RSVP to Jesus’ Birthday Party
Day 19
Scripture
Mathhew 2:1-2
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.”
Devotional
There is a lot to unpack in these two short verses. They are essentially the ultimate RSVP as they give us the who, what, when and where of who Jesus is, and who he is to become!
Let’s start with When. Verse 1 tells us After Jesus was born- now it doesn’t tell us how long after Jesus was born, but it was likely longer than a few hours which is what is often depicted in Christmas plays and manger scenes where the 3 wise men are on the scene while Jesus is still wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Next it tells us Where Jesus was born- in Bethlehem in Judea- which is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Micah 5.
Then it tells us the Who: Magi from the east. Ancient magi were often well versed in astronomy, astrology, interpretation of dreams and magic. It was also a common idea in antiquity that the birth or death of great men was accompanied by heavenly signs. And so here they are- having seen the rising of a star and had the faith to follow it to discover its significance. And the fact that they mention they are from the east is important as well. The word used for the “East” in this passage is anatolai, which really means “the rising” which suggests the imagery of light, which is often associated with salvation throughout scripture.
Finally, we hear What the Magi have come to do- they have come to Worship “the one who has been born king of the Jews.”
Now, why would Magi, from far away, want to worship a small child who is to be “king of the Jews?” Perhaps they knew already that Jesus was to be a different kind of king. Perhaps they knew of the light He would bring to the world.
Prayer
Jesus, may your light shine so brightly in our lives that others will drawn to it so that we might tell them about your goodness and mercy. Amen.
Challenge
What would the RSVP of our life look like? Who are we seeking? What is our focus, our legacy? Where are we from and where are we going? When will we invite others to join us along the journey?
By Ashley Doster
