Matthew 2:1,2 Visiting Royalty
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him’” (ESV).
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These men were the first Gentiles to recognize Jesus for who He was, and they came to worship Him. They must have suspected that Jesus was to become more than the “King of the Jews,” else why would they have worshipped Him? When God put a special star in the sky that they could follow, He was letting them know that something of great import had happened. It’s interesting that they did as Abraham did, they followed the leading of God, but there the following ended for them. They returned to their own lands, but not before they had seen the one born King of the Jews, given Him gifts, and then worshipped Him.
The Christmas carol, “We Three Kings,” was written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. in 1857. The song takes us from the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, through His earthly ministry, His crucifixion, and finally to His resurrection. It is particularly important that this song uses the voices of these three wise men—gentiles—to follow the life of the One who was and is the Savior of all mankind. At this very early time in the life of Jesus, we have the recognition of Jesus as more than just the “King of the Jews.” He was recognized first by those of His nation, Jewish shepherds, but then later by those outside the nation of Israel, just as He was during His ministry and the ministry of His close followers—first to Israel and then to the Gentiles.
The chorus that follows each verse “O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still preceding, guide us to the perfect light” tells of the journey of the magi who followed the “Star of wonder” and “Star of night” until that star guided them to “the Perfect Light”—the star having royal beauty, Jesus. We may not have a visual star in the sky to follow, but I am convinced that God puts something in all of our hearts that will lead us to Jesus just as surely as those wise men of old were led to the child who was to become the “King of the Jews.” All we need to do is emulate the magi and follow the leading given by Almighty God.
We Three Kings
We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
Refrain
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.
Refrain
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Refrain
Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.
Refrain