Some, like the shepherds, only had to go a little way when they heard the message to meet the Christ child. Others had much, much further to travel. The Maggi came from far away. Historians say it took between two and three years to reach Mary, Joseph, and the not quite baby Jesus.
Their journey started with seeing a message in the sky. A star had led them from afar, asking them to come and worship Jesus.
Their message only got them so far. So they asked their peer, King Herod for the final way. Maybe they thought the future king would be born in his house. Herod was able to assist them on the rest of their journey.
They came prepared, bringing gifts of Gold, riches for a king. Frankincense and myrrh were also given. Both of these spices had both medicinal and religious purposes and were fitting gifts for the Savior who had come to heal and save the world.
We don’t know how many came with the wisemen, or even how many wisemen there were. But I’m sure the tiny house of Mary and Joseph was quite busy while they were there, with guests that would never usually come.
When it was time to leave they received a different message, this time through a dream. They needed to take a different route home. The man who had helped them find the last little bit of their journey, wasn’t the friend they thought he was.
Next: King Herod
One Reply to “The Christmas Message: The Wisemen”