“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” - Matthew 2:2
Stars? Magi? Lavishly expensive gifts? What does this strange story mean? The wise men (or Magi) come from the East (most likely Persia) in search of a king. They had studied the Scriptures and stars; and when they saw this particular star, they left their own kings and kingdoms to search for the “king of the Jews.” When they finally found the newborn king, the Magi worshiped Him and gave Him gifts.
What we also see in this story is that Herod became jealous. He thought anyone looking for the “king of the Jews” should actually be seeking him. To protect his throne, Herod went on a murderous rampage (Matthew 2:16) after learning the Magi went home a different way.
The phrase “king of the Jews” appears in more than this story, however. Several times in the biblical story, others refer to Jesus by this title. Even when Jesus hangs on the cross, the Roman governor Pilate hangs a sign above his head, proclaiming Him, “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.”
Of course, Jesus’ life and ministry reveal to us that He is far more than just the “king of the Jews.” The story of the star of Bethlehem tells us that God’s love is for all people of all races from all nations and all times. None of us has a corner on God’s love or can keep God’s light for ourselves. Jesus came to be the Savior of the world—all of it.
As the King of all who call upon His name, this story reminds us that we are to be willing to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. We are to worship Him with honor and joy. We are to offer gifts to Him, the best of all that we have. This year, let’s start with the gift of our hearts and our service!
