Why were the Wise Men Wise?

Where Is He?

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." 

Mt.2:1,2

Always intriguing, is the account of the men referred to as Wise Men or Magi in the passage cited above. We do not know much about these men (IT DOES NOT SAY THERE WERE THREE OF THEM)but being listed as Magi (Magus), these were  philosophers, priests, or astronomers of the day. They lived chiefly in Persia and Arabia and were the learned men of the Eastern nations devoted to astronomy, religion, and to medicine. They were held in high esteem by the Persian court, were admitted as counselors, and followed the camps in war to give advice. Daniel the prophet was such a person in both the Babylonian and Persian Courts some 167 years before Jesus. If indeed they came from this region, then they traveled many miles from the Far East to the Middle East and at great expense to find Jesus.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which is just six miles from Jerusalem. At the time of Jesus’ birth, all kinds of spiritual activity was taking place in Jerusalem. All of the major religious leaders of the world were in Jerusalem, but none of them were seeking Jesus. Herod, self and Roman proclaimed "King of the Jews," wasn't even aware of Jesus until the Magi came.  Many others of noted prominence were there at the time Jesus was born, many traveling to their homelands for the taxation, yet none were aware of Jesus. No one even noticed "His star" except the Magi. Why? Because the Wise Men were looking for Jesus. They were willing to make a four to five-month trip across a hot desert to find Jesus. So noted was the event to them and the occurrence of the celestial dance, that they were willing to do whatever it took to find him and as the text states "worship Him."

Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl that is so valuable we will sell everything we have to get it (Mt.13:46). It seems the Wise Men from the East understood this long before Jesus ever spoke the parable. They were willing to give up everything they had to come and worship Jesus, who at the time of their arrival was only a toddler. They were willing to give up the comforts of their homes for a long, tough journey because they WANTED to worship him.

If these men thought it worthy of note, that even the heavens pointed to Jesus to come and find Him, then shouldn't we take note of this too? I find it interesting at how virtual strangers would give up so much to go find someone they didn't even know, because they knew He was "born King of the Jews."

What would you give up in order to come worship Jesus?  What holds you back from seeking  a relationship with Jesus so valuable that it’s worth giving up everything for?  Maybe it is time for you to start your journey.

Jim