By Dr. Robert C Crowder
Reading:
Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Matthew 2:1-12 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, 2 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. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Reflection:
The arrival of the wise men from the East is one of the most vivid demonstrations that the gospel was never intended to remain within the borders of Israel. These Magi: Gentile scholars, possibly from Persia or Babylon, steeped in astrology and pagan learning, traveled hundreds of miles following a star to worship a Jewish king. Their journey fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy that the Servant of the Lord would be “a light to the Gentiles” and bring salvation “unto the end of the earth.” Joy grows exponentially when we recognize that Christ’s mission is global, not tribal, and that God’s purposes include people from every nation under heaven.
The identity of the Magi is significant. Most believe they were not Jewish. Therefore, they did not have the Law, the prophets, or the covenant promises given to Israel. They were outsiders, pagans by Jewish standards, unclean according to religious law. Yet God revealed His Son to them. He placed a star in the heavens that caught their attention, stirred their curiosity, and drew them westward toward Judea. This is sovereign grace at work; God seeking out the lost, revealing Himself to those who were “afar off,”[1] and including them in the worship of the newborn King.
Matthew’s account emphasizes the stark contrast between those who should have rejoiced and those who did. The wise men “rejoiced with exceeding great joy” when they saw the star again after meeting with Herod. The Greek phrase is emphatic: echarēsan charan megalen sphodra, they rejoiced with joy, great joy, exceedingly. This is not polite satisfaction or mild pleasure. This is overwhelming gladness, the kind that cannot be contained or hidden. Meanwhile, Herod “was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”[2] The religious leaders in Jerusalem, who had the Scriptures and knew where the Messiah would be born, did not bother to travel the few miles to Bethlehem to investigate. Pagan Gentiles sought Him eagerly; covenant Israel largely ignored Him.
This pattern repeats throughout the Gospels and into the book of Acts. Jesus marveled at the faith of the Roman centurion and said, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel”[3] He declared that “many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness”[4] Paul experienced this reality in his missionary journeys; often the Jews rejected the gospel while the Gentiles received it gladly.[5] God’s plan was always to create one people from both Jew and Gentile, and the Magi’s worship was an early preview of that glorious reality.
The gifts the Magi brought are rich with meaning. Gold symbolizes royalty; this child is a King. Frankincense symbolizes deity; this child is worthy of worship reserved for God alone. Myrrh symbolizes death and burial; this child came to die. Together, these gifts testify to who Jesus is (King and God) and why He came (to die as a sacrifice). The Gentiles, without the benefit of Moses and the prophets, came bearing gifts that proclaimed the full gospel. Their hearts, illumined by God’s revealing grace, understood intuitively what many in Israel with all their Scripture-knowledge failed to grasp.
Isaiah prophesied that it would be “a light thing” for the Messiah merely to restore Israel. God’s purpose was far greater; to make His Servant “a light to the Gentiles” and bring salvation “unto the end of the earth.” The scope of redemption is as broad as human sin. Every tribe, tongue, and nation has fallen short of God’s glory, and every tribe, tongue, and nation is included in God’s offer of salvation through Christ. The Great Commission flows directly from this reality: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.”[6] We do not go because we are compassionate (though we should be). We go because God has commanded it, because Christ has purchased people from every nation with His blood,[7] and because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.[8]
The joy of the Magi should be the joy of every believer. They traveled far, sacrificed much, overcame obstacles, and risked danger to see the King. When they found Him, they “fell down, and worshipped him.”[9] Worship is the proper response to encountering Christ. And worship produces joy; not superficial happiness, but deep, abiding gladness that comes from being in the presence of the One who is altogether lovely.
This joy multiplies when shared. The gospel’s purpose is not for people to hoard it or keep it within the walls of one culture, one language, or one people group. It is meant to spread, to cross borders, to leap over barriers, and to reach the unreached. Every time a person from another nation comes to faith in Christ, heaven rejoices,[10] and the church on earth should rejoice with equal fervor. The growth of God’s kingdom among the nations is one of the greatest sources of joy available to the believer.
This Advent let your heart expand to include the nations. Pray for unreached people groups. Support missionaries who are taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. Rejoice when you hear reports of salvation breaking out in places once closed to the gospel. And remember that you, too, were once far off; a stranger to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.[11] But Christ has brought you near by His blood. The same joy that filled the hearts of the Magi is yours. They sought a King; you have found Him. Worship with exceeding great joy.
Prayer:
- Thank Jesus for including you in His mission to the nations.
- Ask Him to open your eyes to see the world as He sees it—fields white unto harvest—and to give you a heart that rejoices when the gospel advances, wherever that may be.
Consider:
This week, pray for one missionary family by name, or research and pray for one unreached people group. If possible, write an encouraging note or send financial support to missionaries you know. Ask God to give you a deeper love for the nations and a greater joy in seeing His name glorified among all peoples.
[1] Ephesians 2:13
[2] Matthew 2:3
[3] Luke 7:9
[4] Matthew 8:11-12
[5] Acts 13:46-48
[6] Matthew 28:19
[7] Revelation 5:9
[8] Romans 1:16
[9] Matthew 2:11
[10] Luke 15:7
[11] Ephesians 2:12
Robert C. Crowder Ministries 
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