Merry Christmas, Y'all!

 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:1-6 ESV).

 

Merry Christmas, Y’all! As I write today’s devotional I am able to look across our back property as the wind is gusting with temperatures in the teens and snow flurries. It is actually so cold that the National Weather Service has issues a “Severe Wind Chill Warning.” Now that’s a first for me in Texas! And, it is scheduled to continue dropping in temperature with even lower wind chills. Well, it is certainly never dull with the weather in Texas… that’s for sure. I do hope you are safe and warm spending the day with family and friends. Today, I’ve chosen a reading that tells us of an event that actually happened sometime after the birth of Jesus. It was the visit of the Magi to worship Jesus. We are all familiar with this part of the story and the famous presentation of the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

 

However, I would like to encourage you to imagine what those Magi were thinking as they came to Jerusalem. Looking for a child worthy of worship, they might well have dropped in at the temple to look for clues about the child's identity. But the Magi would have been disappointed, even shocked, by the welcome they received there. They would have not have been allowed further in than the outer court. Signs on the walls would have told these Gentiles that they risked death if they went any further. But the Magi had come to worship. And days later, in Bethlehem, as they stepped into the presence of Jesus, they experienced worship in a way that temple visitors could only anticipate. For as the Magi drew near to Jesus, they entered into what was represented by the Most Holy Place in the temple.

 

The Most Holy Place represented the heavenly throne room of God. So, coming into the presence of the Christchild, the Magi were entering into the presence of the divine King. In that visit the word of Isaiah 60:3 was finding fulfillment: "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." Perhaps you will be gathering for worship today with others; come into His presence with the same wonder and awe as these early wise men.