“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.’” – Matthew 2:1-2

For just a moment, just imagine what would happen if a high-powered delegation arrived in Kampala from Europe and asked to meet the man who will be the ‘next president of Uganda’ – a man from Karamoja.

The security apparatus would most likely swing into action to understand what is going on and to present a brief to the President.

In 63 BC, Judea came under Roman control when the Roman general Pompey the Great conquered the region. 

Subsequently, Herod the Great was installed as a Jewish client king under Roman patronage.

But even before the Roman conquest of the region, the Jews spent hundreds of years travailing under a complex history of subjugation that included the Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, the Persia under Cyrus, the Greece under Alexander the Great and later the Hasmonean Dynasty.

For that reason, every Jew always looked forward to the coming of their own King – the promised Messiah – who would come to deliver them from Gentile domination.

For the same reason, the authorities were always extremely sensitive to any semblance of politically motivated Jewish agitation.

So, when a group of foreigners, which scholars say were from Babylon, arrived in the city of Jerusalem asking for the whereabouts of a newborn “King of the Jews,” the whole city was alarmed, so much that the visitors had to be whisked away to the palace for interrogation.

“Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him,” says our meditation today.

By saying; “we have seen his star,” the Wise Men were likely referring to a significant astronomical event that they believed signaled the birth of a great king – so great that He deserved to be worshipped.

“On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Of course, they eventually found Him in a house in Bethlehem.

“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented to Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”

These men traveled hundreds of miles on a perilous journey and all they wanted was to do was to worship Him and present their gifts of love to Him – nothing more, nothing less!

Jesus is the King of Kings and He deserves all our reverence and worship!

Mark you; they also saw Mary but they didn’t worship her; they worshipped only Jesus and Him alone!

Even if we get nothing in return, the Lord Jesus alone deserves our adoration and treasures.

The Bible says God has “highly exalted Christ, and given Him a Name which, is above every name: That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

John the apostle saw Him and declared; “On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16).

How far are we ready to go this year to worship Him – to fall down at His feet, to just worship Him alone and give Him the best of your treasures?