[Daily Devotion] December 23rd, 2015

[Daily Devotion] December 23rd, 2015

Magi’s visit the Messiah – Matthew 2: 1-18

1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘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.’”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “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.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

The Escape to Egypt

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

The Massacre of the Infants

16 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. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “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.”

First is King Herod. We don’t know exactly why he was so afraid of the news of this baby being born. Of course, no one would like to hear that there is someone who will overtake his position. However, if you think about this, he (Jesus) was only a baby. Maybe it was a custom for the person in power to get rid of any possible threat to before it grows. However, what if Herod was insecure about his position. Wouldn’t he be calmer if he relationship with God was stable?

We remember King Saul, who was anointed as the first King of the Israelites. However, when his relationship with God broke down, he found himself in the rut of insecurity. The king who was hand-picked by God now became a crazy person, who was obsessed to rid of David.

On the other hand, we see the Magis. They were the ones searching for wisdom. Evidently, they were Gentiles, non-Jews. They sought for wisdom, which can be found through God. Their search had led them to taste the hope brought into this world. When they finally reached the stable, with a baby lying down what does, the Bible said. “… they were overwhelmed with joy.” Matthew 2: 11 

Why were they filled with that kind of joy? Is it because it was the end of their journey? Or is it because their search of the truth has fulfilled? 

At least, different from King Herod, they were honest to the void they had in life. They were able to search and seek what will fill this void. They took on a journey, which many others might consider questionable. And when they found the truth, they were overwhelmed with Joy.
Are you searching? Is your life fulfilled? 

May we all find the truth of life in fulness through he birth of our savior. 

Click to subscribe to our Daily Devotion.
You will receive a devotion in your inbox every morning.