The Road to Easter: What the Magi Saw that Herod Missed
Matt 2:7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 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.” 9 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.
When I was a young woman, there was a syndicated radio show called Thru the Bible with Dr J Vernon McGee. He began the program by inviting people onto the Bible bus. I would imagine the Magi would have loved to ride a Bible bus, or any other modern transportation, as they traveled what has been speculated as being 400 miles to visit the Christ child.
The wise men were undoubtedly weary when they approached King Herod. Otherwise, they might have noticed the duplicitous nature of his request to find Jesus. While their intent was to worship the King of Kings, Herod’s sole thought was of murder.
And there it is, the slow march toward Calvary. While the Magi brought gifts to honor the King, Herod sent swords to end His life.
What was it that drew one group to the Son of God where they knelt in admiration, while another was bent on wiping the name of Jesus from the face of the earth? One group followed the light, another lived in darkness.
As we continue our journey toward Easter, may we allow the light of the Holy Spirit to illuminate our way.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
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