A TODDLER KING
“…and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:11 (NAB)
The story of the magi has meaning for us every day, since they arrived about two years after the birth of Jesus. Contrary to all the songs and plays, Jesus was not in the manger when the magi, or wise men, finally found him. The shepherds saw Him as a newborn in a manger, but by the time the magi arrived on the scene, it says they “entered the house and saw the child”. So Jesus was no longer in a stable, but living with his parents in a house.
There were also more than three magi, possibly twelve, according to the catacomb paintings and early historians. They came from the East, and in that area, the East would be present day Iran and Iraq. The Hebrew people were educated in Mosaic law, the prophets and their own scriptural traditions, but the magi were from a completely different culture, educated in mathematics, science, medicine, astronomy, astrology, prophecy, and even magic.
The magi met Jesus long before He could heal, deliver or even preach a single sermon to them. They knew from prophecies that a divine child was born within the past two years, ordained to be a great king, and being led by a bright astronomical sign in the sky, they came to the exact house where this little toddler king was living with His parents.
When the magi arrived at His house, the two year old was probably sitting on the floor, playing with His toys, like any boy His age. I can picture them face to face with Jesus, as He looked up at the group of magi in their ornate clothing and seeing the gifts in their hands. He probably wanted to touch and explore the gifts they were holding.
The magi were not kings, but were advisors to kings, and Jesus, who was a true king, wasn’t old enough to receive or give advice to anyone yet.
What was God’s purpose in leading these uniquely learned men from the East to a poor Hebrew toddler who wasn’t old enough to teach or preach to them ? What could a two year old boy offer these magi, who had advised kings for years ?
The magi sought out Jesus, knowing they were going to receive only one thing in return, the honor of His presence. It was not the time to receive healing, deliverance, words of wisdom, instruction or guidance. They would not hear an edifying parable or an anointed sermon, to tell others about when they returned home.
The magi entered the house just to gaze at who they knew to be a divine toddler king. They were blessed to see a two year old boy playing on the floor with his toys. They probably took a closer look, noticing a divine twinkle in His eyes and the pure innocent joy in his face. After their long journey, their reward was in beholding His awesome presence, which translated to the fullness of deity dwelling in a little toddler, and then they bowed to worship Him.
The magi teach everyone something important, whether we were brought up in the faith or not. For Christians, they teach us that the greatest gift to seek from God, more than healing, prophecy, deliverance, words of wisdom, or edifying sermons, is the presence of Jesus. God didn’t even lead the magi there to teach or correct the errors of their own doctrine, but simply to bless them with the presence of His holy son.
The magi also represent many unbelievers and those who have no Christian foundation to lean upon. The magi show us that if anyone searches for the truth with all their heart, they will find Him, as God said, “You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
Every sincere search leads to a revelation of the presence of Jesus, and His true presence leads us all to bow in worship and offer Him our gifts.
Even in His first two years of life, Jesus touched the hearts of those who were considered unorthodox or outside the margins of His own religious community, and it all began with His face to face meeting with the magi. It reminds us that the entire life of Jesus was directed at finding lost sheep, and those who were not from within His own pasture.
Jesus is still searching for those different kinds of sheep in the world, even those who are outside the cultural community He grew up in. His grace extends far beyond cultural, ethnic and racial borders, and the magi were the first group of outsiders, to be blessed by His presence.
From the day He first looked up at the magi, all the way to His death, when He looked at the thief, next to Him on a cross, Jesus never stopped reaching out to and welcoming anyone who was different from His own background and faith.
He reminds us to be more like Him, in opening our heart to everyone who is seen as an outsider. He wants us to pray for those we meet or know, who are outside the faith. He rewards all those who seek Him, with the greatest gift of all, which is His presence.
Jesus, today we envision you as that innocent, happy toddler, as when the magi first looked at your face, and bowing in worship, we surrender ourselves to your will, and please use us to help you call all lost sheep and outsiders closer to you, today and always. Amen