In Matthew’s gospel Jesus taught his disciples, “Search, and you will find”. In today’s gospel reading from Matthew, we heard the story about the wise men coming from the East searching for the newborn King of the Jews by following a star. The star brought them to Jerusalem, where they were brought before King Herod who was interested in their search of this newborn sovereign. King Herod, who wanted to find the child in order to kill him, responded to the wise men in a deceitful manner telling them, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

The wise men were directed to Bethlehem by the chief priests and scribes who referred to the prophetic scripture: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” The wise men followed the star to Bethlehem where it stopped over the house of Joseph the carpenter. Inside the house was Joseph’s wife Mary with her child. The scriptures tell us that the wise men upon finding the child knelt and worshipped him. After worshipping the child they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. However they did not return to King Herod, because they had been warned in a dream to return to their home country by taking a different route.

As familiar as this beloved story is, we sometimes overlook the importance of this story. First of all, these wise men were not Jews. They were Gentiles who studied the stars. It was during their study of the heavens that they discovered the new star rising in the west. Because of their beliefs on how the stars affected the planets and the lives of the people on earth, they believed that this new star depicted the birth of a new king of the Jews who would have significant influence over the people. Such significance was this new king to have on earth that a star was born in the heavens upon the birth of this new king.

In the reading of the gospel text for today we are not told King Herod’s reaction when the wise men did not return to Jerusalem and fill him in on the location of this new king. If we read further in the chapter, we would read these words: “When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’”  

From this text we can surmise that the wise men had been following the star for about two years. When they arrive in Bethlehem, Joseph has become established as a local carpenter. No longer is the holy family staying in a lowly stable, but in a house. Things are apparently going well for them.

The search of the wise men brought them good results. They found the king they had sought diligently for two years. The king of whom they had been on alert all of their lives, scanning the heavens nightly, to find the rising new star that marked the birth of this important one. Upon finding the star in the night sky, they left their homes and all they knew to go on a long journey. They risked all they had to find this new king. Then when these wise men found him, even though he was not the king of their home country, they knelt down and worshipped him.

Today there are people whose hearts are leading them to the King of Kings. They might not even know exactly who or what it is that they are searching to find, but the ache in their hearts and very being is so great that they cannot stop looking until they too find the One whom they can worship and give Him gifts from the treasure chests of their lives. There may be such a person here today who has led a good life and done all the right things, but something remains missing. It is almost impossible to name what that something is, but God knows the answer to your quest. Jesus, the Son of the Living God, can fill the hole in a person’s heart. Jesus promises us if we but seek Him, we will find Him. Jesus wants a personal relationship with each one of us.

The wise men knew in their hearts that it was not enough to know of Jesus’ birth. They had to continue their quest until they came into personal contact with the King of Kings. It is this personal response from the Son of God that our Father God desires for all of us to have.

I am sure that there were many hardships and times during the journey of these wise men when it was tempting to go back. Yet, they over came these temptations and pursued their goal of finding the King whom they sought. Because of their faithfulness in overcoming all the odds and not giving up their quest, they were rewarded. Notice, they do not even ask anything for themselves from this newborn king, instead they give to Jesus their respectful submission by kneeling before Him, then they give Jesus their worship and finally after they have submitted themselves completely to the Lord they give to Him from their earthly treasures gifts to help the newborn King in His mission on earth.

This is the kind of devotion which the Lord God continues to seek today. This kind of devotion did not come from one of Jesus’ own people. Instead, we are told that the ones in Jerusalem who should have rejoiced at the birth of the long awaited Messiah responded in fear. The scriptures read, “When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all of Jerusalem with him”. The ones to whom Jesus first came were not even looking for Him, instead they became afraid when told of His arrival. So afraid of Jesus was King Herod that he had all the babies and children two years of age and under in Bethlehem slaughtered. Fear rejects love. King Herod’s reaction is a classic, but brutal example of fear in action.

Sadly, there are some today who are afraid of Jesus coming into their lives. Instead of seeking the Christ to worship Him, they seek to destroy any resemblance of Jesus in their lives. Jesus who brings the love of the Father God to all of humanity, Jews and Gentiles alike, is too often seen as a threat to those who are afraid of allowing the love of God to change them.

Each one of us at some time or another will be challenged with the Presence of Christ in our lives, whether or not we are seeking Him. How we respond to that challenge will change the course of our lives. We can either choose to seek the Holy One like the wise men did or seek to destroy all references of Christ in our lives. The choice is up to us. May we choose wisely.