They worshipped

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 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. – Matthew 2v10-11

This is an interesting and thought provoking image. In our best efforts to battle the awful corruption of the Christmas holiday season we can be tempted to downplay the importance of the event we remember. Even when we do celebrate Christmas we can be tempted to almost apologise by putting a disclaimer on it saying that while the birth is important, there are more important things to think about.

And in a sense this is right. The secular part of Christmas has nothing to do with the spiritual. The world has corrupted and perverted the holiday. Besides, everybody is born, and everyone dies, but only Jesus dies for our sins and rose again on the third day in victory over death. That does make Resurrection Sunday the highlight of our Christian year. We do need to be careful not to get caught up in all the external trappings of either the Christmas or Easter seasons.

But let us consider for a moment one of the events associated with the birth of Christ. About a year or so, maybe two years, after the birth wise men who had heard of the prophecy of Messiah’s birth were directed to Jesus’ home by a star. When they arrived at the house notice what they did. When they saw the baby and Mary they ‘fell down and worshipped Him.’ They worshipped the child Jesus.

Why did they worship Him? I am not sure. Did they know the full prophecy? Did they worship Him because they were some sort of mystics who did this think all the time? Like I said, I don’t know for sure, but I do know who put the star in place to draw them there.

If the child Jesus was worthy of worship from the wise men, is He worthy of our worship? Jesus was 'born to die' as the song goes, but He had to be born in order to die. On the Sunday morning, as we have just come through the Easter season, lets pause and give thanks for His incarnation.