Advent Devotional Series: Week IV

GODS WORD
LUKE 2:1-2

DEVOTIONAL BY
Major Barry Corbitt
Georgia Divisional General Secretary

IV Advent Devotional Series
The Journey of the Wise Men

LUKE 2:1-2
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.”

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Christmas at my house is a sight to behold. When I married my dear Cindy 41 years ago, I was surprised to learn she was the quintessential princess of festive décor. If you visit our home during the holiday season, you will find a meticulously decorated abode with a minimum of four carefully themed trees and more nativity scenes than should legally be displayed. We have all shapes, sizes, and colors of the holy family, with angels, shepherds, and animals in abundance. The wise men are there as well. They stand out in their exquisite wardrobes, a sharp contrast to the other characters around them. They exude an air of majesty in their flowing robes and colorful garments. They hold their gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, each waiting patiently to present their treasures to the newborn King. Their means of travel are there as well, camels, always off to the side, seemingly unaware of what is unfolding before them. They had just completed a journey of great distance. Unfortunately, as lovely a picture as the scene presents, the whole premise is incorrect. The Magi were not there on the blessed evening of Jesus’ delivery. Indeed, the wise men probably didn’t gaze upon the savior child until two years after His birth.

There is a great deal of mystery surrounding these regal men. They are scarcely mentioned in the scriptures. Matthew briefly addresses their presence in his gospel account. The word tells us they came to Jerusalem to worship the newborn King of the Jews, having followed a specific star that led them to this point. Matthew goes on to say that King Herod caught wind of their arrival and began poking around to find out just exactly when the star first appeared. He then, with evil ulterior motive, dispatched the wise men to locate the child, the threat to his throne, this baby boy who would be king. Once again picking up the track of the guiding star, the wise men found the baby Jesus. They bowed down to worship the child and presented him with gifts. Afterwards, having been warned in a dream of Herod’s intent, they returned to their homeland by way of a different route.

That’s it. That’s all the definitive information we have regarding the Magi. Everything else is speculative lore developed over time. Oh, there are other written accounts, but these were composed hundreds of years after the fact and, thereby, replete with fabricated information. These subsequent unsubstantiated accounts have evolved over time and have created the image of the Magi we think of today, which is why my expertly decorated home has camels and wise men visible at every turn. No worries though...these miniature caricatures bring comfort for a little while each December. We are content to leave room for differing interpretations of their story. But again, we ask the question...are the details of their journey really relevant in light of their greater mission? Probably not, but feel free to dive deeper into the matter at your leisure.

What was their mission? What did they hope to accomplish once they reached their destination? It appears that they only had one thing in mind...to worship the King. One question leads to another. What was their motivation? Rumor has it that they weren’t particularly religious nor were they Jewish. Could it be that they had come to realize the futility of life separated from their creator? Perhaps they had experienced a yearning in their soul for something more, possibly a reunification with the one who gives light and life to all men should they seek it. Maybe they recognized the “God shaped vacuum” in their hearts, something meant to fill the void they couldn’t quite identify but knew was there. It’s hard to define the urgency of their journey looking in from this side of history. Still, the objective was clear to them. They would find this baby king and worship Him, no matter the cost. To this end they were driven.

What about you and me? Are we as determined as they in our quest to find and worship the true King? I understand. There are many distractions, not the least of which is to rely upon the sufficiency of self as we independently exercise our free will. It’s been said that we are living in an age of post-religion. A cursory glance at current society will bear out that claim. But we, despite the pull of a lost world, just like the wise men of old, are being summoned for our own journey, one that leads us back to God. Sure, maybe there isn’t a star to show us the way, but are we not guided just the same? Do our hearts not burn for something more? I urge you to listen for the voice of the child who would be the eternal King. He is calling you home.

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; the desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

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OUR CORPORATE PRAYER
Father, the way You created everything that exists, with the help of Your Son, Jesus, and Your precious Holy Spirit — none of it surprises us, but it certainly amazes us! Almighty God, we worship You in Spirit and in truth. You came to set us free from our fears and sins, and now we find our rest in You. You are the hope of all the earth, the desire of every nation, and the deepest desire of our hearts. For this, and for life itself, we give You honor and glory due Your name, amen.