Joyful and Obedient Worship (Matthew 2:1-12)

We naturally get excited to do, see, eat, or experience the things we love. Even if it means driving long distances to get to our favorite restaurant, paying a high price for front row seats to our most loved band, or waiting in a 2-hour line to get on our favorite ride at Disneyland, we do all these things with more than willing hearts because of how much we treasure the object or experience. 

In the same way, the wise men traveled hundreds of miles in eager anticipation of meeting the King of the Jews. They didn't mind what it would cost them to make this journey because their goal was to worship the much-anticipated Savior (v.2)

Once they arrived in Bethlehem, they “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” because the star that was guiding them on their journey had finally brought them to their King (v. 10). I can imagine excitement they felt, as their hearts burst with such joy.

It’s not unlike the emotion a new mother has when she meets her baby for the first time after 9 months of pregnancy and hours of labor and delivery. However, the thrill of seeing Jesus far exceeds that because Christ had been awaited for thousands of years since He was first foretold to Adam and Eve after the fall (Gen 3:15). The one the wise men sought hard after, traveled hundreds miles for, who would redeem the world from sin and condemnation was in front of their very eyes!

In response to seeing the Savior of the world, the wise men immediately fell down in worship (v.10). Worship is the expression of love and adoration with one's whole being. We often express love to people with our words, handmade gifts, spending quality time, etc. But the wise men bowed their knees to Christ because He is not just the one they love but also God Himself – the One who existed before the beginning, the almighty Creator, King of kings, and Lord of lords. The One who is sovereign and all powerful. 

That wasn't all they did though. The wise men also presented gifts to express their love and worship to Jesus. But they weren’t any ordinary gifts. The gold, frankincense, and myrrh were all rare and precious items worthy of the Savior.

The last thing we're told about the wise men is that instead of informing Herod the location of the child, they depart to their own country a different way as warned by God in a dream. Their final act of worship is their submission to God. What a beautiful picture of joyful and obedient worship through the story of the wise men!

As Christians on this side of the cross, we can display an even more beautiful worship through our lives (Rom 12:1). Because Christ died for us, reconciled us to the Father, and lives in us through the Holy Spirit, we are able to give more than just bowing the knee and precious gifts. We can give our entire hearts and lives. 

In fact, this is exactly what God wants from us and is worthy of. He calls us to turn away from our idols and treasure Christ, putting him above all else. We can willingly and eagerly love God with all our heart, soul, and mind because God loved us first. We can love him with joyful hearts because of the sure hope of salvation and victory over sin and death that Christ won for us. 

If this is not the case in your life right now either because there is an idol you are clinging onto or you have not yet received the gift of salvation, I urge you to turn to Jesus. Run to him and seek him because he is a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Ex 34:6-7).