A Positive Response to Jesus
When they heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Matt. 2:9-12, RSV.
It was quite a star. Not only was it bright, unlike other stars, it moved as it guided the Magi to the young Jesus. With the mobility of the star in mind, it is slight wonder that some have suggested that in actuality it was a band of angels--perhaps the same ones who serenaded the shepherds.
And, of course, those stargazers of the ancient East would be especially fascinated by a traveling star. Thus it was that they located the "King of the Jews."
After finding Jesus, "they fell down and worshiped him." That fact is crucial in Matthew's Gospel, because, according to the Ten Commandments, God had commanded the Jews not to "bow down" or "worship" anything but Himself (Ex. 20:3-5). By emphasizing the Magi's bowing down in a book written for Jews, Matthew is forcefully claiming that Jesus the Christ is none other than "God with us" (Matt. 1:23).
The Magi's interchange with Jesus did not end with their bowing down in adoration, but extended to the more tangible presentation of their gifts of wealth to Him. Worship never takes place just in our minds. To the contrary, it spills over into the world of everyday life as men and women, following the example of the Magi, give themselves and their wealth in response to Him who "so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" John 3:16, NIV).
The Magi's gift-giving was as much an act of worship as was their bowing. Beyond that, it provided the much-needed means for Joseph to take the young King to Egypt, where He would be safe from the evil intentions of Herod the Great.
There is a meaning in all of this for us. The Magi provide an example for us in offering their worship and gifts. "If we have given our hearts to Jesus, we also shall bring our gifts to Him. Our gold and silver, our most precious possessions, our highest mental and spiritual endowments, will be freely devoted to Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us" (The Desire of Ages, p. 65).
Today, Lord, I dedicate myself anew to You.
When they heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Matt. 2:9-12, RSV.
It was quite a star. Not only was it bright, unlike other stars, it moved as it guided the Magi to the young Jesus. With the mobility of the star in mind, it is slight wonder that some have suggested that in actuality it was a band of angels--perhaps the same ones who serenaded the shepherds.
And, of course, those stargazers of the ancient East would be especially fascinated by a traveling star. Thus it was that they located the "King of the Jews."
After finding Jesus, "they fell down and worshiped him." That fact is crucial in Matthew's Gospel, because, according to the Ten Commandments, God had commanded the Jews not to "bow down" or "worship" anything but Himself (Ex. 20:3-5). By emphasizing the Magi's bowing down in a book written for Jews, Matthew is forcefully claiming that Jesus the Christ is none other than "God with us" (Matt. 1:23).
The Magi's interchange with Jesus did not end with their bowing down in adoration, but extended to the more tangible presentation of their gifts of wealth to Him. Worship never takes place just in our minds. To the contrary, it spills over into the world of everyday life as men and women, following the example of the Magi, give themselves and their wealth in response to Him who "so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" John 3:16, NIV).
The Magi's gift-giving was as much an act of worship as was their bowing. Beyond that, it provided the much-needed means for Joseph to take the young King to Egypt, where He would be safe from the evil intentions of Herod the Great.
There is a meaning in all of this for us. The Magi provide an example for us in offering their worship and gifts. "If we have given our hearts to Jesus, we also shall bring our gifts to Him. Our gold and silver, our most precious possessions, our highest mental and spiritual endowments, will be freely devoted to Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us" (The Desire of Ages, p. 65).
Today, Lord, I dedicate myself anew to You.
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