Pray | Shepherd, Ruler, King, Redeemer, may I have eyes to see and ears to hear the good news of your birth and worship you with joy with as much, or as little, as I have.
BORN A KING
Jesus has been born. Magi show up in Jerusalem asking not about the one born who will be king of the Jews, but the one born king of the Jews. These gentile men from the East, most likely wealthy, educated astrologers were excited and joyful enough to make a make this journey for they knew something spectacular had happened.
Read | Matthew 2:1-11
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Reflect | Spend some time reflecting on the following:
Herod, and all of Jerusalem, were disturbed by the news the Magi brought; if the king of the Jews had been born, then what was on the horizon was disruption. The chief priests and teachers of the law should have recognized this prophecy unfolding and been filled with joy, not trouble. Yet even now, we are much the same, some will hear about Jesus and feel disturbed, bothered, troubled. And some, like the Magi, will be drawn to, and go searching for the one who draws the nations to himself. Where does your heart stir when it comes to hearing of Jesus?
We read that the wise men were overjoyed when they saw the star. And upon seeing the Christ child, they bowed down, worshipped, and presented their gifts. Oh that we would be like them, filled with joy, getting up and giving time to seek the Messiah.
In this season of celebrating the birth of Jesus, in all the busyness swirling around us, let’s take some moments to feel the joy of this birth, consider what treasures and gifts we will offer him, and pause quietly and in reverence, bowing down, and worshiping our King.