Called to Worship

December 20, 2020 Background Scripture: Matthew 2:7 – 15 Lesson Passage: Matthew 2:1, 2, 7 – 15 There were many mysteries surrounding the birth of the Messiah. One that is still quite obscure is the mystery of the wise men who came from the East to worship the child, Jesus. Who were those men and how did they acquire the prophecies concerning the birth of the child? Were they part of the “so called” lost tribes of Israel? Where did the prophecy concerning the star come from? The actions and responses of those wise men clearly show that they were knowledgeable about the prophecies of Isaiah, Micah, and perhaps Malachi. Their knowledge of the birth event and the nation where it would occur was inspired by God. They must have traveled a very long distance to find him. By the time they located Jesus, he was already a young child and the family was in a house. The subsequent edicts of Herod would indicate that Jesus was possibly two years old at the time. Despite the time or the distance involved, the wise men stated their singular purpose for the journey they had taken. They desired to worship the child who had been born King of the Jews. Therefore, they sought him in the capital city of the Jews, Jerusalem. When Herod learned of their mission, he assembled the chief priests and scribes and inquired of them concerning the prophecy of the child’s birthplace. After learning about Bethlehem, Herod sent the wise men there to seek the exact location of Jesus. When they found Jesus and his mother at the house in Bethlehem, the magi fulfilled their mission. They bowed down before the child and then worshipped by giving expensive gifts to him. Afterwards, God warned them to not disclose the location of the child to Herod. They departed for their country without going back to Jerusalem. Likewise, God warned Joseph to take Jesus and Mary into Egypt to avoid the slaughter that Herod would order to destroy Jesus. Joseph and the family remained in Egypt until after Herod's death. Thus, ended a strange calling and fulfillment of a mission. Of all the Jews in Bethlehem—or for that matter Judah—who God could have used to worship the child, Jesus, instead He chose wise men from a distant country to do so. It was their calling, and they went through extraordinary efforts to fulfill it. Their mission has led to many profound sermon topics over the years: “Wise Men still seek Him”, “Can You Worship without Giving?”, “Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews?”, “Have You seen His Star?”, and “Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh”, just to name a few. As we study this narrative, we should make note of the biblical account of this encounter. Today, there are many commercial nativity scenes showing the wise men visiting a baby in a manger alone with the shepherds. The shepherds, after being informed by an angel, did visit the baby in a manger the night of his birth. The wise men, on the other hand, visited the child Jesus and his mother in a house. It should also be noted that the biblical account does not tell us how many wise men came on that occasion. It could have been two or it could have been more than a hundred as far as we know. Again, commercial nativity scenes always show three magi. The number three was perhaps based on the three types of gifts given: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Whether it is from near or far, one day we will all be called to worship him who was born King of the Jews. Robert C. Hudson November 23, 2020