Luke tells us of shepherds and singing angels. But Matthew tells us of King Herod and the “magi.” We often call them “wise men,” but the title of magi (a term used quite unfavorably in Acts 8 and 13) tells us they are likely practitioners of some dark spiritual magic and/or astrology. They are from east of Israel, which could mean anything as far as geography goes, but at least means they are not fellow Israelites, nor worshipers of Israel’s God. They are following a star to the location of the recent birth of a new king. Somehow, God has gotten their attention, yanking them out of their standard idol worship and into worship of the true Messiah and king of the world. They simply must meet him, and they react with “overwhelming joy” (Matthew 2:10) when the star brings them to their destination. They bring gifts of gold (a gift to honor a king), frankincense (aroma used by a priest for a worship space), and myrrh (often used to prepare a body for burial). Without realizing it, they have mapped out his life. He is both king and priest, ruler and minister, who’s life will culminate in death and resurrection. King Herod does not welcome news of a new king. He tries his best to manipulate the unsuspecting wise men into later revealing the baby’s location so that he may violently do away with him. But God, just as he has already done for Joseph, warns them in a dream to have nothing more to do with Herod.
Ironically, the first disciples we meet in Matthew’s Gospel are these foreign, pagan magi. They are the first ones in this story to follow Jesus where he leads them. They are the first ones we meet who do everything in their power to be close to Jesus. They know that’s where God wants them. They know that’s where joy is to be found. They know that any distance between them and Jesus is too much distance. Yes, the first disciples are ones whom most Israelites would not want to associate (and we probably wouldn’t either).
There is a magnetic pull happening in this story. The wise men are drawn to Jesus, as if by magnetic attraction. Even the star is being pulled in toward Jesus as if by magnetism. We know stars produce their own gravity, but this star seems to be caught in Jesus’ gravity. He really is the center of the universe. Even the evil of Herod, of power that violently resists God and will eventually crucify the Messiah, is drawn to Jesus as if by magnetism. Everything in this story is converging on Jesus. Philippians will go on to sing that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Matthew is showing us what that looks like.
God’s nature and character, God’s will and mission, God’s love and salvation – it’s all located in this baby. So, what can we do but make him our everything? What can we do but find more and more reasons to be close to him, to adore him, to love him with all of our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength? If gold is how we honor a king, let us honor him with the gold of our obedience to his will for us. If frankincense is the aroma of worship, let us bless him with the frankincense of our worship and prayers. If myrrh is how one prepares a body for burial, let us honor him with the myrrh of cross-shaped lives marked by self-denial and sacrifice. At seeing how wonderful and beautiful and praiseworthy he is, what else can we do?
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