As we pack up our Christmas treasures for another year, it is good to reflect on the rest of the story of Jesus Christ, born in a stable. I don't hurry to take down all of our Christmas. I'm just not ready to move on yet. I want to linger around the Christ Child. Everyone loves babies and I'm sure Christ was the best baby ever. I want to hold Him and gaze upon His Holy face a while. Too soon He will be grown up and gone.
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" "Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." (Matthew 2:1-12 NIV).
The wise men traveled thousands of miles in search of the Messiah. They saw a star placed in the sky by God and they followed it to the east, possibly from Parthia, a country second in power to Rome. It is suggested the Magi had traveled for a year or more, following the star. They must have known the Old Testament predictions or studied astrology or received a message directly from God, to begin such a lengthy search. It was an important journey for them. They were on a mission and they weren't going to give up until they found Jesus.
After stopping to pay respects to Herod in Jerusalem they traveled on to Bethlehem to find the Messiah, again led by the star. They brought with them treasures worthy only of a King: precious gold for a worthy Ruler, incense for the highest Priest or Deity, and myrrh - a burial spice for a Savior. All signs they knew more than they revealed. They were wise men, indeed.
As they approached Bethlehem they were filled with joy and presented their gifts to the Child. But as they began to leave, they were warned by God to change their travel plans. They avoided Herod in Jerusalem and took a different route home.
As believers, we too, are called to leave behind our old sinful ways and pursue a holy pathway by following Jesus' light and leading. Let us remember the Magi and their persistent journey and take up our own mission to find Jesus once and for all. Let us bring along the precious gifts that only we can offer. We, too, shall seek Him.
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