Overjoyed in the Lord

Still with those earthly witnesses, the Magi who came from far to receive and worship King Jesus, we are told of their disposition and response on being made first-hand witnesses of God, Immanuel. When they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Matthew 2: 9 – 11a.

But suddenly, having found the King of the Jews and preparing to make their final act of service, that of honouring the king’s wishes, they are stopped. In this Spirit-guided trip, guided by a heavenly star, they are warned not to go the way they came, through Herod. Is it not true that the young Jesus, the Living Word, in a place chosen by God Himself, is being threatened by ill will - hostility and life-threatening danger – in the very place to which He is the Good News?

Overnight, without prior warning, these worshippers of the New Born King, ecstatic and overjoyed to be led to the place where Jesus was, have not lost any of their zeal and joy at having a successful mission. As far as they are concerned, they have only to go this route which they came, through Herod, and repay his courtesies. But all that changes overnight, as they have to abandon courtesies, such as their word of promise to return with information about the Christ Child. They have been sent home choosing another way, a route which was not at all in their plans.

Without resistance, without question or doubt, these Magi, believe the warning given to them in a dream. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2: 12.

Magi, worshippers of King Jesus, whose mission did not come to the conclusion they had thought would be, leave, not with defeat, regrets, or deep feelings of not honouring their word to the earthly King Herod. They leave, as they came, following Divine guidance and intervention. Obedience to God’s Authority, promises and reaps much greater rewards than obedience to human authority.

Does not the Advent Story provide us this example, which stimulates us to be bold to trust Divine voices, Divine dreams, Divine wisdom and Divine orders? God has promised us that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. If He is your true leader, guide and guard, will He not lead you aright, especially since He knows that you do not know the evil one’s sinister and deceitful ways?

Here’s a point of divine interest, to latch on to, ensuring that it obtains in your life also. When the Magi were guided to where Jesus was they were overjoyed. This tells me that they were excited and overflowing with joy to be able to worship the New Born King. But note, they were no less overjoyed and filled with peace and glad tidings of the Lord, when they left.

Similarly, like those shepherds, like the Magi and like Paul and Silas, we are to be overflowing with joy to meet and worship King Jesus and be even more satisfied and filled with His peace, having received Him. When we have received Him into our hearts, when we have been made first-hand witnesses of His Beauty and Grace, how can we not leave with greater joy, peace and Glad tidings?