Thoughts on who came to see the Christ Child

As we approach the blessed time of Christmas, there are so many aspects and layers to consider in the Nativity. One thought worth mentioning is who visited the Christ Child when He arrived and who did not. There were a select few.

The Shepherds’ Story

 Luke 2: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The Wisemen’s Story

Matthew 2: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, ^[a]wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

⁵ So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the ^[b]wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Who were the shepherds? Who were the wise men? How were these unique group of people selected to be the first visitors to the Baby Jesus?

It was very special that the birth of the baby who would later be called “The Good Shepherd” was announced to these men. Shepherds were usually some of the lowest in society, yet first to receive an invitation to the Divine Birth. Despite their low position, they knew the Scripture and believed the promise. The fact that the announcement was made by angels didn’t hurt, either!  When the shepherds heard that there was a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, they knew that this was truly the Lamb of God. An unblemished lamb, being prepared for sacrifice, was wrapped up in clothes to prevent from injuring itself in the stone feed trough. The swaddling clothes were also a foreshadowing of the grave clothes left in the tomb when Christ was resurrected. Revealing the Savior first to shepherds demonstrated God’s love for the common man.

The wise men who came from the East, didn’t come right away because it is thought that they had to travel hundreds of miles from Persia, or modern-day Iran. They were considered kings, academics, and astrologers. Their faith came from knowing the writings of Daniel, who had been the chief of the court seers in Persia. Daniel 9:24-27 gave a prophecy for the timeline for the birth of the Messiah. What scholar could have refused scientific inquiry into a star of this magnitude? Their curiosity would not allow them to stay away. Their inclusion showed that God not only wants our hearts, but our minds, too. He wants all of us! It also underscores that Christ is for the whole world.

Each group came willingly because of the hearing and believing of the Word. No businessmen, medical people, government officials and least of all, clergy were there. This group was closer to Bethlehem, but they just couldn’t be bothered. With each group of people that did come, wonder drew them, worship was the result. May your curiosity be aroused about this Light and may you be drawn to Jesus this Christmas, realize the wonder of encountering Him personally and worship Him as the only Savior and King. #Christmas #Salvation #Hope #Shepherds #Wisemen