Read: Luke 2:8-20, Matthew 2:1-12
All throughout the Christmas story we see hints of what Jesus came to do, and who He came for. The first groups of people who came to worship the child-King are some of these hints. Lowly, poor Jewish shepherds and wealthy, learned Gentiles. He had come for all people. He was good news for all people – all that would accept Him.
To the Shepherds, He revealed Himself as Savior. The angels told them they would find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, exactly what the shepherds would do with the spotless lambs set apart for sacrifice. He was showing them the Messiah had come, but not to do exactly what the people had expected. He had come as the Passover Lamb, who would sacrifice Himself for us. For all people.
To the Wise Men, He revealed Himself as King. God used the stars to get the attention of these foreign people and point them to a child who was a prophesied king. Why? I think to show that while yes, He was born King of the Jews, He was also King of kings – over all nations, all creation. All people.
Jesus, our Savior and our King. These two truths show us the beautiful duality, yet unity, of God’s mission in sending His Son. He came to die. As our suffering servant, our wonderful Savior, He humbled himself to the point of death on the cross. He came unremarkably, and like a lamb led to the slaughter, saved us from our sins. Yet, He did this because He is King. As Ruler of all creation, knowing that one day He would bring everything in subjection to Himself, He first came to save us in order that we might reign with Him in His future Kingdom.
And our response to this amazing truth should be the same as the Shepherds’ and Wise Men’s response: worship. That is what our Savior-King deserves. That is what we can bring. We can never repay Him for what He has done, and He doesn’t ask us to. He just asks us for our hearts. And one way we give them to Him is through our worship – a pouring out of what little we have at His feet. He honors that. He loves it.
The Shepherds and Wise Men show us that Jesus came for all people, as our Savior and our King. And whether it was with expensive gifts or just a bowed knee and awe-filled heart – they show us that it was about the worship they brought to Him.
