The Gifts the Magi Receivedنموونە

Day 2: The Gift of Joy

The second gift in the story of the magi is the gift of indescribable joy. Yet sadly in this same story, we’ll also see the absence of such joy.

The magi leave Jerusalem on the final leg of their journey to Bethlehem. God’s gift of the star reappears and marks the spot where Jesus is. When they see the star, their hearts overflow with a kind of joy that Matthew struggles to put into words. One translation captures his efforts: “they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy!” (Matthew 2:10 ESV). We’re then left to imagine the even greater joy that must have filled their hearts when they stepped inside and came face to face with the king they’d traveled so far to meet.

It shouldn't surprise us that the magi rejoiced at the sight of the star pointing to Jesus. Christ has a way of spreading joy wherever He goes. Luke tells us of the first meeting between Jesus and John the Baptist which occurs in their mother’s wombs. A pregnant Mary goes to meet her cousin, Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. Before Elizabeth has a chance to greet Mary, the baby in her womb (John the Baptist) “leaps for joy” (Luke 1:41, 44). It’s a lovely sensation to feel a baby kicking in a womb but this seems like no ordinary kick; it’s a joyful kick brought on by the nearby presence of the unborn Jesus. Elizabeth’s reaction is also filled with joy and so is Mary’s.

As the magi experience this same overflowing joy in the presence of Jesus, there’s a noticeable absence of joy back in Jerusalem where the Bible experts stayed behind. They’ll have heard the rumours about a new king and Herod even asked about it, yet they remain in Jerusalem. Their promised Messiah is just 10 kilometres down the road in Bethlehem yet the Bible experts don’t go. Herod also stays behind plotting murder.

This stark contrast of joy and the absence of it serves to warn us. God’s gracious invitation to meet Jesus was given equally to the magi, the chief priests, teachers of the law, and even Herod. God invited all of them, sinners of different nations, tribes, and tongues, to receive His life-saving, indescribable, joy-giving salvation. He invites us to experience the same today. And yet many of us don’t take Him up on His offer. What a joy we miss out on when we don’t accept God’s invitation to be in His presence.

Reflect:
Take a moment and reflect on a time when Jesus brought you joy. What specifically made you joyful? Ask the Lord that you’ll know His joy afresh.