“…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)
I believe that the story of the magi has meaning for us every single day. The Magi came to worship a divine king, who was two years old by the time they arrived. The gospel tells us that they entered “the house” to see the child. So Jesus and his parents were living in a house by the time the Magi arrived.
According to the catacomb paintings and early historians, there were more than three magi, possibly twelve. They were not kings, but advisors to kings, and they came from the East, in what would be present day Iran and Iraq. They were from a completely different culture, educated in mathematics, science, medicine, astronomy, astrology, prophecy, and even magic. They knew the Hebrew prophecy of a divine child to be born, which correlated to the astronomical sign in the sky, and it led them to the house where that toddler king was living.
Jesus, even at two years old, touched the hearts of those who were outside the margins of His family’s religious community. God had a purpose in leading such a unique group of learned men from the East to visit a poor Hebrew toddler, who wasn’t even old enough to converse with them. What could a two year old boy offer these wise men?
The Magi never heard a parable or a single sermon. They never saw a miracle or witnessed His divine power, and yet they came to bow in worship and offer their gifts to Jesus. They only knew that this toddler was the Son of God and Savior of the world. What made them true “wise men” was that they came to Jesus, to receive the greatest gift of all, the honor of His presence.
The Magi teach us the greatest lesson of the Season, which is to seek His presence above all else. They travelled a long way just to worship Jesus and bring Him their gifts. God didn’t lead them there to increase their knowledge, grant them more wisdom or correct the errors of their belief. He led them there to bless them with the presence of His Son.
The prophet Jeremiah said, “You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
The Magi sought with all their hearts for the Messiah child king. Every sincere searcher is going to inevitably be led to a revelation of Jesus. In the presence of that little toddler, they beheld the face of God’s mercy.
Years later, people beheld the same face of mercy as Jesus taught, prayed, touched, ate, drank and performed many miracles among them. A dying thief beheld His face of mercy as he hung on a cross next to Him, which led him straight to Heaven.
The entire life of Jesus was directed at finding the lost sheep among His own community as well as those outcasts among the margins of society. Many gladly encountered His face of mercy, and found that His grace extends far beyond cultural, ethnic and racial boundaries.
The Magi happened to be the first group of outsiders, to be blessed by seeking His presence and discovering His face of mercy.
Lord, may we always envision you as the face of mercy, in all situations. We worship you in this season of your birth, and seek your presence as the greatest gift of all. Amen
