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These were wealthy, powerful men. They would not have traveled
that distance alone. More than likely there were many magi, not just
three, and they would have been traveling in oriental pomp and with a
cavalry escort for protection against thieves and a Roman military. Jerusalem
and Herod with his army of Roman soldiers would not have been afraid
of just three lonely rich men. Jerusalem would have had tens of thousands
if not hundreds of thousands of people. Three men would not have worried
anyone unless they came with a military escort.
And the Word became flesh, and lived among us . . . John 1:14 . . . who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 Moving Star. Herod's response was to ask the Jewish priests and scribes where the Messiah was to be born. Herod discovered the Jewish Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, about 5 miles south of Jerusalem. When Herod told them where they could find the "King of the Jews," he asked them to come back and tell him where they located him. He was worried. He must have been worried about a competitor, another king, and the reaction of these men.
And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet, 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER, WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'" Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him." And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (NASB) Matthew 2:4-10 After they left, the magi saw the star. It moved in the sky. These were experienced astronomers. This was not a bright Jupiter or an alignment of celestial bodies. This thing moved. No star moves forward as a guide. This was not even a meteor. Meteors did not move to a location and stop as a pointer. This was an unbelievable event. That is why they followed.
Prince of Peace. When
they arrived, Jesus and His parents were no longer
in the cave and Jesus was no longer in the feeding
trough. Where was the owner? We do not know and neither
scripture or history tells us. But these famous,
wealthy, powerful men came to worship - men that
scripture remembers and whom legends have been written
about.
And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. (NASB) Matthew 2:11 They brought three gifts. This is why legend says there were only three men, but as explained earlier this is not likely. These men came for one purpose. They came to worship - to worship the one Daniel called "Messiah the Prince" (Daniel 9:25), and the one Isaiah called the "Prince of Peace."
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (NASB) Isaiah 9:6 Conclusion. Jesus was
the fulfillment of prophecy. The visit of the wise
men is the most significant proof of the miraculous
birth of Christ. It is proof that Jesus was the
fulfillment of true, actual prophecy. We have seen
two types of men - the owner of the feeding trough
who apparently did not care and men who traveled
a long distance to find a baby and then bowed down
on their knees to Him. These men bowed down to a
King, to the Messiah, to the Savior of the world,
to God. They worshipped Him. God calls each of us
to come and bow down this Christmas to not just
any baby but to our God. Christmas is about the
birth of a man who was also God. God calls us to
come and bow down - to the Prince of Peace - to
the Savior
of the world!
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