The Wise Men journey starts with the appearance of a star in the East. The wise men being astrologers or magi, who were the princes of Moab/Midian land. We must take note of the image of people traveling that had been given the prophetic sign of a star. Or the prophecy has no value to anyone beyond the hope it gave centuries before the appearance of a star. No doubt the soothesayers and magicians looked for such a star for centuries. Wondering if there was any truth to the prophecy of old Baalam because he could only speak the words God instructed him too. To look closely at scripture an ask why did the wise men not go directly to Bethelehem. Something often over looked is the scripture never said they followed the star from the East. What am I saying that the star did not lead them to King Herods palace in Jerusalem. Herod was of Roman government in Jerusalem. He was under authority himself, but ruler of the kingdom of Israel. Not sure how far the territory of King Herod stretched, but what I do know is that the star proclaimed a king was born and so the wise men were in search of a new born king. Common sense is to go to the place of the land of Israel and see if a baby boy has been born to the house of Herod the king. To travel eastward from Midian on a map it does not look to far but I did not do a milage. What we know is the star appeared at the time of Jesus' birth, meaning the wise men were not at the birth or even soon after. There first stop at the palace only brought this news to the ears of Herod who would believe the wise men story of the appearance of a star and a king being born under the star. If they had followed the star to the palace then they would of gone directly to Bethelehem and perhaps been at the manger or soon after. Some believe Jesus was near age of two when the wise finally found baby Jesus for they came into a house.

When King Herod questioned the wise men oh how long ago did the star appear. Yet there is no answer to Herod on how long, but that he sent them away with the knowledge from the scribes and chief priest. Herod when he heard the news sought out the religious leaders of Israel only he did not know they lied to him for out of juda is not the least of princes, but one the greatest kings ever known has been born in bethelehem his name was David. Yet David was a humble man, even with all his victories and even sin. A king had been born to Israel, a king not known to the scribes that the Savior had been born or least no in the palace, for there were those of the priesthood that knew of the coming birth of Jesus. Now the stage is set for the continuation of the wise men tomorrow, but we going to at least make it to the house where Jesus is today in our story. For King Herod on hearing told the wise men to go find this baby and bring word to him where he is, so he could come worship this new born king. As the story goes we all know Herod became mighty jealous of a new king, but that tomorrow story.

The wise men looked up in that night sky and the star began to move in the sky toward Bethelehem. To understand the movement of this star is unusual, but also under that the star in the sky over the palace could be pointing to many locations. If I stand in my state of Virgina and you are in California the same star is going to be about the same location. The problem being is the angle in which it is looked at. Now if the star is over the middle of the Unite States and started moving down toward Texas, or start moving up to Montana, would we not go in search out this strange sight. The Wise Men were curious to see a new king based on their status to their tribe of people. Just like King Herod curiousity could of been as well, but Herod would feel threatened, because it would mean some sort of uprising may be taking place in his territory. For Wise Men it was pure curiousity that caused them to follow a moving star in the night sky. And when the star stopped it stopped over the house where the Baby Jesus Lived. So the star looked directly above and not at some angle or distance away from the house where Baby Jesus was. The wise men began to rejoice. They went into the house where the baby was and found Mary, Joseph and the babe. The wise men gave gifts to Baby Jesus, much like we give expectant mother's today. Frankinscense and myrrh, like lotion and powder we might give a new baby today or it is how those spices would be used probably and the gold would be used for what was needed for baby Jesus and his family.

That is not the final story of the pageant for Christmas, for after all the story does not end at the house where Mary and Joseph was staying. Yet what we can learn is the importance of the story is that wise men traveled from the south, from the arab/midian/moab world that had prophecy of a star came to pass. They too look for Christ to be a king over the land, for they looked not for a spiritual king. The world was unprepared for the spiritual king that had been born. They were looking in all the wrong places for a new king. They were looking in the palace a natural place for the next king to be born, only to find Herod had not had a son. How this must of bewilder the Midian/moab wise men. Often our world is looking for that global leader that seems to be a man of principal, leadership, acting ability and the ability to control a crowd. Most would say our nation has gone mad for President Trump, the rallies that had never been seen in such array as we seen in the last election. There are many rallies with each election, nothing is knew, but it was size of the rallies for President Trump that has perhaps shocked our nation. The impeachment in the house is not helping calm those rallies but stirring even more. It first time in history of America this type of celebritism has taken place over a President, usually our nation is more divided and yet it is still divided, even within party lines. Jesus when he came drew great crowds and people from distant lands even from the time of his birth and in the season of popularity. Jesus was to be spiritual king of our hearts and a leader in the way to live. Jesus did not appear as a king, but a humble baby in a manger and then a house. A manger for a bed and a throne for his first viewing to the world he was born into. Coming humbly into the world and not with silk and satin sheets but wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in manger. His life style not as a king, but has a carpenter son. Not a king with servants, but a king with disciples who follower and learn the ways of the Messiah. The Messiah showing his own servanthood by washing the feet of his disciples, turning water into wine, healing the sick, teach all classes of people, giving food to the crowd. Jesus was a babe that royality wanted to view him. Did anyone notice the wise men were rejoicing before they even enter the house. Meaning they were not at privilege to see the manger seen, the Messiah in all his humble dwelling and birth. Instead they would of seen him as a king. Think Joseph was a carpenter. He did work for a living. Carpentry can be very profitable when there is a job to do. From Manger to a house to the cross of Calvary and to the tomb where he laid. From hell to heaven and back again to teach the world of his grace. Now we wait for His return to rule in the New Jerusalem and not the one we see today.

Dear Heavnely Father, Let us rejoice in our Savior death and resurrection. Let us rejoice in his grace. Let us rejoice that God sent this blessed Savior to be born into this world in a little town called Bethelehem. Let us rejoice on Lord that your Son has been born, Emmanuel. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Isaiah 11:10 KJV And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.