Humility – Part 1

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.

– Matthew 2:10-11 NKJV

They fell down and worshiped Him. That’s a pretty remarkable statement considering who they were — the Magi from the East. They were known as magicians, astronomers and astrologers. When you look up the word Magi in the Greek, you find that it has its roots in the Babylonian and Persian languages. Many biblical scholars believe that these men were the legacy of Daniel, who had significantly influenced both Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus. There is a theme woven through many of these prophecies that the Magi would’ve picked up on:

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. Isaiah 9:6-7

In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. Daniel 2:44

His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. Daniel 7:22b

These Magi understood the kingdom of which these prophets spoke was everlasting, and their ruler was eternal. The one who got this ball rolling was Balaam who said: A star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel. And for over 500 years, these Magi clung to the truth (Numbers 24:17).

When these Magi came into the house and saw Jesus, they knew exactly who He was—Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace—and that’s why they worshiped Him.

Today’s One Thing

It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season; the preparations and the decorations and the celebrations. But this Christmas, follow the lead of the Magi and get caught up in the worship of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

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