Matthew 2:1-3,7-8 King James Version (KJV)
2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
In this passage we see that wise men and Herod, the king of Jerusalem, were interested in finding baby Jesus. However, there are two totally different motives driving that interest. When we come to worship services, are we like Herod or are we like the wise men?
Context: The New Ruler of Israel is Born
When Matthew chapter 2 begins, Jesus has already been born to the virgin Mary, who was espoused to Joseph. Wise men from the east had come to the king of Jerusalem seeking the newly born King of the Jews. You can’t blame them; it was natural to assume that the current king of Jerusalem might know the whereabouts of the newly born King, Jesus. However, he wasn’t laying in a palace, but rather in a lowly inn, laying in hay, surrounded by barnyard animals. This was great news for the wise men but troubling not only for Herod, but also all of Jerusalem.
Not Everyone Seeks Jesus for the Same Reason
The wise men, innocently came to inquire about Jesus location so they could find and worship Him. However, this news troubled the King and all of Jerusalem. Herod, the king, probably feared being overthrown, and surely news of a new king would definitely cause concern to the people, over which, he would rule. Sadly, no one else seemed interested in personally finding and worshiping Jesus. Sadly, even when the religious leaders (the scribes and priests) were gathered to find an answer to the wise men’s question, not even they were interested in coming to see God’s gift to the world. After giving the wise men their answer, Herod asked them to come back and tell him where Jesus was “so that [he] may come and worship him also.” Thank God, the wise men followed a divine warning not to report back to Herod, who later would command that several male children two years old and younger be killed in an effort to end Jesus’ life.
Why Do You Come to Church?
If you are a praise and worship leader, singer, or musician at your local church, you probably are well aware that some people seem uninterested in actually participating during the “praise and worship” or “devotional” portions of service. Some skip it altogether, while others come seeking only to be entertained. However, it is important for every man, woman, boy or girl who comes into the sanctuary to ask themselves, “Why do I come to church?” and “Did I come to Worship Jesus Christ, the king?”