Upon arriving at the place, they saw the child with his mother Mary. They opened their gifts of gold and incense, but not myrrh to embalm him. According to the Scriptures, this King’s throne would last forever. Then seeing as there wasn’t much else to do they headed for the door. Joseph asked “Don’t you want to worship the baby?” They replied, “What? Like bow down in front of a little baby? That would be just silly. There’s no point until he’s much older.” And with that they left.
Not the Bible: The Ungospel of Matthew 2:9-11
When the Bible says that the wise men worshipped Jesus, it wasn’t by singing songs. The word worship in English comes from the Old English word weorthscipe which means to give worth, honour and excellence to.
So they bowed down before a little baby to show the fact that this baby was greater than them.
These learned wise men bowed down to a baby who couldn’t even speak yet and who was sleeping in an animal feeding trough.
Did that ever strike you as bizarre?
Despite the lowly surroundings they saw who this baby was and was going to become. They did not despise small beginnings.
In our world we only respect those who are clearly superior to us. So we are only prepared to read books if the credentials are good. We only listen to ministers who have big respected ministries. Missionaries to other countries should be respected by the culture. Children should listen to parents.
However, that’s not how the Kingdom works.
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” (Lk 10:21)
God delights in revealing things to the unwise, the unlearned, the lowly.
But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” (Mt 25:15-16)
It’s only a short step from respecting those who we deem are worthy to closing our hearts and minds to those who we think are not. And by doing so we will miss out on what God is saying as He chooses to use those who are lowly in the world.
God will give revelation to unheard of authors and ministers and those who are not even ministers. Missionaries can learn about God from the culture they’re in. Parents can learn great truths from their children.
It’s part of God’s plan to keep us humble and realise that compared to Him we know nothing. We are dependent on Him. Any time we think otherwise we’re in trouble as we have closed our hearts to other people and consequently have closed our hearts to all that God is saying and doing.
Father forgive me for closing my heart to You because it comes through those I think are lesser than me or those whom I am in charge of. Open my eyes to Your Kingdom’s economy, open my ears to hear all You are speaking. I want to see all You are doing regardless of who You are doing it through. In Jesus’ name. Amen.