Seeking Emmanuel

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” - Matthew 2:1-2

The Magi were in the east according to verse 1. Stars and planets appear to travel east to west as the earth rotates. Looking west towards Jerusalem, these heavenly bodies would then appear the decend not rise for the Magi. The "star" had to have been something else. But what? Here's my theory.

Note in verse 1 above where it says, "we saw the star when it rose." It sounds like they saw the star actually rising . . . moving. Impossible. Unless it was something else.

"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." - Matthew 17:1-2

The star was not Jesus, obviously. He was down below in the manger. An angel perhaps? Maybe, but I don't think so, although they do make appearances dressed in white.

What about the Holy Spirit? He is part of the Trinity. He IS God, just like JESUS is God. Could the Holy Spirit be transfigured like Jesus was? From Spirit to Light? JESUS  is light. Why not the Holy Spirit?

When we come to faith in Christ isn't it God's Holy Spirit who draws us to God? Don't we follow the Holy Spirit's leading as we seek Jesus?

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them." - John 6:44

Or was it God Himself who rose up and drew the Magi to Himself. John 6:44 just told us that He does that sort of thing. What do you think? Wouldn't God The Father want to be present for the birth of His One and Only Son?

“His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow” -  Matthew 28:3

Emmanuel literally means "God with us." God HAS come to earth before (Jesus' transfiguration, Jesus' baptism, with Moses at the tent of meeting, etc.).

A mystery.

But why did the Magi stop in Jerusalem to ask where the newborn king was? They were following the star, right? Bethlehem is beyond Jerusalem to the northwest.

I'm thinkin' that, when they got into the big city they lost sight of the star with all of the tall buildings and narrow streets. They couldn't see it.

So they stopped in to see Herod. Wouldn't this visit have occured during the day when Herod was awake? I think they lost sight of the star. Only when they searched for it again at night did they find it. Another mystery.

"With God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

The moral of this story is this: Never stop searching for God. Never take you eyes off of Him. When the Magi couldn't follow the star anymore they became lost. And they asked the wrong person for directions. A literal 'anti' Christ.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13

Keep searching. Never give up. You WILL find Him.