Christmas season is often a very busy time in our lives. It’s filled with Christmas parties, parades, shopping, etc. It’s easy to focus on everything we have going on and forget about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The gospels tell us the story of Jesus’ birth, but Matthew is the only gospel that mentions the star and wisemen (Magi). 

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Who are the Magi?

Daniel also references the Magi. The Magi were a very, intelligent people. They were counselors that King Nebuchadnezzar consulted. King Nebuchadnezzar asked them to interpret a dream he had. They could not interpret the dream, but someone knew Daniel could. When Daniel interpreted the dream, they started learning about God. They started studying God’s word. 530 years later, they were looking for the sign of the King that was promised.

What is the star of Bethlehem? 

The star of Bethlehem was a phenomenon. The other gospels don’t mention it, but it is recorded in 3 different places: Palestine, Korea, and China, so it was real for other people than just Matthew.

When the Magi saw the star, they were determined to follow it. They traveled 6,000 miles. They stopped along the way to see if King Herod knew where the King of the Jews were born. King Herod was offended because he considered himself to be the king of the jews.

Why didn’t anyone else see the star? 

The Magi were looking for it. They were expecting God’s promise to be fulfilled. They were looking for something great. They were looking for the Light of the World that was promised.

People will follow a light that is considered to be a phenomenon.  That light isn’t in the sky today; that light is in God’s people. God’s people were called to be the salt and light. Don’t get so caught up in your busy schedule that you overlook the meaning of Christmas. Make a point to dedicate time to God and His word and allow His light to shine through you this season. 

Matthew 2: 1-12
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 Bethlehemin 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.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.