Devotion:
For an audio version of this devotion, click here.
Read Matthew 2:1-14.
This story in the Bible seems very strange. What does it mean? The book of Matthew explains that “Magi from the east” came to Jerusalem to honor a new king. These wise men studied the stars, and they had seen a special star that signified the birth of a king. They did not know of the prophets who proclaimed that a Messiah was coming. The Magi are the first of a long line of people from other nations and cultures who come to honor Jesus and worship him.
The Magi referred to this newborn as the “king of the Jews.” It is interesting for me that they knew this child was already a king. Herod instructed the Magi to let him know when they found this baby as he would want to come to Bethlehem to worship him. How did the Magi know that Herod was lying? I have often thought how this could have been a different story if God had not given the Magi the thought of Herod's deceit. Jesus came to be the Savior of the world—all of it. Are we as passionate as the Magi to worship and follow Jesus? Are we willing to offer ourselves and our gifts the way the Magi did?
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