The Nativity SceneSample

The final group depicted in the nativity scene are the wise men or magi. These were most likely astronomers from a non-Jewish faith who saw the star appear in the sky the night of Jesus’ birth. They knew this event foretold a cosmic shift in the world. They traveled to find the source of this event and more than likely heard the news of the birth of Jesus. So they went to King Herod because they wanted to meet this new king to honor and worship Him. 

Herod, being the current Roman-appointed king of Israel, was not too happy to hear about this threat to his reign. This is the difference between Herod and the wise men: where Herod saw a threat, the wise men saw hope. Herod saw Jesus, not as a Savior who could rescue him, but someone who threated his control over Israel and his own decision making. Herod was used to being the one who gave the commands and made the rules. He didn’t want to obey God’s Son. But even though the wise men weren’t raised to worship God, they knew that Jesus’ birth represented something powerful and amazing. They saw hope and felt joy when they heard the news about Jesus. 

Our own lives are met with the same choice. When we hear about Jesus and understand the Gospel, He becomes our savior and our king. That means we are giving up our own decision-making control for our lives. We now live our lives focused on the King, not on ourselves. So the question is, are you like Herod? Do you see Jesus as a threat? Or are you like the wise men, who saw Jesus as a hope for their life?

Reflection Questions:

Why do you think the wise men were willing to travel so far to find Jesus?

What areas of your life do you struggle to give up control over in your walk with Jesus?

Do you see Jesus more as a threat or a hope for your life?