Wise Men Seek Him

Matthew 2:1-12 tells the story of the three wise men. We all know the story. We hear them described as the “Magi”. Interestingly, we get our word magic from the word “magi”. Of all the characters in the Christmas story, we know the least amount about these three men. We know they came from the east and brought gifts. Having been warned not to return to Herod, they went home a different way.

These men were king makers. They were the most influential advisors to kings. When these three men proclaimed to Herod they were looking for the King of the Jews, Herod was scared. After all, these men were kingmakers. Because these men came from the east, they are perhaps most like us because they represent the first Gentiles who came to Jesus Christ.

There are two things this tells us about true wisdom.

1. They were wise enough to search for the King. They were looking for the truth. True wisdom will always lead us to the true God who has revealed Himself in the Jesus of the Bible.

2. They were wise enough to worship the King. Matthew 2:11 says “After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary, His mother, and they fell on the ground and worshipped Him.” That is the only rational response, on our face before Him.

Unlike the wise men who sought the birthplace of our Savior, we don’t have to make a lengthy journey in order to find the King. We can do that wherever we are and we will find Him. What was true over two thousand years ago is still true today. Wise men still seek Him, and when they find Him, they worship Him.

Gary Elrod