A Newborn King

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.

Matt. 2:2b, NIV

Just before or shortly after this time the birth of Jesus, a mysterious star appeared unto a group of Gentile men who lived in the East – probably present-day Iran. These men, known to Christians worldwide as “The Wise Men,” were believers in God, the Creator, and they waited with anticipation for the coming of the Jewish Messiah.

Having studied the writings of the Jewish prophets, they were familiar with the prophecy of Balaam as recorded in the book of Numbers. “A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel…Out of Jacob One shall have dominion” (Num. 24:17b, 19a, NKJV). Led by God, they believed that the mysterious star was the star of the newborn King, and they began to follow it westward. Matthew tells us the story.

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magifrom 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.’ When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written’” (Matt. 2:1-5, NIV).

We do not know how many “Wise Men” or Magi came to Jerusalem nor exactly when they arrived, but some scholars have speculated that Jesus may have been at least one year old. King Herod was surprised and frightened by the questions asked by this elite group. He ruled Palestine with an iron rod, and it was obvious that he did not know a newborn king was living in his land. No one had told him about the baby “Jesus” who had been born in Bethlehem. Herod was a mentally disturbed man and was extremely fearful that he would lose the throne. He made it a practice of eliminating any potential competition and wasted no time devising a scheme for finding and killing the newborn King.

“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me so that I too may go and 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route” (Matt 2:7-12, NIV).

Notice that they came to a house. They now have permanent residence in Bethlehem. Why they did not return to Nazareth after the birth of Jesus, we do not know.

Since Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords for Jews and Gentiles, God used both groups to present His Son’s credentials. The shepherds were Jews, and the “wise men” were Gentiles. God chose Gentiles to bring gifts that symbolized the newborn King’s future role. Gold, a precious metal, was symbolic of His Kingship; frankincense, a sweet incense, represented by the fragrance of His life; and myrrh, an ointment used to embalm the dead, reminds us of His death as payment for the sins of all.

There does not seem to be a prophecy that relates to the bringing of gifts at the first advent of Christ, but there is one relating to His Millennial Kingdom.

Let us look at the words of Isaiah: “Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.” (Isa 60:6, NIV).

These Gentiles will bring gifts to Jesus, the Messiah, when He returns to reign as King of kings at Mount Zion. Myrrh is not included in this gift list. Why? Because it was the symbol of death – Jesus conquered death during His first advent.

After the “Wise Men” departure, Joseph was warned about Herod’s plot. “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt, I called my son‘” (Matt 2:13-15, NIV).

“After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.’ So, he got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene” (Matt 2:19-23, NIV).

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52, NIV).

Why did Joseph and Mary feel safe returning to Nazareth at this time?  We don’t know how old Jesus was – perhaps he was a young boy. By then, any social issues in Nazareth probably would have been resolved.

When He was twelve years of age, He demonstrated that He was wise beyond His years as He sat in the temple at the feet of the teachers listening and asking questions. “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:47, NIV).  The Scriptures are silent on the life of Jesus between the ages of twelve and thirty. It seems that Joseph had died, and perhaps, Jesus had continued in the trade of a carpenter, as would be the custom of the Jews.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® 2011 by Zondervan Corporation.  Used by permission. All rights reserved. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible, copyright @ 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.