On a Journey Towards Jesus

Matthew 2: 1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

As we continue to unpack the vision for City Church through the Christmas story, we see in the Magi a model of what it looks like to move toward Jesus. We'll unpack it throughout the week, but in particular today, I want to focus on the decision of the Magi to seek him out in the first place.

The Magi were from far away - outside of the group of people for whom the Messiah was expected to come - yet they came to see and worship him anyway. They wanted to partake in his blessing. 

And everything about this story in Matthew suggests that their visit was welcomed by Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. We are told Mary "treasured these things in her heart." Perhaps she saw the visit of the Magi as a symbol of the wide and welcoming ministry Jesus would eventually have. 

If you are at City Church and you feel like you’re outside of the group of people that Jesus came for, the Magi are evidence that you are not! What does it mean to you that the Magi are listed as being among the first people in Jesus’ life to understand the meaning of his birth?