The Bible does not tell us how many wise men there were, nor where they came from. It simply says ‘wise men from the East’ (v1).  By the time they arrived in Bethlehem Jesus would have been a toddler. The journey they made would probably have taken several months.

These men probably were not Jews.  We see God’s grace and mercy including both Jew and Gentile at this point in history. These astrologers had an experience of God’s grace. They arrived in Jerusalem and asked: “‘Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?  We saw His star when it arose, and have come to worship Him” (v2). The objective of their journey was to worship Him. In the New Year ahead, may each one of us make worship of our Lord Jesus Christ a priority, be it private, family or corporate.

These men were guided by a star, which eventually stopped over the house where Jesus was. God’s guidance today is through His word and the Holy Spirit. In Jerusalem notice how God uses deceitful Herod and the religious leaders using Micah 5:2-4 to send them to Bethlehem. Herod’s plan was to destroy Jesus, the religious leaders had no desire to worship Jesus.

Finally, the gifts they brought are significant. Gold speaks of Kingship; Jesus is King. Frankincense speaks of the office of High Priest; Jesus is our great High Priest. Myrrh speaks of Death thus pointing forward to the atoning death of the Saviour.

May all our worship be acceptable to our beloved Lord.

John 4:24

Neil and Barbara Innes