Travel! We all know the challenges. Even the simplest trips, like driving a day or two to visit family over the holidays involves planning, packing, and extra expenses like gifts, gasoline, and most importantly—dozens of Christmas cookies. Think of the huge endeavor of going away for the whole summer. I know some teacher families who do that, often preparing a camper for the long trek. If you go far, like driving that camper all the way to Alaska, the price tag rises dramatically. Other more luxurious get-aways, like ocean cruises, international travel, or the elite European river cruises are trips of a lifetime for only a small percentage of families.
The magi from the east in the Christmas story took a trip of a lifetime. There is speculation on where they traveled from—some think Persia (modern day Iran). Tradition says they came from the Orient, but the gospels just say they came from the east. The time it took them to arrive in Bethlehem in Judea is also uncertain. Bible scholars largely agree they were not with Jesus the night he was born. That they traveled long is certain, but some historians say weeks; others suggest as long as two years, since the magi told King Herod the star had appeared two years before. The desert terrain they crossed was forbidding and dangerous; not the kind of travel to be taken lightly. There may have been three magi; there may have been a dozen. Certainly, they had camels not just to ride, but to carry water and supplies, and likely a team of servants to prepare meals and oversee things while the magi, themselves, slept during the day. Remember they were night travelers, following a star; astrologers, which was a profession highly esteemed in that time. They were, perhaps, not kings, themselves, but certainly men of influence to be able to meet personally with King Herod.
The unique movements in the night sky had shaken the magi’s world. The stars were speaking to them—to all men—proclaiming a story that everyone could see, but most did not understand. These astrologers had some knowledge of the Jewish scriptures, although they were probably not Jews, but Gentiles. They came to the bizarre realization that the heavens, themselves, were announcing the birth of the King of the Jews. Impossible! Who could this be, this King so powerful to rearrange the heavens as a proclamation of his birth?
They would likely have expected Israel to be in high anticipation of their King’s arrival! Assuming the baby was King Herod’s son, they went to his palace in Jerusalem to offer gifts and pay homage. Imagine their fear when they realized their blunder! If you are familiar with this story, you know King Herod was shocked, infuriated, and threatened with the news of this King, who could depose him. He had his advisors search the scriptures and they found the prophesy in Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Herod directed the Magi to Bethlehem with orders to return to him with the child’s location so he, too, could go worship the newborn King. Herod, though, had murder in his heart.
The Apostle John introduces his gospel with the declaration that even though Jesus’s own people would reject him, others would receive him: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John continues in Chapter 3, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
As we ponder the birth of Jesus this Christmas, let’s give Him gifts like the magi did. I don’t mean gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but gifts of time, devotion, and service. Let’s be among those who DO receive Him, who believe in His name. He’s given us the right to become children born of God! Are you one of His? Have you bowed before Him in humility and awe, and asked Him to be the King of your life? There is no better time than right now.