Amen, Richard! Greater light will shine upon the hearts that accept it with gladness!
I love how this chapter reveals the way the Holy Spirit was leading the wise men from the east to come to worship Jesus. What strikes me today is something I don't know I had ever seen before--the angels led the wise men to the professed expositors of truth in Jerusalem, not bypassing the organized faith of Israel, but when the light was not cherished by the leaders, God still led the wise men to see Jesus in Bethlehem.
They have reached the land of Israel, and are descending the Mount of Olives, with Jerusalem in sight, when, lo, the star that has guided them all the weary way rests above the temple, and after a season fades from their view. With eager steps they press onward, confidently expecting the Messiah's birth to be the joyful burden of every tongue. But their inquiries are in vain. Entering the holy city, they repair to the temple. To their amazement they find none who seem to have a knowledge of the newborn king. Their questions call forth no expressions of joy, but rather of surprise and fear, not unmingled with contempt.
The angels led them to Jerusalem. God wanted the light to be accepted there, but when human agencies fail, He still leads those who are receptive onward by supernatural means (an angelic convoy) if necessary:
The wise men departed alone from Jerusalem. The shadows of night were falling as they left the gates, but to their great joy they again saw the star, and were directed to Bethlehem. They had received no such intimation of the lowly estate of Jesus as was given to the shepherds. After the long journey they had been disappointed by the indifference of the Jewish leaders, and had left Jerusalem less confident than when they entered the city. At Bethlehem they found no royal guard stationed to protect the newborn King. None of the world's honored men were in attendance. Jesus was cradled in a manger. His parents, uneducated peasants, were His only guardians. Could this be He of whom it was written, that He should "raise up the tribes of Jacob," and "restore the preserved of Israel;" that He should be "a light to the Gentiles," and for "salvation unto the end of the earth"? Isaiah 49:6.
"When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him." Beneath the lowly guise of Jesus, they recognized the presence of Divinity. They gave their hearts to Him as their Saviour, and then poured out their gifts,--"gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." What a faith was theirs! It might have been said of the wise men from the East, as afterward of the Roman centurion, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Matthew 8:10.
We are in the last days of earth's history. This story is repeating in the lives of many who have only a faint knowledge of who Jesus is. Many Muslims are turning to seek for greater light and want to know the truth of the Messiah. We have an opportunity to reveal Jesus to them in our characters, to be able to open to them the truths of Scripture, and to help them to see that God does have a "people of the book" who love Jesus and want to see Him come soon. Will you let God use you as His witness today? We can be a blessing wherever we are if we have Jesus in our hearts, but without Him it is impossible to be a blessing to others, for only the love of Christ has the power to change hearts by the impartation of the Holy Spirit.