I Dropped Baby Jesus

Tuesday, Dec 22 - Who Am I (4)?
Some nativities include the wise men who traveled from afar to visit the young child, Jesus.
Really, these figures don't belong near the manger. I suppose if I were to be correct, I'd place
them across the room somewhere. I don't know when they first saw the star, announcing the
birth of the King of the Jews, but Jesus was almost, if not, two years old before they arrived.
Another thing, we don't really know for sure, is that there were just three of them. There could
have been 300...Scripture doesn't make it clear. We simply know they gave the little King three
gifts. And, they weren't really Kings, they were "wise" men, smart men, knowledgable in the
sciences, the study of the stars, agriculture, mathematics, as well as, political and religious
information.
These "wise" men had been around since Daniel's day (see Daniel 6), and had probably come
from as far away as Babylon (currently the area around Baghdad). Undoubtedly, they had been
greatly influenced in Judaism, and possibly had benefitted from the legacy and prophecy of
Daniel, himself. Other than this, we don't know a lot about these men...they were strangers on
the scene, but strangers who rattled the courts of King Herod, and all the chief priests, for sure!
Yet, come they did, and a very long way (out of their way) just to see this special child and
worship Him! We can learn much about worship from these men. In fact, all I really know
about the wise men is how to experience true worship!
As we wind down the Advent season, this is a perfect time to contemplate our worship of the
King of Kings. What does it look like to worship? How can I, just like these wise men, come to
him with a whole heart prepared to honor Him on the day of his birth?
Worship often means stepping out of my comfort zone. Just as the magi went out of their way,
true worship means I may struggle with some feelings of mental discomfort. I go the extra mile...
True worship includes physical expression. The wise men "rejoiced exceedingly with great
joy" (that doesn't sound like reverent whispers to me!). They "fell down and worshiped him."
True worship gives. "Opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts..."
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