Isaiah 60:3 (WEB)
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Have you spent a lot of time traveling this week? So many people travel to see family and friends during the holidays. Why do we put ourselves through all of this travel and trouble? We do it because of the loved ones we hope to see at the other end of our journey. Today we are going to read about some men who went on a very difficult and long journey of their own. What was their goal? They wanted to worship the greatest king ever born.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2 (WEB)
So, who are these wise men and where did they come from? Well, according to the footnotes in the World English Bible, the ancient word “magoi”, which is translated here as “wise men,” can also be translated as teachers, scientists, astrologers, physicians, seers, or interpreters of dreams. Since they know how to interpret the stars, we can assume that they are astrologers, at least. But where did they come from, and what led them to come all the way to Israel?
We are only told that they came from the East. Yet that is a helpful piece of information. In the lands to the east of Israel were Persia and the ancient city of Babylon. This is of interest, because Daniel and many other Israelites were taken captive to Babylon hundreds of years before by King Nebuchadnezzar. Many Israelites rose to prominent positions of authority in the Babylonian and later Persian Empires. Among them were Daniel, Esther, Mordecai, and Nehemiah.
But it is Daniel who may interest us the most. For he is mentioned as being the chief of the king’s wise men, magicians and astrologers in Daniel 2:48 and Daniel 5:11. This may account for the wise men’s possible knowledge of Messianic prophecy. For Daniel himself was a prophet. And though other wise men of his time may have worshipped false gods, Daniel made it clear that his knowledge came from the Most High God of heaven and earth. Since Daniel held such a prominent position, it is very likely that his prophecies were known throughout the region. And by God’s plan, somehow the wise men of Jesus’ era had knowledge of the prophecy of a future king of the Jews who would be greater than all other kings.
Keeping this in mind, let’s now read one of Daniel’s prophecies from the seventh chapter of Daniel.
I watched until thrones were placed,
and one who was Ancient of Days sat.
His clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool.
His throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels burning fire.
A fiery stream issued and came out from before him.
Thousands of thousands ministered to him.
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The judgment was set.
The books were opened.Daniel 7:9-10 (WEB)
I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:14 (WEB)
The picture Daniel presents here is very powerful. If the wise men saw signs in the heavens that made them think that this prophecy was about to be fulfilled, it is no wonder that they undertook a dangerous and costly journey just to come and see this king at his birth! Wouldn’t you? The wise men also said that they came to worship this newborn king, which would fit perfectly with Daniel’s vision of a king who is both an earthly ruler and connected with deity.
The wise men were following more than just a star or astrological event in the night sky. They were following what that star represented. They were making this difficult journey because of who they were going to see at the end of it. And isn’t that just like our own lives?
The writer of Hebrews describes our life as a journey, or a race, in which we fix our eyes not on the difficulties we experience, but on Christ.
Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (WEB)
Jesus himself finished his life’s mission by fixing his eyes on the joy set before him, the joy of victoriously entering heaven as Victor over death and the Redeemer of our souls. He did this so that we could be with him in his heavenly home at the end of our life’s journey. Paul speaks of this in his letter to Timothy.
I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (WEB)
These words of Paul contain echoes of Daniel’s prophecies. He speaks of a victor’s crown, a righteous judge, and a heavenly kingdom. Could it be that we look forward to the same thing at the end of our life’s journey that motivated the wise men to embark on their long journey? I believe so.
May God keep his hope alive in our hearts as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the One we look forward to seeing at the end of the journey.
“We Three Kings of Orient Are,” from The Sounds of Christmas
Scripture verses are from the World English Bible (WEB), Public Domain.