Some call us kings, but monarchy is for others. Some call us wise – I doubt that too.

We are fortunate enough to have the wherewithal to give time to study, reflect and interpret – particularly the stars. We believe that the whole universe is an integrated whole and so any momentous earthly event is reflected in the heavens. So, when we see an unusual stellar phenomenon we try to interpret what corresponding, remarkable event will take place on earth. Does that make us wise?

We saw something; but we couldn’t identify it exactly. It might have been a supernova, or possibly Jupiter in conjunction with Saturn. When that happens, it appears like a very bright star. It occurred 3 times in the year…the year you call 7BC. We regard Jupiter as a royal planet and Saturn as representing the Jews. We wondered if this meant a new king of the Jews was about to be born.

New stars for great men were in fashion, ever since a nova, that’s new star, appeared soon after Julius Caesar’s death, forty or so years before.

And, all this was congruent with the common understanding that a global empire would arise from Judea. No wonder the Romans were jittery. Some of us even believed that our nocturnal observations correlated with what we’d read in Jewish scriptures, concerning an anticipated Messiah, in the book of Numbers,

“a star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel.”[1]

Was this star, set against the night sky, symbolic of a new light coming into a dark world? Did it symbolise a new age was dawning?

Curiosity got the better of us. We decided to investigate, and prepared for a long journey west.

Pause

Royal protocol demands that when granted an audience with a king tribute is paid in the form of gifts to symbolise one acknowledged wealth is held only by the graciousness of the King, who had the power to give and take away. It also represented respect, submission and allegiance.

We took gold, the traditional gift for royalty, and frankincense. That was used in the Temple by the priests. They believed their prayers ascended to God as it burned and that God enjoyed its sweet smell. If we were correct this child would not only be King but a great high priest, a mediator, between man and God … moreover, he’d break down the barriers separating humankind from God enabling everyone … anyone to come to him and have a personal relationship with him as if he were.. as if he were…..as if he were their, kindly, loving father.

And myrrh; we took myrrh. It’s used to embalm the dead. Somehow that seemed an appropriate gift too.

Pause

The journey was long, but we eventually reached Jerusalem, the capital of Judea, where the current king resided, albeit with the permission of Rome whose forces occupied the land. Surely, a king of Jews would be born there.

Once in Jerusalem we consulted their learned scholars, enquiring, “Where is the one born to be King of the Jews, we’ve seen his star in the east and have come to worship him?”

Our presence and purpose were immediately reported to the King and we were summoned to Herod’s palace; but we were sworn to secrecy, no word of this was to get out. No king tolerates a rival. If the Romans got to hear of it Herod’s position would be untenable. Even we felt a little anxious.

We were ushered into the throne room. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife. Herod looked distinctly troubled. He was surrounded by all the chief priests and teachers of the law, asking them where the Messiah would be born. “Bethlehem,” they’d said, and quoted supporting evidence from their prophet Micah, leaving the king in no doubt.

He wanted to know from us the exact time we saw the star. Then he commanded us to go to Bethlehem.

It’s not far from Jerusalem only about 5 miles. We expected an escort of Herodian guards and a cohort of priests and learned men but surprisingly none came with us; we travelled alone. Our observations, curiosity and enquiry had taken us many miles. These priests and religious leaders had been expecting the Messiah for years, hundreds of years yet they didn’t appear sufficiently interested to accompany us, or perhaps they feared Herod’s censure, who knows?

Herod was meticulous with his instructions. We were to search for the child and then report back. Herod said, he would similarly go and pay homage.

When we arrived in Bethlehem the star appeared as if directly above the place we found the child. I wondered if this was indeed our final destination, for it was certainly no palace, just a humble home; but we were full of expectation. We knocked at the door and were let in, and there we saw him, the boy with his mother. A sense of awe drove us to our knees and we worshipped him, knowing him to be a King, one so small, so vulnerable, so dependent and yet so great, so powerful, so mighty.

Then we presented our gifts and departed.

That night each of us dreamt that to report to Herod would put the child, Jesus, at risk, so we took an alternative route home. Now that was wise; and we might have placed ourselves in danger too.

As we journeyed east, we wondered about the boy Jesus, how he might establish a new Kingdom and what kind of Kingdom that might be. He was born in Bethlehem, King of the Jews, but surely he was King for everyone, Jews and gentiles alike.

They call us wise. Real wisdom involves using knowledge, experience and common sense to discern what is true, right, or lasting. Perhaps you consider talk of stars, nonsense; but when God spoke to Isaiah many years ago he said; “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”[2]

We’d acted on what God had shown us. Our journey was transformational, life-giving, life-enhancing. We met Jesus, God’s Messiah. As we travelled I wondered whether we ourselves were like stars, that when our story was told others might see at path lit up and make their own journey, seeking Jesus for themselves.

Is there a star in your life? What sign has God given you about his love for the world; and how do you interpret it? Have you followed that star? Where is your journey leading? What gift have you to offer?

And will you, like men of wisdom before you, recount your story and be a star for others leading them to Jesus and his Kingdom.

[1] Numbers 24:17

[2] Isaiah 55:8