! Forget what the world thinks of our actions. They do not know their right hand from their left! There is a Champion, a True King, in their midst and the world continues on ignorantly just as the inhabitants of Jerusalem did.

But you! — you, Christian, know the King! He has called you friend, bride and beloved. Will you not pay homage to Him today?

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9–11)

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