116
The Truth About Angels
The wise men directed their course where the star seemed to lead
them. As they drew nigh to the city of Jerusalem, the star was en-
shrouded in darkness, and no longer guided them. They reasoned
that the Jews at Jerusalem could not be ignorant of the great event of
the advent of the Messiah, and they made inquiries in the vicinity of
Jerusalem. They plainly stated their errand. They were in search of
Jesus, the king of the Jews, for they had seen His star in the east, and
[163]
had come to worship Him.—
Redemption or the First Advent of Christ
With His Life and Ministry 16
.
The arrival of the magi was quickly noised throughout Jerusalem.
Their strange errand created an excitement among the people, which
penetrated to the palace of King Herod. The wily Edomite was aroused
at the intimation of a possible rival....
Herod suspected the priests of plotting with the strangers to excite
a popular tumult and unseat him from the throne. He concealed his
mistrust, however, determined to thwart their schemes by superior
cunning. Summoning the chief priests and the scribes, he questioned
them as to the teaching of their sacred books in regard to the place of
the Messiah’s birth.
This inquiry from the usurper of the throne, and made at the request
of strangers, stung the pride of the Jewish teachers. The indifference
with which they turned to the rolls of prophecy enraged the jealous
tyrant. He thought them trying to conceal their knowledge of the matter.
With an authority they dared not disregard, he commanded them to
make close search, and to declare the birthplace of their expected King.
“And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written
by the prophet....
The priests and elders of Jerusalem were not as ignorant concerning
the birth of Christ as they pretended. The report of the angels’ visit to
the shepherds had been brought to Jerusalem, but the rabbis had treated
it as unworthy of their notice. They themselves might have found
Jesus, and might have been ready to lead the magi to His birthplace;
[164]
but instead of this, the wise men came to call their attention to the birth
of the Messiah. “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” they
said; “for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship
Him.”
Now pride and envy closed the door against the light. If the reports
brought by the shepherds and the wise men were credited, they would