“Revelation brings celebration”

In Matthew Chapter 2 verse 1 reads, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” The word “wise” translated in the Greek means magician.  It comes from the root word “magiah” or magi which means sorcery.  It is safe to say that the wise men were not God-fearing Jews or believing believers.  They were pagan idol worshippers.  Most likely they were trained students of the stars and some historians say they were “as astrologers”.  Regardless they practiced sorcery.

The Bible says they came from the East.  Historians have determined they probably came from Persia (modern day Iran). Verse 2 says that they saw His star.  Notice they didn’t see “a” star but His star.  Numbers 24:17 reads “I see Him but not now. I behold Him, but not near.  A Star shall come out of Jacob.”  Balaam was a Baal worshipping prophet who was called upon by King Balak to prophecy and curse Israel.  But he couldn’t.  He could only prophesy good toward them and blessings.  He prophesied a Star would come out of Jacob which is a reference to Jesus.  Revelation 22:16, Jesus calls himself, “the bright and morning star.” I believe that the star seen by the wise men was not an astrological occurrence.  I believe the wise men had a supernatural encounter with the living God while in Persia.  I believe they went from worshipping many idols to worshipping the one, true God.  Scripture gives us many many clues.  First and foremost they had been given revelation because scripture says that they asked where is the one born King of the Jews.  They initially saw His (notice this is capitalized in your Bible) star in the East.  The sun rises in the east. 

Jesus is the bright and morning star.  They were traveling from Persia to Bethlehem going from east to west.  Then scripture says that they had come to worship Him.  Idol worshippers don’t suddenly start to worship Jehovah God.  Next, this star moved. It went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was.  No one saw this star except the wise men.  Herod and the people in Jerusalem didn’t see it because he asked them when it appeared.  In Luke’s account the shepherds were tending their flocks by night.  They didn’t see the star.  If everyone had seen this incredible heavenly light, multitudes would have followed it. 

I believe because of their encounter back in Persia, the bright and morning star appeared to them and supernaturally guided them to the exact spot where Jesus was.  If you have ever seen a conjunction in the sky, it doesn’t suddenly start moving.  It is fixed in the sky although it moves with the rotation of the earth.  When the star stood over where Jesus was, the Bible says that the wise men rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  Pagan idol worshippers certainly wouldn’t be rejoicing over seeing the star.  But it gets better.  The Bible says they came into the home and fell down and worshipped Him.  There is no doubt that these men had received revelation back in Persia.  And they came bearing gifts which all spoke prophetically concerning Christ.  

When you have a supernatural encounter with Christ, you receive revelation of His nature and character and it causes you to fall down and worship Him.  Your desire for Him intensifies.  It will drive you to seek more of Him.  You would be willing to ride a camel from Persia to Jerusalem to see Him in person wouldn’t you?  May this holiday season bring you greater revelation of Jesus. Revelation brings celebration.  AND IT MAY CAUSE YOU TO CELEBRATE WHO HE IS!!