THEY STUDIED, THEY FOLLOWED, THEY ARRIVED

THEY STUDIED

“I know I read that somewhere,” said Caspar, “but where?”

“Hurry and figure it out because the star is a sign,” Balthazar replied.  “Why did you not write it down?  How many times have we told you to take notes?”

“I take notes,” Melchior chimed in, trying to calm Balthazar down.  “The prophesy said ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.’”

Looking at the map, they agreed.  The star had risen in the east, traveled west and did seem to stop over that area. 

“The caravan is ready.  Let us follow the star,” shouted Balthazar.

THEY FOLLOWED

The Magi had been following the star for many, many miles.  For many, many months.  They finally arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

They were so close.  They even secretly talked to the king about the exact time the star had appeared.  The king confirmed they should go to Bethlehem. 

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them

THEY ARRIVED

until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

The star stopped!  The journey was finally over.  The child… The child. 

THEY STUDIED, THEY FOLLOWED, THEY ARRIVED

There is very little known about the Magi.  The Bible leaves out all the details that are not important but I am going to use my imagination and picture it.

Think about the subject that caused you the most trouble.  Think how hard you had to study.  Think how one question led to another and another and another.  Now picture the Magi reading Micah 5:2-5 which led them to Numbers 24:17 which led to Genesis 49:10 which led to … Get the picture?  They studied!  They researched! 

The Magi went on a long trip.  They did not have GPS or suitcases on wheels.  These were Wise Men but I bet they did not know how to set up a tent and were clueless on the care of camels.  The Hallmark card might show three guys on camels but there would have been a tremendous support system.  Did the Magi know how much food to take along?  Did they know where there were watering holes for the camels?  Did they know good water from bad?  Did they know …?  The Magi knew where they were going but the picture on the Christmas card is far from accurate. 

They finally arrived at their destination but how did they know exactly?  Was there a straight line from the star to the house?  Did Mary hear all the noise as the Magi and their entourage coming down their street?  Did she take Jesus outside to watch?  They knew!  They saw the child and his mother and they knew! 

And that is exactly what I want you to do this week:  study, follow and arrive.

Study the verses about the Magi – the Wise Men – and picture them in your mind.  Are they in a big room with books piled high?  Are they looking in one book and then another?  Are they watching the sky?  How do they act when they find the direction they need?

Follow in the steps of the Wise Men.  They were seeking.  They were willing to follow a star.  Follow in the steps of the Wise Men as you seek to follow where God leads you.

Most importantly, you are to arrive.  You are to find the child.  A Savior, Christ the Lord.

There is very little known about the Magi.  What we can learn from them is that we are to study, to follow, and to arrive.

So go forth and be wise.  Find Christ.  But also know how to take care of your camel.

(Scriptures used Matthew 2:1-12 and Micah 5:2-5)

(Assumptions:  There were three Magi because there were three gifts and it is tradition they were named Casper, Melchior and Balthazar.)