Advent | A Family ReflectionSample

Worth the Journey
by Mark Buchanan

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Matthew 2:11

The Magi were thoroughly, completely, pagan. But they had this inkling that there was truth out there worth the longest, most dangerous, most arduous journey—worth bringing their best gifts for. Something in their hearts that said, There’s something out there. Let’s go looking. They decided to go hundreds of miles at great expense to try to find out if it was true. The people least in possession of the truth were those most passionately in pursuit of it.

These Magi men come into Jerusalem and they’re not guarded at all. They’re asking everybody, “Where’s this king that was to be born? We want to see him and worship him. Do you know where he is?”

Their question finally reaches Herod, who is disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. It’s interesting that Herod gives the best piece of advice in the story: “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” (Matt. 2:8). He’s lying. He’s not going to worship; he’s going to go with a dagger hidden in his cloak. 

But would you pay attention to what Herod is saying here? Go and make a careful search for Christ. 

When you find him, worship him and tell others, that they might worship as well. He is the one worthy of the long journey. He’s the one worthy of all the gifts you might give him; gold, incense, whatever precious thing you’ve got. He’s the one for whom it’s worth it to defy a king and take the long way home—which is what these men do. They will inconvenience themselves however they must—because this is Christ the Lord. 

Contemplate Matthew 2:1–12. What words would you use to characterize the wise men’s pursuit of truth? What is most compelling to you about their example?

Mark Buchanan is an associate professor of pastoral theology at the Ambrose Seminary and the author of numerous books including Your Church Is Too Safe.