The Promised King: The Visit of the Wise Men and the Early Life of Jesus

(Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:41-52, Matthew 3)

The Search for the Prince

(Matthew 2:1-12)

In the distant lands of the East, wise men—astrologers and scholars of the stars—studied the heavens. One night, they noticed a star unlike any they had ever charted. It blazed with a brightness that seemed to proclaim something extraordinary. They remembered the ancient prophecies of a King born to the Jews, one who would bring justice and peace to the world.

Believing the star signaled His birth, the wise men prepared for a long journey. Packing rich gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—they set off toward Judea, confident that they were following divine guidance.

When they reached Jerusalem, they assumed the new King would be in the palace. But when they inquired about the child, the current ruler, King Herod, was deeply disturbed. Herod, a man consumed by jealousy and a lust for power, feared any challenge to his throne.

He called the chief priests and scribes together, asking where the promised Messiah was to be born. They quoted the prophet Micah:

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (Micah 5:2).

Feigning interest, Herod summoned the wise men and sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

As the wise men left Jerusalem, the star they had followed reappeared, leading them directly to Bethlehem. It came to rest over a modest house. Inside, they found Mary with her young son, Jesus.

Falling to their knees, they worshiped the child, offering their precious gifts:

• Gold, signifying His kingship.
• Frankincense, symbolizing His divinity and priestly role.
• Myrrh, a bittersweet offering foretelling His suffering and death.

That night, in a dream, God warned the wise men not to return to Herod. Obediently, they took another route home, leaving the deceptive king without answers.

The Escape to Egypt

(Matthew 2:13-23)

Joseph also received a divine warning that same night. In a dream, an angel appeared and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is searching for the child to kill him.”

Joseph acted immediately, gathering Mary and Jesus and setting out under the cover of darkness. They journeyed to Egypt, a land of refuge where God kept them safe.

Meanwhile, Herod, enraged by the wise men’s failure to return, ordered a horrific act. He commanded his soldiers to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. The weeping of the bereaved mothers fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah:

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more” (Jeremiah 31:15).

After Herod’s death, an angel appeared to Joseph once more. “Take the child and his mother and return to Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead,” the angel said.

But when Joseph learned that Herod’s son Archelaus ruled in Judea, he was afraid to settle there. Guided by another divine warning, he took his family north to Nazareth, where Jesus would grow up.

Jesus in the Temple

(Luke 2:41-52)

When Jesus was twelve, Mary and Joseph took Him to Jerusalem for the Passover festival, as was their custom. After the week of celebrations, the caravan of pilgrims began their journey home. Assuming Jesus was with the group, Mary and Joseph traveled for a day before realizing He was missing.

In a panic, they retraced their steps to Jerusalem, searching for Him among the crowds. After three anxious days, they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers. He was listening intently and asking profound questions that astonished the scholars.

“Son, why have you treated us like this?” Mary asked, her voice a mix of relief and frustration. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?” Jesus replied gently. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Though Mary and Joseph didn’t fully understand His words, Mary treasured them in her heart.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

(Matthew 3:1-12)

Years later, John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, emerged in the wilderness of Judea. Dressed in camel’s hair and eating wild honey and locusts, he preached a powerful message:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!”

Crowds flocked to hear him by the River Jordan. He urged them to turn from sin and live lives pleasing to God. “Do not think you can say, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’” he warned. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

Many were moved by his words and confessed their sins, being baptized in the river as a symbol of their commitment to God.

John also spoke of a greater one who was coming:
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11).

The Baptism of Jesus

(Matthew 3:13-17)

One day, Jesus came to John at the Jordan, asking to be baptized. John was hesitant, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

But Jesus insisted, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”

As Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened. The Spirit of God descended like a dove and alighted on Him, and a voice from heaven declared:

“This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

John now knew without a doubt that Jesus was the Promised King he had been preparing the way for—the one who would bring salvation to the world.