Have you ever thought about the wise men? I mean really thought about their story within the whole nativity scene? As the carol known as “Silent Night” goes, “All is calm, all is bright,” except if you were the wise men who were left with a decision after following a star and finding Jesus a couple of years after His birth.
The wise men discovered the star and then went to their king, Herod, to figure out where they should go to worship the King of the Jews. Herod, terrified his kingdom would be overthrown, seeks out information on where Christ would be born. Bethlehem was the name of the city given according to the prophet. Orders were given by Herod to the wise men to find this child and return with information so he could worship this king as well. The wise men journey with this star guiding them directly to Jesus. Upon seeing Mary and Jesus, they fall to their knees in absolute worship presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Many times the nativity scene is depicted with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, angels, sheep, donkey, camels, and the wise men all attending simulatenously. So just to be clear…the wise men came to worship Jesus AFTER the “traditional” nativity scene we see portrayed during the Christmas season. The story continues as God warns these wise men to not return to Herod with the location of Jesus so he can worship Him too. No wonder we have another traditional carol called “O Come, All Ye Faithful” beckoning people to worship Jesus. Spoiler alert- I don’t think that would include Herod.
Back to the wise men.. This warning was given to the wisemen by God in the form of a dream. Can you imagine the conversation between these three men from the Orient? Were they all in agreement to not go back to Herod, or did they cast a vote for a majority? These are questions I truly have, in my curious mind, that are left unanswered in scripture.
What is certainly clear is these men followed God and did not return to Herod. God, in His great providence, even gave Joseph a dream to flee Bethlehem and go to Egypt. When Herod heard that the wise men skipped town with information he valued, he was furious. In his anger, he wanted all children aged 2 years and younger to be killed in Bethlehem. The gravity of this situation is so heavy. Although we have great joy in the birth of Jesus because He was truly sent to be our salvation, we have to remember this was really a time of uncertainty for both the wise men and the young, holy family. You can read this event unfolding in Matthew chapter 2 here.
I have been pondering on the wise men though. They were faced with a predicament- Do we follow the command of our leader in authority or do we follow God? They must have felt that same clear direction in the dream that they felt when viewing the star to find Jesus. The direct path of certainty that this is the truth.
I feel like today we can compare ourselves to the wise men. Do we conform to what society expects of us when raising our children, nurturing our marriage, or making personal choices? Do we fall prey to the pressure to not go against the grain and just follow the cultural masses?
If society is supporting your desire to raise your children in the admonition and fear of God, then yes. If society is promoting the concept of a healthy marriage between you and your spouse, then yes. If society is encouraging you to follow biblical truths, then yes. But we have to ask ourselves, if society is not reassuring a walk with the Lord, then we may have to do something different.
In other words, we may have to be like the wise men and run the other direction. John 10:27 compares Christians following the Lord like sheep. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Those wise men became sheep being led by the good shepherd. You may feel pulled between what you know to be true and what others think of your walk with God.
God’s word will never lead you astray.
It is God’s voice of reason in the chaos of life.
Will you join me in following that beautiful star of Bethlehem?
-Jennie