The third Sunday in Advent is a perfect time for adoration of the Christ child.
Wise men from the East who studied the stars saw His star signaling that the King of the Jews had been born. The wise men were able to look past the stable and see a King. It is through the wise men, we glimpse yet another facet of how people in all walks of life viewed Jesus.
The wise men gathered kingly gifts to present to the child and followed the star to Jerusalem. When the magi did not find the young King, they inquired. “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
When Herod the king heard the words “King of the Jews,” he immediately feared a threat to his rule and was bent on finding the child. Afterall, Herod the Great had used that title for about 30 years. He had no intention of worshipping or adoring this child. In his own insecurity, Herod secretly planned to kill this King so He would not be a challenge to his authority.
Unbeknownst to the wise men, Herod’s reign as king was marked by cruelty and bloodshed. Herod was also very sly. He called the chief priests and scribes and inquired where the king was to be born so he could come and worship Him. The chief priests and scribes, who would later become enemies of Christ, unwittingly revealed that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Herod set his plan into motion to have all male children two years of age and younger who were in Bethlehem be put to death.
The star then led the wise men to Bethlehem, and when the wise men saw the young Child, they fell to their knees and worshipped Him. They opened their gifts and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gold symbolized royalty, the frankincense was a fragrance, and the myrrh was the ointment of death.
Shortly thereafter, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take the young child and his mother and flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s death order of all male children in Bethlehem and its surrounding districts. The gifts from the wise men provided Mary and Joseph financial resources while in Egypt. And so, God protected His beloved Son, and Mary and Joseph.
The shepherds saw Jesus as a Savior and worshipped Him as the Messiah.
The wise men looked at Jesus as the King of the Jews and worshipped as such.
Herod the king did not adore or worship Jesus but plotted to kill Him.
The chief priests and scribes knew the Old Testament prophecy found in Micah 5:2, and unintentionally affirmed that Jesus had fulfilled a messianic prophecy of His birth, but later would refuse Jesus’ deity and were instrumental in stirring up the people to crucify Him.
The controversy over Jesus’ identity among people of all walks of life has continued to this day. However, untold numbers of people do worship Jesus, adore Him, and follow Him as their Savior and Lord.
Born the King of angels, O come let us adore Him – Christ the Lord. O come all ye faithful, come let us adore Him. Glory in the highest – O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.