Wise Men or Foolish Men?

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi (traditionally Wise Men) from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."—Matthew 2:1.2

Imagine how the local people made fun of the plans of these men as they got ready for their trip. "Where are you going? To the land of the Jews? Do you know how far that is? It will take you weeks, maybe months to get there! And what are you taking with you? All those expensive things? Why, with all the thieves and robbers along the way, don't expect to have anything left when you get there—if you get there alive at all!" 

Yet, if tradition is right about the names, Caspar, Melchior, and Belthasar experienced a pull on their hearts that others did not experience. They are called wise men, but their wisdom was certainly questioned before they left home. Still, the impulse inside of them urged them forward and that impulse was confirmed by what they saw in the sky!

After their long trip, when they arrived in Jerusalem, their faith was tested again. No welcome by the Jews when their king was born? And arriving at the house, what poverty! Their expensive gifts would seem so out of place. But praise God, their hearts were touched to see something their eyes did not see. Worship and adoration was the response of the Wise Men, and wise people today still worship Jesus. 

I can't help but wonder what these men reported to their families and friends after they returned home. When others asked them: What did you see? 

All they could say was that they saw an ordinary house with an ordinary mother and an apparently ordinary child. Others must have considered them to be not wise men, but foolish men to give away all their expensive gifts to a poor couple. Unknown to the wise men, the couple would probably need the resources to finance a necessary trip to Egypt and back. 

We can only hope that God opened the hearts of at least some of those who heard their report to join the Wise Men in worship! 

What can I give Him, 

 Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, 

  I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wise man,

  I would do my part.

Yet what I can give Him, 

  Give my heart. 

—Christina Rossetti