The Search Of The Wise Men

Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.
–Matthew 2:2

In Matthew 2:1-2, the wise men “arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’” The tense of this verb “saying” indicates continuous action. They did not just ask one time; they kept on inquiring of everyone around them. Not only did these wise men know that Christ was coming, but they were looking for a sign. This star led them to believe that the Messiah had arrived.

I have seen all kinds of explanations of what the star was. Some people believe it was a comet; other people believe it was the intersection of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation Pisces that occurred in 7 BC. My own belief is this was the Shekinah glory of God that was leading them. It was the same Shekinah, the same light of God, that led the Israelites in the Old Testament. It was that same Shekinah glory that enveloped the shepherds when the angel announced the coming of Christ. I think that is what the star was. But whatever it was, do not miss the point: it was a supernatural act of God that led the wise men to Jesus Christ.

I am often asked, “What about people around the world who have never heard of Jesus Christ? How could God condemn them to Hell because they never heard of Jesus?” The Bible is clear: there is no other way to God than faith in Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). You cannot find one example in the New Testament of anyone in any part of the world who was ever saved apart from personally trusting in the name of Jesus Christ for salvation. When Jesus knelt in Gethsemane, He said, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me” (Luke 22:42). He was saying, “Father, if there is any way other than the cross, make it known now.” But Heaven was silent because there was no other way. If there is a way for people to come to God other than through faith in Jesus Christ, then the death of Christ was unnecessary. Jesus gave His life because there was no other way.

So how can people who have never heard of Christ come to Him? Look at the wise men. When God saw these men who sincerely wanted to know God, He was willing to do whatever it took to bring them to faith in Jesus. He put a star in the sky to lead them directly to Jesus. And He does the same thing today. When God sees someone in this world who really wants to know Him, you can trust that God will do whatever it takes. That is the kind of loving God we serve.

That is what the star tells us: God wants to redeem people, and He is willing to lead anybody to a knowledge of Christ who truly wants it.

Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Wise Men Still Seek Him” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2017.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.lockman.org)