In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 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.” 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. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Matthew 2:1-12, NRSV)
Herod wanted the threat of the child born to be king of Jerusalem to be eliminated so he told the wise men that he wanted to know where the newborn king was so that he too could go and worship him.
But the wise men were told in a vision that Herod was a bad dude and they didn’t return to tell him after they found the king. They paid him homage and went home another way. So Herod had all of the young boys 2 and under killed because that was how long the star had been in the sky.
But the wise men saw the star and knew of the stories of a king to come. And they followed the star to where it led and they worshipped the king.
Foreigners gave expensive gifts and paid respect to a baby in a manger!
Do we do the same?
aSacredRebel 