The Quest of the Wise Men

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1).

This Sunday, January 6^th,  is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, or the Feast of Epiphany. It’s the day we remember the story of the wise men from the Gospel of Matthew.

Misinformation about the story abounds.
For example:

• The famous hymn is entitled “We Three Kings,” but the wise men were almost certainly not kings.

• They are usually pictured at the manger with the shepherds, but Scripture says they came to “the house” not the manger. By the time the wise men came, Mary and Joseph were living in a house. Their visit may have been months or even a year or two after the birth of Christ.

• We say there were three wise men but Scripture doesn’t give their number. We assume there were three because of the three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

None of this, however, obscures the spiritual meaning of the story.

When awakened by the appearance of the star, the wise men were filled with wonder and sought its significance. Then they undertook a quest that took them first to Jerusalem, where they received further illumination from Scripture, and finally to Bethlehem. Upon their arrival in Bethlehem they weren’t satisfied to be mere onlookers or spectators. Scripture says they bowed low to the ground and worshiped the Christ Child with costly gifts.

None of us are beyond God’s reach. He’s willing to send “a star” – something to awaken a sense of spiritual wonder – to all who are far off. The question is, are we willing to undertake the quest? Are we willing to seek until we find? And when, by God’s grace, we do find, are we willing to offer our best to the newborn king?



God will send a star to all who are far off.