“The shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” Luke 2:15-17 (Read Luke 2:1-20)
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 (Read all of Matthew 2)
Shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem, when they heard the announcement that their Savior had been born, sought Him out and told all what the angel had said of the Child lying in a manger (Luke 2:8-20).
Wise men from the East, perhaps through study of ancient prophecy (cf. Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:17), understood that the appearing of a special star indicated the birth of the long-promised Savior and King of the Jews. They traveled many, many miles to find the Christ Child, worship Him and offer Him gifts.
The chief priests and scribes in Jerusalem knew the Scriptures and the place where the Messiah was to be born from Micah 5:2, but they apparently were too busy practicing their religion to go there to seek Him.
King Herod, hearing of the birth of the Messiah, was afraid of losing his own earthly kingdom and sought to slay the Christ Child by killing all the male children in the area.
This raises an important question for you to consider. “How do you respond to the news that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world to be your Savior?
Do you, like King Herod, fear that Jesus’ coming into the world will interfere with your life? Do you seek to cut Him off and keep Him out of your life so that you can continue on in your own ways, doing the things you want to do, without Jesus there to interfere? Do you stay away from church and Bible study and even sometimes wish people would quit talking about Jesus and teaching the Bible?
Are you, like the chief priests and scribes, so busy with your religious service to God that you don’t have the time or the desire to seek out Jesus even though you have heard God’s Word and know much about Him? Are you able to recite the facts about Jesus and tell others how they should live for Him and serve Him but are yet unable to honestly say that you know Jesus or have walked with Him?
Or, have you, like the shepherds or the wise men of old, heard of Jesus’ coming, sought Him out through the study of the Scriptures, found Him, and worshiped and honored Him as your Messiah, Savior and King? Do you tell others who this Child is?
The saying is still as true today as ever: “Wise men do still seek Him!” It is only through Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross in our stead that we sinners can find pardon, peace and life everlasting!
Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for coming into the world to redeem us from sin and death. Forgive us for rejecting You and neglecting You, and move us to trust in You as our Savior and to worship and honor You as our King! Amen.