Mathew 2:1-12 - The Magi

Praise the Lord - my paper is done and I feel a hundred pounds lighter . . . and thrilled to be writing this post.

Did you look at the two groups of people (Magi and Herod/Jerusalem) and their behavior and words in this passage? This chapter has several of the typical markers that lead us to the main point.

First, what about the Magi (I capitalize their name because I like them)? Verse 2 screams out. Here we find what they know, where they're from, and why they've come. This verse is covered with God's providence. What they know: The Magi know that the baby is the King of the Jews. They were basically astrologers, which is why they would notice a strange star. But how can a new star tell you something as specific as 'there is a new baby born over in the west and he happens to be the King of the Jews'? These guys are getting far more revelation than a star can give. God has chosen to reveal the baby to them. So God's providence is attached to the fact that they know he's there. Where they are from: they are from the east coming to see a Jewish baby. No one would do this on their own. At this point in time, the Jews were of absolutely no consequence to the rest of the world. They were viewed as dogs, passed around from conqueror to conqueror for hundreds of years. For someone to travel any distance to see a Jewish baby would be insane. Yet they are doing it. Providence. Why they've come: They have come ... from the east ... to see a Jewish baby ... and worship him. These things don't happen on their own. Do you see the absurdity? Astrologers have traveled who knows how far to see a baby born in the most inconsequential place on the planet for the purpose of worshiping him.

I love this kind of absurdity. The absurdity of the gospel. It simply cannot be explained by any other means than the providence of God. He takes the most unlikely folks imaginable and draws them to himself. Magi? What they know, where they're from (or more appropriately, where they've come to), and why they've come - that is, that they are willing to worship a baby Jew - all of this was designed. Make no mistake about it, God chose these fellows.

But I digress...

No, I don't think providence is the main point of the passage, but I still see it in every verse of the book.

Let's recall that these guys are Gentiles. They have chosen to trek across the middle east to worship that baby. They've heard the truth and they've responded to it.

Okay, I changed my mind - we're back at providence. Look at verse 9. The star went ahead of them to where the baby was and stopped above where the baby was. I don't know what translation you're using, but the greek makes it clear that the star moved and then the star stopped moving. They weren't just navigating by the stars; they were following a moving star. Providence.

What did they do when they saw the star? They rejoiced. What did they do when they saw Jesus? They fell down and worshiped him. They worshiped him.

Put yourself in their shoes. They've gone through a crazy series of occurences, traveled a long way, seen miraculous things, and finally, in the end, they have been providentially led to the Messiah.

What was your journey like? Did you set the whole thing in motion? Or did He? I didn't have a star to lead me and I didn't have to travel across the world. But I knew what I knew because He revealed it to me. And I went where I went because He led me there. And I worshiped because He put the desire in me.

"Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God - How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways..."

Next time, Herod and all Jerusalem.

Drink deep.