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When Jesus was Born, January 3
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem...there came wise men from the
east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
Matthew 2:1, 2
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The King of glory stooped low to take humanity; and angels, who had
witnessed His splendor in the heavenly courts, as He was worshiped by all
the heavenly hosts, were disappointed to find their divine Commander in a
position of so great humiliation.
The Jews had separated themselves so far from God by their wicked
works, that angels could not communicate to them the tidings of the advent
of the infant Redeemer. God chooses the wise men of the East to do His
will....
These wise men had seen the heavens illuminated with light, which
enshrouded the heavenly host who heralded the advent of Christ to the
humble shepherds....
This light was a distant cluster of flaming angels, which appeared like
a luminous star. The unusual appearance of the large bright star, which
they had never seen before, hanging as a sign in the heavens, attracted their
attention....The wise men directed their course where the star seemed to
lead them. And as they drew nigh to the city of Jerusalem, the star was
enshrouded in darkness, and no longer guided them. They reasoned that the
Jews could not be ignorant of the great event of the advent of the Messiah,
and they made inquiries in the vicinity of Jerusalem.
The wise men are surprised to see no unusual interest upon the subject
of the coming of the Messiah....They marvel that the Jews are not interested
and joyful in prospect of this great event of the advent of Christ.
The churches of our time are seeking worldly aggrandizement, and are
as unwilling to see the light of the prophecies, and receive the evidences of
their fulfillment which show that Christ is soon to come, as were the Jews
in reference to His first appearing. They were looking for the temporal and
triumphant reign of Messiah in Jerusalem. Professed Christians of our time
are expecting the temporal prosperity of the church, in the conversion of
the world, and the enjoyment of the temporal millennium.
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