The King's Seekers, Magi and Shepherds

The shepherds and the Wisemen stand out in the Christmas story because of all the creatures on earth created in His image--they were the only ones who came seeking the newborn King! I call these the King's Seekers.

What does Matthew 2 record as the reaction of these seekers of the King--to His birth? Worship. Shortly after the birth of the Messiah, Judean shepherds bowed at His feet, singing His praises. Then hours or a few days later Babylonian magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem asking King Herod where the real king of the Jews was born. As we will examine later, the response of the Bible scholars of Herod's court was “in Bethlehem.” The startling fact is--that though they could recite the right answer, their hearts were indifferent to the truth of God's Word. They revealed the terrible condition of indifference to God. They knew the Scriptures, they just did not believe them! What a tragic indictment upon these servants of God. They did not want to travel the five or six miles to Bethlehem to see their Messiah.

Undaunted, those magi believed the Scriptures. They had traveled several hundred miles to worship Jesus.