The Magi

          For many Americans Christmas trees are trimmed. Colorful spotlights are lighting up the house. And manger scenes are abounding. Represented in many manger scenes decorating yards and living rooms are the Wise Men. Although these men visited Jesus months after his birth, they are often included in Christmas decorations and in the story of Jesus’s birth in the city of Bethlehem. Matthew 2:11 records their visit this way, “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” It is important to note that this visit occurred in a house, not a manager.
          While the exact number of Wise Men is unknown, they are traditionally pictured as three to match the three gifts offered to the Messiah. They were Magi, likely belonging to a priestly caste of eastern astrologers and were possibly from Persia. Although they likely played important political and religious roles, passages such as Daniel 2:2, 10 presented astrologers negatively. Over time, Scripture tells us that Daniel became highly respected among the Magi, making it possible that he had a lasting influence on them. The Magi were priests, sages, students of science, especially astrology and religion, but they also engaged in philosophy and medical science. They played a major role in the Medo-Persian and Babylonian Empires, making their visit one of great significance.
          Based on Matthew 2:11, it is interesting to note that these powerful pagan men clearly recognized the Christ child for exactly who he is. They traveled a great distance to see Jesus and to pay homage to the recently born King of Israel. Matthew 2:3 tells us that their arrival caused quite the stir: “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Herod and the citizens of Jerusalem are rattled by their arrival. So much so, Herod called a meeting with all of the chief priests and scribes to ask them where the Christ was to be born (v. 4). Possibly while this discussion was happening, the Magi were busy doing what they travelled so far to do; they were worshipping the Messiah.
          In order to worship the newborn babe, they had to learn His location. God miraculously used a star high in the heavens to direct the Magi to the place where Jesus could be found. Because of their familiarity with astrology, they would have required something supernatural to capture their attention. Understanding that this star was distinctive from all of the others dotting the night sky, they followed it to the home of the Messiah and His family. During their visit, they presented their gifts to Jesus as an act of worship. These gifts included gold, frankincense (a costly, beautiful smelling incense), and myrrh (a perfume). All three of these offerings were fit for royalty, pointing to their understanding of who Jesus was and the specialness of His coming. There is little doubt that these gifts helped fund Joseph and Mary’s imminent stay in Egypt, where they would find refuge from Herod’s atrocities.
          The Magi are an important part of Jesus’s birth narrative, and serve as tremendous examples of generosity and authentic worship. They willingly sacrificed time and money to honor the King of kings as an act of adoration. They are a vivid reminder that every living human being will worship something, because all of us are worshippers by nature. The Magi rightfully chose the only worthy recipient of worship: Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is the second member of the trinity. Our triune God, the one who created the world, is the only deserving recipient of our worship. The Magi understood this to be true, and we must follow their example.  
          Biblical worship that takes place on this side of the cross can be defined as the proper response of all moral agents to the holy, righteous, merciful, and just Creator. Worship calls all moral agents to sacrificially offer all honor, praise, adoration, and worth to their Creator because of who He is, and because of all that He has accomplished through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. Authentic Christian worship is God-centered, and is no less Christ-centered. Christian worship is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and is not limited to a specific time or place. The Magi worshipped Jesus in a house, and undoubtedly continued to offer their worship to God on their way back home.
          Christmas is the perfect occasion to redirect your heart toward authentic Christian worship that centers on the Messiah. Christians, above all others, have a definitive reason to celebrate Christmas. In the midst of all of the garland, lights, trees, ornaments, and manger scenes, keep your focus solely on Jesus, the Son of God who won the greatest victory of all time on the cross of Calvary where He defeated the powers of evil and hell. Three sorrow-filled days later, Jesus Christ rose from the dead, making redemption possible to all who believe in Him by faith. Jesus the Messiah—the one born to the Virgin Mary—is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Through His sacrificial death on the cross and glorious resurrection, sinful people can enjoy a personal relationship with their Creator through the shed blood of the Messiah. Jesus, the divine Son of God, is the only source of salvation and absolutely worthy of our worship.
          The miracle of the star directing the Magi to the place where Jesus was being cared for by His family is a testimony of God’s power of the universe. An even more magnificent miracle is the fact that Jesus Christ took on human flesh, and dwelt among humanity with the intention of laying down His life for sinners, including those who would nail Him to Calvary’s cross. This powerful, redeeming truth should produce the only proper response this Christmas season: wholehearted worship of the one who sacrificially laid down His life for us.
          During this Christmas season, a time of increased stress and busyness, refuse to worship materialism, luxury, convenience, and novelty. Instead, worship your Creator-God by ascribing all honor, praise, adoration, and worth to Him. The Magi willingly bowed the knee before the Messiah in humble worship, and we would be wise to do the same.