![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/jw-logo.png"){kind=logo}
Leg 1 Day 15
START WALKING
Jesus With Us
Scripture:
MATTHEW 2:1-12 (NLT)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s
kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around,
“Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a
star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod
alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high
priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah
supposed to be born?”
They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land,
no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”
Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East.
Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when
the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about
Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as
you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”
Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star
they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place
of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place!
They had arrived at the right time!
They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother.
Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and
presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out
another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.
Life Lessons from Jesus:
Being led seems easy—but it isn’t always. We may stop paying attention and end up in the wrong place or become sidetracked by something that takes us off our destined path. Sometimes where we end up seems all wrong, and we start having doubts. Someone else may attempt to deter us entirely. Trusting our guide and allowing ourselves to be led is often the hardest part.
Matthew tells us that when several wise, powerful men from the kingdom of Persia saw a star rise, they got on their feet, packed belongings for a long journey, and headed out, not knowing where they would end up. God called to them, and they responded. They stopped at King Herod’s palace, which wasn’t the right place at all, and discovered that not everyone was happy about the newborn King of the Jews. God continued to guide the wise men, and they continued to follow as He directed them away from Herod and toward the true King.
The wise men had the star to guide them, but they still had to trust in the star, have faith that they would end up in the right spot, and believe this exhausting journey would be worth the effort. Spoiler: it was. Their journey ended in utter joy as they met the newborn King. In Jesus, we find a guide who is trustworthy. Jesus is interested in all of us, no matter our status in society or the distance we may travel to find and follow Him. And His path leads us to where we are meant to be. We still have to take that first step, though, and start walking.
The WAY:
Consider these questions as you reflect on today’s reading:
What did the wise men ask when they arrived in Jerusalem?
What happened when the wise men found Jesus?
How did the wise men ultimately respond to Herod’s request? Why?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for Your love. I pray that the same joy that was shown at Your birth might fill every encounter I have with You. I pray for strength for the journey ahead. Use me to change the world today and every day. In Your name, amen.