Matthew 2: 1-12
Following Jesus' birth in Bethlehem Matthew now records a visit from wise men from a country to the east of Jerusalem.
These men had seen a star signifying the birth of the 'King of the Jews', and first came to the palace of King Herod in Jerusalem looking for him.
Herod (and all Jerusalem) being troubled at this news called the Jewish religious leaders together and demanded to know where Christ should be born.
They quoted to him an old prophecy foretelling Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, after which Herod secretly asked the wise men how long ago it was that they had seen the star. He further admonished them to go and search diligently for the young child in Bethlehem and to let him know when they had found him so that he could go and worship him too.
As they left Herod the wise men were delighted to again see the star which they had seen in the east now going before them until it stopped over the house where Jesus was now living.
On entering the house and seeing Jesus with Mary they fell down and worshipped him, before presenting him with gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.
God then warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod, and they took a different route to get back home to their own country.
Has it ever occurred to you before how these wise men first went looking for Jesus in a palace?
Were they assuming that a future king of the Jews would be born there, or did they start asking around in Jerusalem and were directed there?
Perhaps they were not aware of King Herod's cruelty or his ancestry to Esau - the twin brother of Jacob, ancestor of the Jews whom Esau had hated and would have killed had not God stopped him.
God had foretold through his prophet Obadiah that Esau's descendants would be covered by shame and 'be cut off forever' because of their own subsequent cruel and unkind treatment of Jacob's descendants (Obadiah 1:10).
Maybe it was because of this prophecy that this cruel King Herod was apparently living in a consuming suspicion that someone might usurp his throne. My study Bible states that he had one of his wives and 3 eldest sons killed. He would not be welcoming a King of his ancient enemy, the Jews!
But these wise men, being from a far off eastern country were perhaps unaware of all of these things and simply assumed that a future king would be born in a palace - a prince, who would in due time ascend the throne and become king. Or maybe they simply followed the star to this point and then lost sight of it for a short period. We don't know.
What struck my thoughts this morning though, was where do we first look for Jesus?
When I say Jesus, I mean all that he represents - life, happiness, love, joy.
Where do we look to satisfy the longings, the emptyness in our hearts, the dissatisfaction with our lives, the unhappyness, the bitterness, the cravings for entertainment, amusement and pleasure?
Do we go to the palace? The place where all is pomp and circumstance, where there is a constant bustle and activity, pleasures galore, riches, laughter, feasting, noise - the hub of the city?
We may assume that we will be able to satisfy ourselves with all that the world can offer, and perhaps for a while we will - but it has to be renewed, it doesn't last, we have to keep looking for more.
You may be puzzled and ask what are our palaces?
Yours may be different to mine, but they are generally a thing that we might turn to to satisfy our emotional and spiritual needs when it is not something our body actually needs - I mean like comfort eating, over drinking, binge watching TV, living the nightlife, being a workaholic, scrolling mindlessly through social media, obsessed with making money and so forth.
These things offer distractions; they take our minds off our negative thoughts or feelings - and it can sometimes be a very good thing to be distracted from obsessive overthinking of worries - but when it becomes the only thing that we turn to to numb ourselves from what we are feeling and needing, it is like we are going to the wrong palace for what we are looking for.
Jesus was at Bethlehem.
Jesus was outside of the palace, the pomp, the glitter, the noise...he was already beginning a life of suffering, placed in a manger, no room for the Son of God in the inns of Bethlehem.
Dear sinner, he knows how you feel. He knows the longings and emptyness of your heart. He knows your troubles, how you wish you could run away from your reality and find peace, he knows your fears, your sadness and loneliness.
He knows you, because he created you. And he is the only person who can really and truly satisfy you - your deepest longings, your restless heart.
Don't try to satisfy your heart with tangible things...go to Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, tell him in prayer your needs, or just pour out your heart feelings before him, and listen quietly before him for his still small voice.
Listen for his voice in nature - his beautiful creation which can be so calming to enjoy.
Listen for his voice in your circumstances, his kindnesses in the small or bigger things which you can thank him for.
Listen for his voice in his Word - the Bible - a wealth and depth of riches which he has preserved for us over the whole of time until now.
And may you be comforted, and know his forgiving, healing love and peace in your heart and soul.
Part 2 next week God Willing.
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