The Magi

Matthew 2:1-12

I'm not sure how it happened, but in high school I ended up as a wise man in our choir's nativity play. (I guess the role for Mary was already taken.) Like most nativity plays, our nativity play had Mary and Joesph sit next to the baby Jesus while the shepherds came and then the wise men promptly followed. The way the average nativity goes--it all seems to have happened in one glorious night, but it couldn't have happened that way. Jesus was circumcised eight days after his birth and Joesph and Mary had to flee Israel after the wise men came.

We also don't really know how long they stayed with Mary and Joesph. Our plays always get us to the point where the wise men come and worship Jesus, but they don't take us any farther. I have many questions about the wise men's visit to Bethlehem. What did they do after they had worshiped? Did they eat with Mary and Joseph afterwards? How much did they interact with Mary and Joseph? Did they talk through the night? Did they set up camp near the stable? Did they find lodging somewhere else? How did the towns people react?

There's much I don't know, but there's one thing I know for sure. Emotions ran high for them; "they were overjoyed" (Matthew 2:10). Their long quest had been fulfilled. They had sought a king and found him.

Their hearts must have been hungry long before they star appeared. They were looking for something and Jesus was whom they found.

Lord, when I search and hunger for something greater than my life, remind me that I look for you.