Our light has come! A star shines in testimony to the newborn king of the Jews. A sign in the very heavens themselves is fitting because it calls not just one nation but all nations to come and walk in the light of the LORD.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
The magi are the first to offer worship on behalf of all of the Gentile nations now called to walk in the light of the LORD. They bring gifts to honor the king of kings. What can we learn from these magi? They are attentive, waiting for the signs of the coming of Jesus. They are waiting for him. They are willing to journey to find him when at last he comes. We should understand even better than them how great an event is the coming of our LORD. We should be able to wait with even more rapt attention. We ought to be willing to seek him out with gifts of worship.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
It's true that many rulers of the earth see Jesus as a competitor. They try to silence him. They aren't wrong to sense that he is a threat to their power. All kings will serve him. He is the name above every name. Herod is nevertheless unable to cling to his power forever whereas Jesus still reigns from heaven. It is better for us to lay our crowns at the feet of the newborn king than to try to cling to what power we may have. He is the light of the world even more than the sun and the moon and the stars. His presence is worth more than all we have and all we are. Herod does not realize this but the magi do. They want to show us the way.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
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.
Let us follow the star. Let us lay all that we are down before the feet of the newborn king.
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