You.

Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him. Matthew two, verse two. The magi, also called wise men, are arguably the most mysterious characters in the Christmas story. Many legends and myths surround these men. For example, many say there were three wise men, and some even name them. The Christmas carol refers to them as kings, and almost every nativity scene you see shows the magi side by side with the shepherds, kneeling before the newborn baby lying in a manger. Unfortunately, none of these stories is accurate. The Bible reveals neither the number of the visiting magi nor their names. They are nowhere in scripture referred to as kings. And the biblical fact is that these magi didn't come to Bethlehem until Jesus was a toddler of at least one or two years of age, no longer lying in a manger, but tottering around in a house. Whatever else we say about these men, one thing is absolutely certain. In their own words, they went to the land of Judea in search of the one born king in order to worship him. Matthew tells us that on coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Christmas is many things to many people. In her song Christmas is, Francesca Batticelli says that Christmas is music and family in town. Christmas is Snoopy and Charlie Brown. It's anticipating that snow's gonna fall and praying for place to park at the mall. It's mom going crazy because the turkey got burned. It's saying thanks for some gift you'll return. Christmas is caroling kids at your door it's paper and ribbon all over the floor Christmas is rooftops covered in lights it's away in a manger. It's a wonderful life. Christmas is caring for those who have nothing. It's dropping your change in the bell ringer's bucket. Christmas is all of these fun things for sure. But Christmas is really oh, so much more. It's good news of hope for the whole world because Christmas is Jesus. Like the magi of old, we ought to come to Jesus to worship him. All of our traditions and celebrations are good as long as they lead us to bow before the one born king. Merry Christmas.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected] have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.