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“We Have Seen His Star”
37
No Royal Guard
At Bethlehem they found no royal guard to protect the newborn
King. None of the world’s honored men were in attendance. Jesus
was cradled in a manger, His parents His only guardians. Could this
be He who should “raise up the tribes of Jacob,” be “a light to the
Gentiles,” and “salvation unto the end of the earth”?
Isaiah 49:6
.
“When they were come into the house, they saw the young child
with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him. Then
they poured out their gifts—“gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
What a faith was theirs!
The wise men, not penetrating Herod’s design, prepared to return
to Jerusalem to acquaint him with their success. But in a dream they
received a message to hold no further communication with him.
Avoiding Jerusalem, they set out for their own country by another
route.
In like manner Joseph received warning to flee to Egypt with
Mary and the child. Joseph obeyed without delay, setting out by
night for greater security.
The wise men’s inquiries in Jerusalem, the popular interest ex-
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cited, and even the jealousy of Herod, compelled the attention of the
priests and rabbis and directed minds to the prophecies concerning
the Messiah and the great event that had taken place.
Satan, bent on shutting out the divine light from the world,
used his utmost cunning to destroy the Saviour. But He who never
slumbers nor sleeps provided in a heathen land a refuge for Mary
and the child Jesus. And through the gifts of the magi from a heathen
country, the Lord supplied the means for the journey to Egypt and
the sojourn in a land of strangers.
Herod’s Terrible Massacre
Herod in Jerusalem impatiently awaited the return of the wise
men. As time passed and they did not appear, his suspicions were
roused. Had the rabbis penetrated his design and had the magi
purposely avoided him? He was maddened at the thought. Through
force he would make an example of this child-king.