Scripture

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Observation

Some wise men from the east come to Jerusalem asking where is the newborn King. They had seen His star, and have now come to worship Him.

King Herod is disturbed by this, so he calls the priests and religious teachers together to tell him where the Messiah is to be born. They tell him that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem

Herod sends the wise men to Bethlehem instructing them to return and to let him know the child’s location so he can worship Him too.

The wise men go to Bethlehem where the star leads them to Jesus and Mary. They open their treasure chests and give the child gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Application

We don’t normally think of a baby as worthy of worship, certainly not a baby of less than perfect pedigree.

These wise men saw that Jesus wasn’t just an ordinary baby. They were looking for a newborn king, and naturally assumed He would be found in a palace. Instead, they found him in an ordinary home.

They saw beyond the circumstances to recognise that this baby was no ordinary baby. So they worshipped him.

When we see Jesus, the only appropriate reaction is worship. He is the son of God, and so is worthy of our praise.

Our culture is dismissive of, even hostile to, the person of Christ. We need to swim against the current, bring ourselves to the throne of Christ, and worship Him.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you are worthy of my praise and worship. Help me to seek you and glorify you each and every day. Amen.