Tuesday, 28 December 2010

More than gold

I have been thinking about the Magi - the 3 kings. Each Christmas I enjoy re-reading the nativity story from the gospels and uncovering new truths and re-discovering old ones. Even though the story is familiar, the wonder and mystery of those events 2010 years ago still has the power to captivate. This year I have been thinking about the wise men and worship. We read in Matthew's account:
“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.” Mat. 2:2
Then a little later: "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him." Mat. 2:11
We are familiar with the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by the Magi, but how did they worship Jesus the Infant King? Was it just bowing down? Was it bowing and giving? Was the sacrifice of their long journey part of their worship? Was their determination to get to the meeting part of their worship? Did they sing? Did something happen in the private space of their hearts in that dirty stable? What kind of worship was it and what kind of worship should we bring to Jesus the King?

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