Matthew 2:3-6
The story of the Magi traveling east, following a star, and arriving at the feet of Jesus to worship, is part of the Christmas story that many of us know well. We even sing a song about it.
“We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, Moor and mountain,
Following yonder Star.”
We don’t know that there were three kings, but we’ll go with it for the song’s sake. The Magi are a part of the story, and they’re part of the Nativity sets that adorn our mantels. For good reason, they arrive at Jesus’ home and worship at His feet.
But there’s another group in the story, one you never see in a Nativity set: the scribes and chief priests. And they could have been there. They were the ones who told Herod exactly where the Messiah would be born (Matthew 2:5–6). These were people who had built their lives around Scripture. When the question was asked, they didn’t hesitate. They knew the prophecy. They knew the location. They had the right answers.
But they didn’t move. They never went to see the Christ-child for themselves. They never bowed in worship. The tragedy is that Bethlehem was only about five miles from Jerusalem. Five miles, and they never went. The truth didn’t stir them. The promise didn’t interrupt their routines. They settled for knowing about the Messiah without ever encountering Him.
That contrast should give us pause. It’s possible to be close to Jesus and still miss Him. It’s possible to know Scripture, attend services, sing the songs, and yet never take the steps that lead us to His feet. Familiarity can quietly replace hunger. Proximity can dull urgency. We can settle for studying about Jesus instead of seeking Him.
The Magi come with questions, curiosity, and holy hunger; and that hunger moves them. The scribes come with certainty and settle. One group travels hundreds of miles to worship. The other won’t walk five. This story invites us to ask ourselves where we might be settling for information instead of encountering. Where have we stopped short? Where have we grown comfortable with knowing the truth without letting it move us?
Christmas isn’t just about recognizing who Jesus is; it’s about responding to Him. The invitation is still open: Don’t stop five miles short. Seek. Surrender. Sacrifice.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Ryan