Dear Family and Friends,

We braved the crowds and traffic and went shopping this weekend.

Have you made your Christmas list? And checked it twice?

Did you remember to include Jesus on your list? After all He wasn’t naughty. In fact, He was beyond nice.

But does that explain why He received presents for His Birth Day?

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”  Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 NIV

Before we go much further, take note that the scriptures differ from the song – We Three Kings – we grew up singing.

There’s no mention of kings in the scriptures. Magi were part of a priestly caste in ancient Persia known for their wisdom and knowledge of the stars. They were influential and often advised kings. But they themselves were not kings.

And while the song says there were three kings, there’s no mention of the number of Magi in the scriptures. Yes, they brought three gifts but…

Also note that by the time the Magi arrived, baby Jesus was in a house and not a manger.

Would you agree that because of the Christmas song and perhaps a sermon or two, most of us focus on the gifts they brought – gold, frankincense and myrrh?

But the scriptures say that before these three expensive gifts were presented, the Magi gave Jesus a gift of even greater value. A gift we often overlook.

They bowed down and worshipped Him.

Now one has to ask, why would learned men who were not Jewish, and from another kingdom, feel compelled to bow down and worship Jesus?

And they even told Herod they came to worship the King of the Jews.

Perhaps they read these words of Balaam and Isaiah.

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”  Numbers 24:17 NIV

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6 NIV

Jesus was not their Lord. Yet the Magi believed Jesus was worthy of worship.

Jesus was still a newborn, incapable of doing anything for them. Yet they worshipped Him.

When we use the term worship today, we often mean singing.

Back then, worshipping someone meant bowing or prostrating oneself as a sign of submission to a higher authority and a deep sense of reverence.

Which leads us back to my initial question: is Jesus on our Christmas list?

And if so, what shall we get Him?

In Matthew 9, when Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees for dining with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus reminded the Pharisees of this passage from Hosea 6:

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”  Hosea 6:6 ESV

Jesus is worthy of our love. Worshipping Jesus as the Magi once did is an act of love.

Let’s give Him a special gift this Christmas – by worshipping Him and submitting all aspects of our lives to Him. For He truly is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

In love always,