The House at Bethlehem
Behold, the star which they had seen 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 exceedingly great joy. And when they had 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 gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11).
The story of the wise men is rarely read when it is not Christmas. This is so engrained within our experience that we can be knocked off balance when we read the story at any other time. We have to beware of confining the word of God to particular times or circumstances. God’s word is living and powerful and always has relevance.
The long journey of the wise men takes us first to Herod’s palace. It was the corrupt centre of political and spiritual activity in Jerusalem. We learn powerful lessons about the wicked actions of tyrants, the sufferings of the innocent and rage against the Saviour. These things still happen today.
But then their journey takes them from the palace of a wicked king to a simple house in Bethlehem. The star, rather like the Holy Spirit, leads the wise men to the Person who came from the centre of heaven, not to the centre of a palace or even a temple but of that small house. It reminds us how God can bring seeking men from afar off to the Person of Christ. The wise men were comfortable and confident as they walked into Herod’s palace. They were not overawed by his power. They were familiar with palaces and arrogant rulers. But what a difference when they were led by the star to Joseph’s house in Bethlehem. They were filled with “exceedingly great joy” (Matthew 2:10) as they entered it. They were not surprised by the humble surroundings. There was no discussion about it being the right place. By faith, they walked into the house and saw the Son of God with His mother. They saw the manifestation of God’s eternal love; God became small to demonstrate He was One heaven could not contain (1 Kings 8:27). Mary is mentioned, not to glorify her, but to reflect the wonder of the Lord Jesus’ true humanity – born of a woman (Galatians 4:4). And the wise men fell down and worshipped Jesus.
They delighted to open their treasures: gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. When the shepherds of Israel went to see Jesus they had no gifts. They came just as they were, as we all come to the Saviour. The wise men came as worshippers ready to respond to the majesty of Christ. It was not the richness of their valuable gifts, but what those gifts represented that was so important. Gold decorated the Tabernacle and Solomon’s temple, where God dwelt amongst His people. It reminds us of the Lord’s deity and His dwelling in the world He had made. In John 12, Mary poured fragrant oil on the Lord Jesus. We are reminded by the frankincense of the Lord’s life as a man. This life was lived in obedience to His Father and led to the cross. When the Lord died, there was no recognition by Israel of Him as the Son of God and the Son of Man who lived here for us. But in John 19, Nicodemus, in fellowship with Joseph of Arimathea, brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes to bury the Saviour. The myrrh reminds us of the death of the Son of God who gave Himself in love for us at Calvary. God ensured that at the beginning of the life of Jesus in this world, wise men would offer prophetic worship to announce the wonder of Immanuel. This morning we come to the simplicity of the Lord’s supper. Like the wise men, we should come with joy in our hearts to fall in worship at our Saviour’s feet, and respond in grateful praise to the One who is God, and became man to become our glorious Saviour.
