Worship Pilgrimmage

(This reading is also found in FAB’s Podcast at this link.)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)

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The “wise men” are famous Bible characters, known to perhaps most Sunday School children and depicted in nativity scenes from around the world. We don’t know how many there were in this “band of scholars.” Traditionally, their number was three, presumably because three gifts are mentioned which they presented to the baby Jesus, namely gold, frankincense and myrrh. But the Bible story does not say that each scholar presented one gift. Even so, the song We Three Kings of Orient Are is a favorite Christmas carol.

We also don’t know their names, though in various traditions of the church they have been known as Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar (or Casper). As reported in Britannica, “according to Western church tradition, Balthasar is often represented as a king of Arabia or sometimes Ethiopia, Melchior as a king of Persia, and Gaspar as a king of India.” Hence, there’s another background connection to the We Three Kings carol.

What we do know is that these men were scholars of the stars. We aren’t told how they studied them, or how they had learned about them. Nor if they had any maps or star-gazing equipment. Were they entrusted with a job whose main description was to sit outside at night and observe? And then report (to someone in authority?) what they were seeing? Whatever their normal duties were, they noticed a particular star which indicated to them the birth of a king. And it was so stunning, so captivating, it demanded their inspection and follow up, and so they began a pilgrimage, from “the East” (which makes us think further of the church tradition that they were three kings of lands east of Israel).

This was some kind of “royal star,” depicting the birth of royalty. It is interesting to me that their interpretation of the meaning of the star was simply “king.” In their ensuing conversation with Herod there is no distinction made between a star representing an earthly king (which seems to be their thought) or a king “whose kingdom is not of this world,” as Jesus described his kingship at his trial (John 18:36), and which is the broader understanding from Jewish prophecy and which preceded their arrival at this birth place.

How far did they travel? We aren’t told. But to get to Israel “from the East” took some doing. It wasn’t a matter of taking a plane, or train, or things that go fast. It was a trek, presumably across desert, and rivers, and either over or around (or both) mountains. Through lots of sun, dust, and desert cold at night. They traveled at least hundreds of miles, maybe thousands. They were intent on finding this new born king. They inquired about “the king of the Jews,” so the fame of this race of people was known. (Perhaps either coming from or traveling through Persia, they knew of the Jews from the fame of Queen Esther.)

That intention to find him tells me that they were serious. Their arrival in Jerusalem would not be denied (and a good choice for the place of arrival, the capital city of Israel—folks there would know about the new king, right?!). These scholars definitely walked the walk in their quest to find him. This royal star wouldn’t let them ignore the king. Their mission was at hand, and had to be fulfilled. 

When I read this story, I think of religious pilgrimages, still popular today in the Middle East and Europe. These are planned journeys for presumably spiritual gain. Of course, the pilgrimage to Mecca comes to mind for Muslims. Christians of various backgrounds take pilgrimages to Nazareth, or Bethlehem, or Jerusalem. Roman Catholic Christians take various pilgrimages to ‘holy sites’ such as Lourdes in France or venerated sites in Rome, and elsewhere. It’s not a new concept.

In reflecting on the pilgrimage of this band of scholars from the East, I wonder: had this ever been done before? Were there any records of folks following a star from far-away lands to visit a newborn king? Similar sightings may have been noted as a “royal star” by astrologers, but were pilgrimages common by scholars and those who studied the untold thousands of stars? There was certainly no travel guide. No travel agency “handling all your arrangements, with a deposit guaranteeing your spot, led by an expert who has made this journey four dozen times! Don’t miss out!” This pilgrimage got underway because this particular star wouldn’t let them stay home. They had to follow and see what the astrological fuss was all about.

Were they Jewish astrologers? Paying homage to the Messiah? Hardly. Coming from a faraway place, they were Gentiles, or non-Jews. The Scripture is filled with references from start to finish of non-Jews coming to faith in God through Jesus Christ. Here is to me a powerful exhibition of God revealing himself to scholars from far-away lands, well outside the witness of the Jewish scriptures, who knew that this new King was one to be encountered and recognized and worshipped. To me, it’s an example and a foreshadowing of the multitudes of a non-Jewish audience watching God work and hearing of his wonders, and go to great lengths, effort, and danger to meet the Messiah. This is another sign to me of Jesus being king for all peoples.

He was king of the Jews, in the sense that he was the long-awaited Messiah, coming for the salvation of the Jewish people. He was the King of all Kings, coming out from the Jews. King not just for the Jews, but including the Jews, and non-Jews as well. But that focus was no doubt a bit blurry at that time. 

This pilgrimage is another extraordinary piece in the narrative of the birth of the most extraordinary baby in history. I love to hear stories of people seeking Christ, and what was involved when they met Him. In this one, it is a story of God Almighty using wonders in the heavens above to draw people to himself. As best we can tell, these non-Jews, from faraway lands, were the first worshippers of Jesus the Messiah. And they went to extraordinary lengths to meet Him!

“Father, we are overwhelmed at the thought of those first worshippers of the Christ, the Messiah! We consider their effort, expense, fatigue, and how they stepped into a political hotbed with King Herod—this band of scholars is truly inspirational. We pray for those today that we know who are on their own personal journeys to the Christ. When they ask for directions, may they find Him!”