Who were these foreign visitors that arrived at the steps of Herod’s palace? We know very little. They’re often referred to as wise men, or magi, or even kings.
We do know that they were from “the East,” which encompasses so much territory that it’s hard to pinpoint an exact location. While there are many fascinating theories about these mysterious ambassadors, their origination, and their motivation, we can assume that they were well-educated, upper class, and likely not Jewish.
In short, one would not expect rich men of status to travel across the vast expanse of the Middle East to track down a baby in Judah. Perhaps they had studied the ancient texts of the prophets, which pointed to the coming Messiah, who was to be born of David’s line in the small town of Bethlehem. Still, their interest in this Jewish baby was not just intellectually or curiosity-driven. No, they had “come to worship Him.”
Unlike Mary and the shepherds, who were shaken from their everyday lives by a sudden jolt of a heavenly presence, the wise men were able to methodically take their time. They recognized a star in the sky that was leading them on to the Christ child, and they followed it until they found the Boy.
How did they respond at the end of their journey, as this pivotal moment came to fruition? “They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.”
Imagine the look on the faces of Mary, the teenage mother, and Joseph, the carpenter, when these exotic visitors entered, knelt in worship, and then presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were gifts of great value, befitting a king.
As if a visit from the angels wasn’t enough, now foreign dignitaries were entering their humble home. Not only had the heavenly realms proclaimed the arrival of the Savior, but earthly kingdoms were recognizing the importance of this moment as well.
In the coming days, you’ll likely be surrounded by family and friends. Hopefully, many of them will know Jesus intimately, but others may be like the wise men. They may be coming from a place far away—not physically, but spiritually. They may know of Jesus, but have never met Him personally. I would encourage you to look for opportunities to share the hope of Christ with them. Like the wise men, Jesus may be exactly what they’re looking for, and—once they’ve found Him—they too can “rejoice with exceedingly great joy!”
