Matthew 2:1-12
Suggested further reading: Hebrews 11:32-38
What spiritual diligence these wise men showed! What troubles
it must have cost them to travel from their homes to the house
where Jesus was born! How many weary miles they must have
journeyed! The fatigues of an eastern traveller are far greater than we in
England can at all understand. The time that such a journey would
occupy must necessarily have been very great. The dangers to be
encountered were neither few nor small. But none of these things
moved them. They had set their hearts on seeing him that was born King
of the Jews, and they never rested till they saw him. They prove to
us the truth of that old saying: `Where there is a will, there is a way.'
It would be well for all professing Christians if they were
more ready to follow the wise men's example. Where is our
self-denial? What pains do we take about our souls? What diligence do we
show about following Christ? What does our religion cost us? These
serious questions deserve serious consideration.
Theirs is a striking example of faith. They believed in
Christ when they had never seen him. They believed in him when the
scribes and Pharisees were unbelieving. They believed in him when
they saw a little infant on Mary's knee and worshipped him as a
King. This was the crowning point of their faith. They saw no
miracles. They heard no teaching to convince them. They beheld no signs
of divinity and greatness to overawe them. They saw nothing but
a newborn infant, helpless and weak, and needing a mother's care
like any one of ourselves. And yet when they saw that infant they
believed they saw the divine Saviour of the world (v. 11).
This is the kind of faith God delights to honour. Wherever
the Bible is read, the conduct of these wise men is known and told as
a memorial to them. Have we not a thousandfold more evidence
than the wise men had to make us believe that Jesus is the Christ?
Beyond doubt we have. Yet where is our faith?
For meditation: Then Jesus told him, `Because you have seen
me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and
yet have believed' (John 20:29). `"... if someone from the dead goes
to them, they will repent." [Abraham] said to him, "If they do
not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even
if someone rises from the dead"' (Luke 16:30-31).
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