The Visit of the Wise
GOD wanted the people to know about the coming of
Christ to the earth. The priests should have taught the people to look
for the Saviour; but they themselves did not know of His coming.
So God sent angels to tell the shepherds that
Christ was born, and where they might find Him.
So, too, when Jesus was presented at the
temple, there were those who received Him as the Saviour. God had
preserved the lives of Simeon and Anna, and they had the joyful
privilege of testifying that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
God meant for others, as well as the Jews, to
know that Christ had come. In a country far to the east were wise men
who had studied the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and who believed
that His coming was near.
The Jews called these men heathen; but they
were not idolaters. They were honest men, who wanted to know the truth,
and to do the will of God.
God looks upon the heart, and He knew that
these men could be trusted. They were in a better condition to receive
light from Heaven than were the Jewish priests, who
were so full of selfishness and pride.
These wise men were philosophers. They had
studied the handiwork of God in nature, and had learned to love Him
there. They had studied the stars, and knew their movements.
They loved to watch the heavenly bodies in
their nightly march. If a new star should be seen, they would welcome
its appearance as a great event.
On that night when the angels came to the
shepherds of Bethlehem, the wise men had noticed a strange light in the
sky. It was the glory which surrounded the angel host.
When this light faded away, they had seen in
the heavens what looked like a new star. At once they thought of the
prophecy which says, "There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a
Scepter shall rise out of Israel." Numbers 24:17. Was this star a sign
that the Messiah had come? They determined to follow it, and see where
it would lead them. It led them into Judea. But when they came near to
Jerusalem, the star grew so dim that they could not follow it.
Supposing that the Jews could at once guide
them to the Saviour, the wise men went into Jerusalem, and said, "Where
is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the
east, and are come to worship Him.
"When Herod the king had heard these things,
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered
all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of
them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem
of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet." Matthew 2:2-5.
Herod did not like to hear of a king who might
day take his throne. So he took the wise men by
themselves, and asked when they first saw the star. Then he sent them to
Bethlehem, saying: "Go and search diligently for the young child; and
when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship
When the wise men heard this, they started
again on their journey. "And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east,
went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child
"When they were come into the house, they saw
the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him:
and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts;
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:6-11.
The most precious things they had, the wise
men brought to the Saviour. In this they set an example for us. Many
give presents to their earthly friends, but have none for the heavenly
Friend who has given them every blessing. We should not do this. To
Christ we should bring the best of all we have--of our time, money, and
We may give to Him by giving to comfort the
poor, and to teach people about the Saviour. So we can help to save
those for whom He died. Such gifts Jesus blesses.