Chapter 3—The Visit of the Wise Men
God wanted the people to know about the coming of Christ to
the earth. The priests should have taught the people to look for the
Saviour; but they themselves did not know of His coming.
So God sent angels to tell the shepherds that Christ was born, and
where they might find Him.
So, too, when Jesus was presented at the temple, there were those
who received Him as the Saviour. God had preserved the lives of
Simeon and Anna, and they had the joyful privilege of testifying that
Jesus was the promised Messiah.
God meant for others, as well as the Jews, to know that Christ had
come. In a country far to the east were wise men who had studied the
prophecies concerning the Messiah, and who believed that His coming
was near.
The Jews called these men heathen; but they were not idolaters.
They were honest men, who wanted to know the truth, and to do the
will of God.
God looks upon the heart, and He knew that these men could be
trusted. They were in a better condition to receive light from Heaven
[22]
[23]
than were the Jewish priests, who were so full of selfishness and pride.
These wise men were philosophers. They had studied the handi-
work of God in nature, and had learned to love Him there. They had
studied the stars, and knew their movements.
They loved to watch the heavenly bodies in their nightly march. If
a new star should be seen, they would welcome its appearance as a
great event.
On that night when the angels came to the shepherds of Bethlehem,
the wise men had noticed a strange light in the sky. It was the glory
which surrounded the angel host.
When this light faded away, they had seen in the heavens what
looked like a new star. At once they thought of the prophecy which
says, “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise
out of Israel.”
Numbers 24:17
. Was this star a sign that the Messiah
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