The Wisest of Men
As we eagerly anticipate the lights, sounds, and stories of Christmas, I want to pause and muse through a part of the birth narrative of Christ which is often overlooked. It may be because the story is mystical. It may be because scholars don’t know many details of the matter. Whatever the reason, the subject of the Magi, better known to us as the “Wise Men,” confounds even the most earnest biblical scholar. Because of the uncertainty around these group of men, many pastors choose to omit the story from their normal preaching calendar in favor of more well-known, biblically-supported passages. However, I believe the Wise Men are very important to God, and, therefore, should be very important to us.
The story of the Wise Men is only found in Matthew 2:1-12, although allusions to these men are found, I believe, in Numbers 24. The text in Matthew 2 tell the story of certain “wise men” who came in search of the “King of the Jews.” Verse 2 explains they had seen “His star in the East and had come to worship Him.” Any background information is not given. (Ultimately, by faith we know this information is not important to us). We sing the song, “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” without validating whether or not they were kings or were from the Orient. Matthew 2:1 only says they are “from the East.” The exact number of wise men is also debatable. Nowhere, in the text, does it say there were only 3. Matthew 2:11 states, that the men presented 3 gifts to Him: “gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” There could have been 3 men, 30 men, or even 300 men! As far as these men traveled, there certainly was the probable need for more than 3 to gather supplies, for protection, and for navigation purposes. Regardless, they had one mission - to find the King of the Jews and to worship Him. Simple. No quadratic equations to decipher, no calculus problems to solve - just one simple mission ultimately ending in worship!
After hearing the news, King Herod was immediately troubled. After all, he was the King, he thought. Now, he was hearing for the first time, there was another king to be born that others had come from a far off land to worship! He gathered the scribes (some of whom had knowledge of the Old Testament) and heard the Savior was to be born in Bethlehem. He also heard this Savior was to be a “Ruler” and a “shepherd” of “God’s people, Israel.” (“Hey, wait a minute, that’s my job,” Herod probably thought!)
In verses 7-8, the wickedness and depravity of King Herod becomes clear. He had absolutely no intention of worshipping the new King. The wise men, leaving the king’s presence, had every intention of coming back to tell Herod about what they found! They were, after all, considered “kings” themselves. Herod sent them to Bethlehem (where his scribes told him the Savior was to be born) to find out for themselves - under the guise of worship! The star they followed supernaturally moved until it settled over a house. They now thought, “We have found Him! This has got to be the place!” Notice, their joy was in faith - they had not seen yet the fulfillment of the promise (i.e. Jesus). They took God at His Word before they saw Him with their own eyes!
In just a few hours, we’ve had false and true worshippers gathered together. Now, the story continues with only the true worshippers of God left. The wise men came into the house (not the stable) for this was, probably months, after Jesus was born and fell down and worshipped Him. This took great faith on the part of Mary and Joseph to let many sojourners from the Orient to come into their house. They did what I wish we would do: they worshipped Jesus, not for what He could do for them, but for who He was - the Son of God.
What did they also bring? “Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Gold - to emphasize Jesus’ royalty and to show Jesus is worthy of worship. Frankincense - which is an Old Testament allusion to temple worship. Myrrh - to foreshadow Jesus’ death as He was also offered this on the cross (Mark 15:23). Joseph of Arimathea used myrrh to prepare Jesus body for burial (John 19:38-43). Every single gift was for a purpose. Every single gift was obedient worship in action!
It took great faith and an unresolved belief to travel for months just to worship! We are not told how long they stayed - probably not over an hour and then they were gone. They left intending on traveling back to King Herod to give him the details. But, being “divinely warned in a dream,” (all 3 or 30 or 300 or so!) they were obedient to God and did not return to Herod. They returned to their country, completely transformed, both inwardly and outwardly, never to forget the Savior they saw.