“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11)
The Gospel of Matthew has a remarkable Jewish flavor. Matthew’s purpose in writing his Gospel is clear: to demonstrate that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. The apostle quotes from the Old Testament more than 60 times, emphasizing how Christ is the fulfillment of these promises.
From the patriarchs, Moses, Johsua, the Judges, the prophets, Samuel, and through the David dynasty, the promise of a savior and deliverer was not yet fulfilled. At every junction in Israel’s history, the Lord, through the mouth of his servants, prophesied and reminded the people that in the last days, this redeemer would come and establish a new era for his people.
Jeremiah spoke about these last days when God would judge sin and establish a new covenant with his people, a covenant in which God will write his law in their hearts and cause them to walk in his commandments. In those days, there will be forgiveness and joy.
Throughout the OT, the authors cast the vision that the messianic prophecy was yet to come, and when it comes in the last days, God’s everlasting kingdom and presence will be established forever with his people.
In Matthew 2:1-12, we see that the sight of a star guided the wise man who came from a distant country to where Jesus was, and when they saw Him, they bowed down and worshiped. While the Jewish people in Jerusalem showed indifference to the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem, these Gentiles from the East did not rest until they found Jesus.
In the first chapters of the Gospel of Matthew, we see that the King of the Jews is the King of all those who come to Him, whether Jew or Gentile.
The baby in the manger born in Bethlehem was the King and ruler of all. The creator of all things, the God who became flesh and dwelt among us.
He is the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star (Rev. 22:9) that shines in perfect glory in heaven and in the hearts of those who come to Him by faith.
Today, let’s exalt Jesus with an adoration worthy of a king. Let us rejoice with exceedingly great joy and worship because the Savior was born.