February 2

The King of Kings

asking, “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.” — Matt 2:2 BSB

It was indeed strange that the Jews didn’t know about the birth of their own King. When a future king is born, it’s usually celebrated throughout the kingdom. But when the Messiah was born, there was no celebration on earth. A few humble shepherds came to gaze in wonder at the newborn baby lying in His mother’s arms, but that was all. The Jews had been eagerly awaiting their Messiah, yet they didn’t recognize Him when He arrived.

One thing we learn is how quiet His coming was. There were no trumpets, no fanfare. Power doesn’t need to be loud. The most powerful forces in the world often work quietly. God’s grace always comes quietly. Angels serve without noise and often unseen. The most effective Christians aren’t those who make the most noise but those who, in humility, quietly go about their work for Christ, unaware of any glory shining from their faces.

Another lesson here is that we don’t always recognize Christ when He comes to us. “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, but the world didn’t know Him.” But should we be so quick to judge the Jews? Are we any better? Our King is here with us—do we recognize Him? Do we worship and honor Him? The wise men followed only a faint star, yet they trusted it, followed it without hesitation, and it led them to the “King of glory.”

This shows us that even the faintest glimmers of light should be welcomed and followed. We shouldn’t wait to know everything about Christ or see Him in all His glory before we start seeking Him. We should follow even the faintest light, and as we go, the light will grow brighter, until we see Him fully, “face to face.”