When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
After leaving Jerusalem to seek the promised child, the wise men saw the guiding star again and rejoiced with overwhelming joy because it confirmed they were on the way to Bethlehem to find the infant King and worship him. Their joy was joy at the sign of the Messiah's coming, as heaven directed their search to Jesus. God met them in a way suited to their understanding as observers and students of the heavens, and what they took for a star guiding them to the newborn Prince was a distant company of shining angels leading them to the Saviour. Guided to the manger, they recognized the child's exalted position and bowed in homage with precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, honoring him even as a baby. Their coming from a foreign land to worship him pictures people from other nations coming to the Saviour, and their costly offerings point to giving gifts to God in gratitude for the immeasurable gift of His Son.
Star Guides to Bethlehem
The guiding light led the travelers toward Judea and toward Jerusalem, then grew dim and left them as they drew near the city, resting above the temple before disappearing, so that unable to follow it further they had to inquire where the promised child could be found. After they left Jerusalem they saw the guiding star again, and they rejoiced with great rejoicing because it led them onward to Bethlehem to the very place where the infant Jesus was. Its return confirmed to them that they were on the way to find the infant King and to worship Him, and their joy was the joy of being guided to the child they had come to honor. Its reappearance renewed their direction after the indifference of the Jewish leaders had shaken their confidence.
What they regarded as the sign of the promised Messiah and the guide to the newborn Prince was in fact a distant company of shining angels, though they did not know this, and its appearance strengthened their sense that heaven was leading them to the Saviour. The light they first saw was the glory surrounding the angels who appeared to the shepherds, and after that glory faded they saw what looked like a new star, whose unusual appearance and movement drew their attention and led them onward. God thus revealed Christ to them through a sign in the heavens, meeting them in a way suited to their understanding as observers and students of God's works in the heavens. The star recognized Christ and guided them to the manger where He lay, showing that the heavens recognized Him at His birth even though priests and rulers later rejected Him.
God used the star to direct their search and their course to Jesus, and this guidance was among the signs and wonders given to them as they searched for Christ. Their coming brought the news of His birth to the nation, and the gifts they brought helped provide for Jesus and for Mary and Joseph on the journey to Egypt and during their stay there.
Joy, Worship, and Witness
When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great and overwhelming joy, for the heavenly sign was guiding them to Jesus whom they had come to worship. God revealed Christ to them through a sign in the heavens, meeting them in a way suited to their understanding as observers and students of the heavens. They had heeded and followed the light they had received, and God revealed truth to them.
Their joy was joy at the sign of the Messiah's coming, arising as they learned from prophecy that the Saviour's coming was near and that the knowledge of the Lord's glory would fill the world. It accompanied recognition of the child's exalted position and the honor due Him, for while He was still a baby in a manger they brought Him precious gifts and bowed in homage. This stood in contrast to His own followers, who later failed to value Him rightly. They had searched the Scriptures and traced the prophecies to learn when Christ would come, and because they heeded and followed the light they had received, they were guided from the east to the newborn Jesus. They came to worship Him and offered gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Guided by the star to the infant Saviour at His birthplace, they brought frankincense and myrrh in pure, uncorrupted faith, and Christ's glory was revealed to them. His birth in a humble place was part of the plan of redemption, by which He would pass through the temptations and needs of human life, sanctify every stage of it, and show that people need not continue in sin. They honored Jesus with costly gifts, and their offerings point to giving gifts to God in gratitude for the immeasurable gift of His Son. Wise men from a foreign land coming at His birth to worship Him is a picture of people from other nations coming to the Saviour, and the star in the east likewise guides people to find Christ, whom their souls love. They had expected news of the newborn King to bring joy in Jerusalem, but instead found surprise, fear and contempt.
After leaving Jerusalem to seek the promised child, the wise men saw the guiding star again and rejoiced with overwhelming joy because it confirmed they were on the way to Bethlehem to find the infant King and worship him. Their joy was joy at the sign of the Messiah's coming, as heaven directed their search to Jesus. God met them in a way suited to their understanding as observers and students of the heavens, and what they took for a star guiding them to the newborn Prince was a distant company of shining angels leading them to the Saviour. Guided to the manger, they recognized the child's exalted position and bowed in homage with precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, honoring him even as a baby. Their coming from a foreign land to worship him pictures people from other nations coming to the Saviour, and their costly offerings point to giving gifts to God in gratitude for the immeasurable gift of His Son.
Star Guides to Bethlehem
The guiding light led the travelers toward Judea and toward Jerusalem, then grew dim and left them as they drew near the city, resting above the temple before disappearing, so that unable to follow it further they had to inquire where the promised child could be found. After they left Jerusalem they saw the guiding star again, and they rejoiced with great rejoicing because it led them onward to Bethlehem to the very place where the infant Jesus was. Its return confirmed to them that they were on the way to find the infant King and to worship Him, and their joy was the joy of being guided to the child they had come to honor. Its reappearance renewed their direction after the indifference of the Jewish leaders had shaken their confidence.
What they regarded as the sign of the promised Messiah and the guide to the newborn Prince was in fact a distant company of shining angels, though they did not know this, and its appearance strengthened their sense that heaven was leading them to the Saviour. The light they first saw was the glory surrounding the angels who appeared to the shepherds, and after that glory faded they saw what looked like a new star, whose unusual appearance and movement drew their attention and led them onward. God thus revealed Christ to them through a sign in the heavens, meeting them in a way suited to their understanding as observers and students of God's works in the heavens. The star recognized Christ and guided them to the manger where He lay, showing that the heavens recognized Him at His birth even though priests and rulers later rejected Him.
God used the star to direct their search and their course to Jesus, and this guidance was among the signs and wonders given to them as they searched for Christ. Their coming brought the news of His birth to the nation, and the gifts they brought helped provide for Jesus and for Mary and Joseph on the journey to Egypt and during their stay there.
Joy, Worship, and Witness
When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great and overwhelming joy, for the heavenly sign was guiding them to Jesus whom they had come to worship. God revealed Christ to them through a sign in the heavens, meeting them in a way suited to their understanding as observers and students of the heavens. They had heeded and followed the light they had received, and God revealed truth to them.
Their joy was joy at the sign of the Messiah's coming, arising as they learned from prophecy that the Saviour's coming was near and that the knowledge of the Lord's glory would fill the world. It accompanied recognition of the child's exalted position and the honor due Him, for while He was still a baby in a manger they brought Him precious gifts and bowed in homage. This stood in contrast to His own followers, who later failed to value Him rightly. They had searched the Scriptures and traced the prophecies to learn when Christ would come, and because they heeded and followed the light they had received, they were guided from the east to the newborn Jesus. They came to worship Him and offered gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Guided by the star to the infant Saviour at His birthplace, they brought frankincense and myrrh in pure, uncorrupted faith, and Christ's glory was revealed to them. His birth in a humble place was part of the plan of redemption, by which He would pass through the temptations and needs of human life, sanctify every stage of it, and show that people need not continue in sin. They honored Jesus with costly gifts, and their offerings point to giving gifts to God in gratitude for the immeasurable gift of His Son. Wise men from a foreign land coming at His birth to worship Him is a picture of people from other nations coming to the Saviour, and the star in the east likewise guides people to find Christ, whom their souls love. They had expected news of the newborn King to bring joy in Jerusalem, but instead found surprise, fear and contempt.