Christmas 2025: WHEN THE WISE MEN FINALLY ARRIVED
Christmas tradition often paints a lovely scene: shepherds gathered close, angels fading into the night sky, and wise men kneeling beside a manger—three figures in flowing robes offering gold, frankincense, and myrrh while the newborn sleeps. It is beautiful; it is familiar; and it is not accurate.
The wise men did not come to the manger at all. The Bible says they arrived later, when the Child was in a house (Matthew 2:11). By the time they bent their knees before Jesus, Joseph and Mary had already settled into more permanent lodging, and the Lord—a toddler by then—was growing under their loving care.
This gentle correction is not meant to spoil our Christmas pageants; it is meant to awaken our hearts to a deeper truth: tradition, if left unchecked, can blur the edges of Scripture.
And while this particular misunderstanding is small, it reminds us that larger traditions—those touching salvation, worship, and the nature of the gospel—can obscure the Word if we do not continually anchor ourselves in what God has actually said. The wise men, arriving later than the nativity scene suggests, quietly testify that truth matters, even in the little things.
Yet these distant travelers still carry a message radiant with grace. They came because a star—placed by the God who names every light in the heavens—summoned them across deserts, kingdoms, and dangers.
That star was not a cosmic accident but a divine invitation, a beam of mercy pointing toward the true Light of the world (John 8:12). In their journey we see God’s relentless pursuit of seekers, wanderers, and outsiders—men who had only a hint of prophecy, yet followed it faithfully until it led them to the King.
And when they arrived, they did the only thing a soul can do when it meets Jesus: they worshiped. Not merely admired. Not simply offered polite respect. They opened their treasures—and their hearts.
Gold for the King who reigns (Matthew 2:11).
Frankincense for the Priest who intercedes (Hebrews 4:14).
Myrrh for the Savior who would die (John 19:39).
Their gifts spoke a language deeper than their understanding; they preached the gospel before the apostles ever walked Galilee.
Thus the wise men preach to us still: truth matters; worship matters; and Christ alone deserves our treasures. They remind us that God’s revelations—whether in prophecy or in the quiet corrections of Scripture—are never meant to burden us, but to draw us nearer to the humility and holiness of Jesus.
And perhaps this Christmas, as we stand once more before the Child who is King, Priest, and Sacrifice, we will join the wise men not at the manger—but at His feet.
Lord Jesus, Light of the world, lead my heart as surely as You led the wise men of old. Deliver me from traditions that cloud truth, and draw me into worship that opens every treasure before You. Teach me to love Your Word, to follow Your light, and to bow before You in humility and joy. Amen.
BDD
