Day 19: Read Matthew 2:1-2
Wise Men Come to Visit Jesus
Matthew 2:1-2 begins to unfold the story of the wise men, who followed a star to find Jesus. Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the time King Herod was king. When Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, "Where is the baby who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
These men from the east were educated men, who were well studied in astrology or the ways of the stars. They recognized a change in the stars and particularly the addition of a new star, which they were able to interpret as the star of the King of the Jews. These men also were informed of the prophecies concerning the king because they knew they were seeking a baby. The wise men followed the star to Jerusalem and consulted King Herod. King Herod would likely have knowledge of the birth of a baby destined to be king. The men had come from the east to worship Jesus because they knew who He was even though He was still only a baby.
This passage informs us that the physical environment had changed at Jesus' birth and that these changes were able to lead wise men to Him. I think the mention that these men were wise leads us to conclude that ordinary people hadn't recognized the changes or didn't know what the changes meant. The scripture tells us that we are to be in-tuned to God's word in such a way that we are able to recognize His activity going on around us, which these wise men were. The wise men consulted the powerful because they were so desperate to find the star they were seeking. This indicates the level of passion we should also have in seeking God. The wise men were both in-tuned to God and passionate to find His activity in their world.
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