Description

The Wise Men

A wise man is one who has knowledge and then understands how best to use it. There’s nothing more wise in this world than to find and then follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

After Jesus was born “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.”

I wonder why they are called “wise men” by Matthew.  Well, as far as I know, the Bible says nothing of a new star,

yet somehow these faithful disciples knew it was coming, and when it appeared they understood what it was, and that it was the sign of the Messiah. And like all the faithful they wanted to see Him, to be with Him and to worship Him. And so they set out to find Him.  It may have been a long trip.

Because light always stirs up darkness, Herod and “all Jerusalem” was [were] “troubled” at the news of the child. Herod “greatly feared” Him as the deliverer spoken of by the prophets, even though He refused to believe and obey them. 

He demanded of the Jews to know where Christ would be born, and he was told Bethlehem.  Then Herod “called the wise men privily”, and learned that the star had appeared almost two years before. He feigned faith, but his intent was really to use the Wise Men to find Jesus and kill Him. He sent them on to Bethlehem, saying, “go and search diligently for the young child and when ye [you] have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship Him also.”

As the Wise Men began the short journey to Bethlehem that night, the star that had begun their long journey in the east reappeared, and beckoned them as it were to follow. “They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy” to see it again.  It “went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was.” I can’t comprehend that.  But that star was for them as Christ is for us, a heavenly light so far away, and yet so close and personal.

“And when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.” 

This is why they were called “Wise Men.”  Jesus had “no form nor comeliness, “no beauty that we should desire Him.” He was as ordinary-looking of a toddling child as has ever been born, and yet these grown and wise, seasoned and mature men fell to their knees before him in reverence and meek adoration. They were truly wise for they knew of Him what man cannot know without revelation. This child was their Savior and Redeemer.

“When they had opened their treasures they gave Him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”  Why? – because those who love the Lord give Him all that they have as well as all that they are. 

Now, as the Wise Men settled down to sleep that night they were “warned of God in a dream not to return to Herod.”  So they rose and departed the country another way. “An angel of the Lord then appeared to Joseph in a dream saying ‘arise and take the young child and His mother and flee into Egypt… for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.’” 

That danger was real. Isaiah said that Jesus “would grow up before Him as a tender plant.”  As a child, Jesus was as “subject to cold, hunger, and to death” as any other child.

So immediately Joseph arose and took Jesus and His mother by night and fled into Egypt. 

Herod was incensed at being so deceived, and in an effort to kill the Son of God he “sent forth and slew all the children in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof from two years old and under” – the most foolish thing any man could have ever done. 

This story is about wise and foolish men.  The fools still ignore and scorn the Son of God.  The wise still go looking for Him.

If you would be wise in the wisest of all wisdom, ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.”  And remember, just as it was that night for the Wise Men so will it be for you.  The door is still open.

 

Glenn Rawson – December 2007

 

Sources:

Matthew 2, 7 KJV

Matthew 2 JST

Isaiah 53

The Teachings of Joseph Smith, ed. Larry Dahl & Donald Cannon, [Salt Lake City, Bookcraft, 1997] 350