Matthew 2:1–2: “wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.'”

December 31st, 2021 by Pastor Ed in devotional

These magi kings came in search of a King greater than themselves. They were passionately seeking truth over a many month-long trip, covering, if they were Persian as early church historians suggest, perhaps 1000 miles. It was an expensive and difficult journey, but their desire to know was stronger than their desire for comfort. Six centuries earlier Isaiah the prophet had predicted that the Messiah would be “a light to the Gentiles” (Isa. 42:6). These Gentile wise men came seeking the “King of the Jews.” This title was recorded in one other place in the New Testament by another Gentile leader. The Roman procurator Pilate ordered the sign at Jesus’ cross to read: “This is Jesus / The King of the Jews” (Matt. 27:37).

We notice the magi saw the star while in the East, just as predicted by the Holy Spirit through Moses: “A Star shall come out of Jacob; / A Scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17). These Gentiles had been studying Scripture to learn more about God. When they discovered that He was about to come to planet earth, they wanted to be there. But not just to see Him. They were very clear about their intentions: we “have come to worship Him.” There was no fuzzy thinking here; they came to bow down before the newborn King.

“LORD, we worship You as King over our lives in every area. It is not our life, our time, our money, our family, our work, but Yours. We give it all to You this day, be LORD of all.”