First Advent of Christ
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joyful tidings everywhere, of the wondrous glory they had seen, and
the celestial praises they had heard from the lips of the heavenly host.
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
[20]
to do his will.
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days
of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to
Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we
have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” These men
were not Jews; but they had been waiting for the predicted Messiah.
They had studied prophecy, and knew the time was at hand when
Christ would come; and they were anxiously watching for some sign
of this great event, that they might be among the first to welcome
the infant heavenly King, and worship him. These wise men were
philosophers, and had studied the works of God in nature. In the
wonders of the heavens, in the glories of the sun, moon, and stars,
they traced the finger of God. They were not idolaters. They lived up
to the dim light which shone upon them. These men were regarded
by the Jews as heathen; but they were more pure in the sight of God
than the Jews who had been privileged with great light, and who made
exalted professions, yet did not live up to the light God had given them.
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. And after the angels returned to Heaven, a
luminous star appeared, and lingered in the heavens.
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. They were not privileged to hear the procla-
mation of the angels to the shepherds. But the Spirit of God moved
[21]
them out to seek this heavenly Visitor to a fallen world. 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