The Magi See the Star

"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 take 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. They 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 story of the Magi only appears in the book of Matthew, yet it is part of the Christmas story that deserves to be heard. These wise men from a far were seeking a ruler, like themselves, only a baby who would become king of the Jews. Christ Jesus, born in Bethlehem in Judea, was the expected king. He fulfills the prophecy told long ago and King Herod was threatened. Soon after the Magi visit, Joseph took Mary and Jesus into Egypt to hide because they knew from a dream that Herod wanted to kill Jesus.

May you continue to hold the story of Jesus' birth in your heart. His story is just beginning. Amen.