Something odd about what those magi said …

Throughout human history flow the stories of a wide variety of kings, men who “ruled” kingdoms from the small to empires that sprawled across the globe.

But it wasn’t common for any king to actually be worshiped.

Feared, yes.

But worshiped?

Not usually.

But it did happen, and secretly many probably wanted to be worshiped; most at least wanted to be revered and adored. Some actually demanded worship (think of the 90-foot tall, nine-foot wide golden statue of Nebuchadnezzar which he commanded people to bow in front of in worship of himself, Daniel 3).

As the Roman Empire grew in power, so did the stature of its emperors, a handful of whom would be deified as “gods” (usually after their deaths) and a few who thought of themselves (and occasionally identified themselves) as gods. With the growth of the empire came the growth of the “imperial cult,” with some degree of including an emperor or two in their worship of various “gods.”

But on the whole, human kings weren’t usually worshiped.

So why, then, did the magi (“wise men”) travel a great distance to Jerusalem searching for a “newborn king” proffer this odd question:

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him,” Matthew 2:1-2.

The magi packed up a caravan, loaded some expensive gifts, and traipsed across distant lands with the specific intent to worship a king. And worship him they did!

“After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh,” Matthew 2:9-11.

Why did these wise men significantly inconvenience themselves to worship a king?

Because this newborn baby wasn’t just any king.

It is widely thought that Daniel and others likely exposed the magi to the Hebrew Scriptures, and from their study of such had concluded this wasn’t the birth of an ordinary child … or an ordinary king.

This was a king worthy of worship.

And they were right.

Both the Old and New Testament help us understand that Jesus Christ is King of all kings, and Lord of all lords, and the Apostle Paul wrote:

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” Philippians 2:10-11.

That’s no ordinary king!

This Christmas, as we recount the birth of Jesus, and read again of magi traveling to worship a king, let us be reminded that Jesus Christ reigns today from the right hand of the Father. He is our King, and He alone is worthy of our worship.

Scotty