Matthew 2:1-2
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
The story of the wise men teaches us more than just a Christmas tradition; it offers insights into the nature of seeking God. Here we have three men—Gentiles, not Jews—genuinely searching for Christ. They didn’t have the full revelation of God's Word like Israel did, but they followed a tradition regarding the stars. They understood that a certain star signified the coming of the King of the Jews, the Messiah. Many believe this tradition stems from Balaam's prophecy in Numbers 24:17: “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” This small piece of Scripture led them to seek Christ; though limited, it was sufficient light to set them on a journey to find the One the Scriptures spoke of.
They responded to this small light, packing their bags, leaving home, and embarking on a perilous journey—all in search of someone they had only read about. Isn’t this faith in the highest degree? Giving up everything for a Messiah you’ve only heard of? The Scriptures don’t tell us when the wise men were saved, and perhaps they didn’t know themselves. But I suspect it happened long before they packed up their caravan. Likely, it occurred the moment their hearts turned to the promised Messiah, and their journey was simply the fruit of faith they already possessed. Faith is responding in belief and obedience to the light God has given and while it will lead to great feats it starts as small seed sown into the heart by the word of God.
We sometimes critique how others come to Jesus. While I firmly hold to Jesus as the only way, the truth, and the life, it’s true that the paths people take to reach Him can be vastly different. I was raised in Sunday School, immersed in Bible stories and sermons, first by my grandmother, and then by my parents after they came to faith. Others may have grown up with little or no exposure to the gospel. But all God's children share this: we each responded to the light He gave us. Just as the star led the wise men to seek Jesus, something rose up in each of our hearts—a pang of conviction, a deep love for the Savior, perhaps through circumstances that pointed us toward Him. Whatever it was, we responded in faith and began our journey to find the Savior.
The Journey and Course Corrections
The wise men’s limited knowledge set them in the right direction, but they had some presumptions that needed refining. Assuming Herod would know about the Messiah, they first went to him. Later, the Holy Spirit would warn them of Herod’s intentions, but for now, God used even this evil man to guide them further (verses 3-8). They supposed Jerusalem, not Bethlehem, would be where they’d find the newborn King, as kings are usually found in palaces. Their detour at Herod’s palace ultimately brought them to a search of the Scriptures, where they found the more specific direction they needed: Bethlehem.
In our own search for Jesus, we sometimes look to the wrong people for guidance. Yet, God often uses even our detours to direct us to Him, much like how the woman caught in adultery was thrown at the feet of the only man who could forgive her. Her accusers, intending to condemn her, unknowingly brought her to the Savior. Herod's schemes, similarly, only deepened the wise men’s journey of faith. If there are “Herods” or “Pharisees” in your past whom God used to point you in the right direction, don’t be discouraged. Look higher, to the God who can work even evil intentions for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
The wise men lacked full understanding, but they were truly seeking. Like them, we can sometimes miss the mark in our journey because we lack knowledge of Scripture. They didn’t know to look in Bethlehem until the Scriptures revealed it. Many times, our search could be more fruitful if we seek more diligently in God’s Word. Fear not though, He will guide us into all truth, even if their are some detours along the way.
Finding Christ
Finally, the wise men found the One they were looking for: Jesus. In verse 11, they saw that He wasn’t surrounded by wealth or splendor; He had nothing to offer them, and their long journey would not be repaid. But they hadn’t come to receive—they had come to give, to worship, and to honor Him. Without hesitation, they gave what they had and fell down to worship the humble Child-King. Their expectations weren’t dashed by His humble surroundings or by the Lord’s warning not to return to the palace or by the outcast who were his earhtly parents. They had found what they sought: the One spoken of in the Scriptures.
Dear Christian, on our journey of seeking Jesus, we’ll find more mangers than palaces, more of the poor and needy than the rich and prestigious, more reproach than honor. Riches will be called to be given up, and prestige exchanged for a cross. But in Christ, we find a Savior beyond compare. If you have sat in His presence and experienced His grace, you will gladly forsake whatever awaits you at Herod’s palace and burn any bridges that hinder your journey of loving, serving, and seeking the Lord. If you are seeking him today, take courage he wil guide you further on! One day, our journey will lead us right to Him, we will see him, cast our crowns at his feet and worship him, as they did, and we will realize it was him all the time leading us further on to meet the Savior.
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