The Wise Men
Scripture Reading: Matthew 2
Their weary souls were revived having come to the threshold of their long-anticipated destination. Curious spectators gazed with mild amusement at these strangers who seemed so intent on visiting this humble home in this simple town. They couldn’t help but notice the hushed and reverent tones with which these men spoke and the nervous excitement they exuded as they cautiously approached the door bearing gifts for the child within. As these strangers from the East passed through the door and into their neighbor’s home, they could not but wonder if they had overlooked something important about Mary’s child.
Within the quiet home, Joseph and Mary watched as these unexpected guests stood around their child and then slowly, one by one, bowed their knees, their heads, and their hearts before Him. They marveled as these kings worshipped before their son, The King. Gifts like offerings of love were gently placed before the infant. Though having accomplished their mission, they were not desirous to leave so they lingered in His presence, feeling more at home there than they ever had in the home that awaited their return.
As the villagers watched the strangers depart and fade mysteriously beyond the distant horizon a disturbing thought crept into their collective conscience. “How could it be that we, who live as neighbors to this child, do not know Him as truly as these men from afar? Why have we, who pass by His house each day, never entered in to worship Him as these men did? What is this blindness from which we suffer that kept us from seeing His glory?”
May the good people of Bethlehem teach us by their example that often those closest to the light are the most blind to it and those that pass by the King’s house every day often never stop to acknowledge and worship Him as Lord. God forbid that this would ever be among us.