A STAR
Almost as soon as they quit following foolish shepherds who lost their sheep, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar saw a great light -as the prophets promised a people living in darkness would. But this light came from a star that God gave them to lead them to Christ. They were harmless as doves, but still unwise, and went to the last person they should have to inquire after the Christ child, King Herod.
WESLEY’S QUESTION: Can I be trusted?
SCRIPTURE: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ..“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-8)
FOOLISH WISDOM: “The foolishness of the wise is perhaps nowhere better illustrated than by the way the three magi went to Herod the Great, King of the Jews, to find out the whereabouts of the holy child who had just been born King of the Jews to supplant him. It did not even strike them as suspicious when Herod asked them to be sure to let him know when they found Him so he could hurry on down and pay his respects. (Frederick Buechner)
TODAY'S MUSIC SELECTION:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Heather Sorenson
Laura Hesse, piano