Lessons from the Wise Men

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-Il

Key Verse: we saw his star in the East and have come to worship him, (Matthew 2:2),

Meditation: For the first time I see God’s intervention in the lives of those Iiving far away from this geographic location of the divine act, I am reminded that God is a ‘missionary God’ who determined that among the worshipers at the birth of his Son there would be representatives of the Gentile world.

In an art gallery in Birmingham. England the painter Sir Eddward Burns-Jones depicts the *three Wise Men bringing their precious gifts to Jesus, One is an Aryan, white—skinned; the second is a Indian, bronze-skinned and dark-bearded’. The third is a black-skinned African, Whether the artist rightly portrayed the first three Wise Men or not, we can he sure that he read correctly the intent of God's heart. Even the promise to Abraham in Genesis 2 signified worldwide involvement, John 3:16 and Mark 16:15 continue that same theme of God’s love and the gospel being preached to the entire world.

The coming of the Wise Men to Bethlehem began in God’s heart. They studied the movement of the planets expecting effects on earth. But they looked for more than mechanical cause and effect. Many apparently believed that God was speaking to them personally, When they saw the new star they followed it to find the God who put it in the sky, They saw in the ‘new star’ the birth of a King and brought gifts that symbolized Jesus and His mission in the world to the human race.

Thought for the Day: When God loved, He loved the whole world, and when God gave his only Son , He gave Him, for all the people of’ the world.

*Tradition says there were only 3 Wise men.  But since they journeyed  in a caravan there would have been more people involved. 2 years is a long time. 

Tradition also says they were from Babylon. I would like to believe that a delegation came from Tibet. They met some friends in Babylon and they continued on their trip to see the King of Kings, the All Knowing God of the Universe. The men from Babylon would know about  frankincense and myrrh. Thus the 3 sons of Noah were included.