Brad Alles

Who was this baby whom the magi worshipped? This was Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, or Savior of the world.

The prophecy of His birth in Bethlehem was found in Micah 5:2. It says, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” The prophecy of His virgin birth was from Isaiah 7:14, which reads, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (“Immanuel” means “God with us.”) The prophecy of His kingship is also from the book of Isaiah. Chapter 9:6-7 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

While there are dozens of other prophecies about the Messiah, these wise men realized who Jesus was—the King of the Jews. Yet He was more than a King; He was the Savior of the world, delivering us from our sins.

In John 18:33-37, Jesus admitted to Pontius Pilate that He was a King, but His kingdom was not of this world. The text says, “Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘Is that your own idea,’ Jesus asked, ‘or did others talk to you about me?’ ‘Am I a Jew?’ Pilate replied. ‘Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?’ Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’”

Notice that Jesus also said that He was here to testify to the truth. What is the truth?

The truth is that all of us are sinful, disobedient to God’s holy standards. No one lives a perfect life, and that imperfection will separate us from God for all eternity when we die. That’s why Jesus came—to testify to the truth of our condition and to save us so we could have a reunion with God now and forever.

In Luke 19:10 Jesus told a tax-collector, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Jesus is more than a King; He is the Savior of the world, delivering us from our sins and the damnation that a just and holy God owes us.

How ironic that the Magi came to seek the Savior, but the Savior had actually come to seek them first! What’s more, Jesus came to seek and save you as well! Celebrate His birthday, which meant the beginning of His earthly life to fulfill all of God’s righteous demands. His death on Good Friday as the sacrifice for your sins and His resurrection from the dead at Easter mean eternal life for you today when you receive Him as the Savior and Lord of your life!