Time of Worshiping
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Key Verse: “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.” Selected Scripture: |
THIS LESSON RELATES to the wise men of the east—thought to be Persian—and their sighting of a wonderful star which they understood as predicting the birth of a great King. The star led them to Judea, and naturally they went to the palace of King Herod. There they inquired concerning their object, asking: “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. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” (Matt. 2:2,3) No wonder he was troubled—the prospect of a rival king was not to his liking.
Herod immediately called the chief priests and the scribes who were familiar with the Law and the Prophets, inquiring of them in what city it had been foretold that Christ should be born. They answered Herod that the city of Bethlehem, located about six miles south of Jerusalem, was to be the honored place of our Savior’s birth.
We read: “Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) Therefore, Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, saying, “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.”—Matt. 2:8
The king feigned an interest in their search with the plan in mind that he might thwart the Divine purpose by destroying the child. Later, when the wise men did not return, Herod realized he had been outwitted by them in this evil plan. So, to protect his throne from a Prophet who some day would depose him, he determined to kill all the children in the city of Bethlehem who were two years old or younger.
Meanwhile, after the wise men heard what Herod had to say, they set out “and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 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.”—Matt. 2:9-11
The wise men who sought the Babe Jesus to worship the new king, and to bestow gifts upon him, symbolize those who—ever since—bring to him the incense of their devotion; and as gifts—their talents and powers. The Apostle Paul describes the great honor and everlasting praise to be bestowed upon this newborn king when his kingdom is established upon earth.
He says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Phil. 2:9-11