For whatever reason, during the Christmas season, I read the stories of Jesus’s birth as recorded in Scripture much more closely and intentionally this year. It’s amazing to me how, after 30 years of hearing the exact same stories, new things can stand out to me. Several characters stood out to me this year, in particular Simeon, Joseph, and the magi.

The magi are interesting characters, aren’t they? Everybody else seems to fit into the story: Joseph, Mary, Jesus, shepherds, inn-keeper, the whole lot. Even Herod—living a very different life than the rest of the characters—makes sense.

But these mysterious magi from the east (sometimes pegged as kings, sometimes astronomers, sometimes given names like Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchior) don’t seem to belong. They seem like they’re just dropped into the nativity scene, with little reason for being there. Sometimes I wonder if the First Lobster is more appropriate in the nativity than the magi (name that Christmas movie!).

There’s so many questions about the magi: Where did they come from? How many were there? How did they know about the star? Why did they come there? What happened after they dropped off their gifts? Why didn’t they bring diapers, at the very least?

Lest we get so consumed by the questions that we miss what they might have to teach us, let me share a thought that I’ve been having about the magi this year.

In Luke 2:22-40, we learn that Mary and Joseph fulfilled the Law of the Lord to consecrate their firstborn son in the Temple (aka, in Jerusalem, the same town Herod was living in). In Matthew 2, we learn that Herod’s jealousy led him to issue an edict to kill all baby boys in the vicinity of Bethlehem under 2 years old, forcing Mary and Joseph to flee with Jesus to Egypt. So I’m guessing (and only guessing) that Mary and Joseph wouldn’t take Jesus to Jerusalem for the purification rituals in the midst of living as refugees in Egypt. If so, Herod issues that decree probably sometime between Jesus being ages 1 and 2.

If that’s true (and I admit that maybe it’s not, but my coming point still stands), then the magi probably visited Jesus around the time he was 1 or 2. I’m also guessing that the magi weren’t like, “Well golly gee, that star sure has been magnificent for the past 10 months. Let’s go see what it’s about.” Instead, I think they saw a significant star and quickly packed up to go see what it was about.

If all of this is true, then what’s standing out to me is this:
The Magi traveled a long time to get to Jesus.

And why? Why would they travel such long and far distances just to DoorDash some gold, frankincense, and myrrh to this baby who was the King of a nation they weren’t a part of?

Because the Magi understood that getting to Jesus is worth the cost.

I think they understood that being in the presence of and worshipping the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords was worth the journey.

They were willing to travel long distances, change their lives for a year or two, put themselves at risk of robbery, just to get to Jesus. And not even to hear Him teach or preach or watch Him perform miracles… just to worship Him.

What I’m struck by is that these mysterious magi gave up so much for something that we as Christians get the opportunity to do all the time: worship and be in the presence of Jesus.

I mean, think about what the magi might think of us now. They traveled vast distances for months on end just to give up prized possessions to honor and be in the presence of this relatively unknown child-king. Today, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can honor and be in the presence of this now-well-known-King at any moment of any day. What would they think of that opportunity?

And what would they think of all the times that I squander those opportunities? What would they think of all the times that I wake up early to scroll my phone instead of encounter God in His Word? What would they think of all the times I stress out trying to figure out problems on my own instead of talking with the Holy Spirit about those problems? What would they think about the times that we skip church because we want to sleep in or go to brunch or have a baseball tournament? What would they think about the times I walk into a worship service thinking “same-old-same-old” instead of coming with the expectation that I can worship and be in the presence of the Living God?

I don’t know what they’d think. But if I’m amazed at their dedication to get to Jesus, then maybe they’d be amazed at my frequent unwillingness to get to Jesus.

On January 6, Protestant denominations celebrate Epiphany (sometimes called Three Kings Day). It focuses on the revelation and manifestation of who Jesus is, starting with the revelation the magi had of who this baby boy is.

But maybe we shouldn’t just let one day or one season of the church year be focused on choosing to worship the One who we’ve had a revelation about. Maybe that should be the focus for 2026.

Maybe 2026 can be a year where you choose to be in the presence of and worship Christ no matter the cost.

Maybe you need to commit to being on your phone less and in your Bible and in prayer more.
Maybe you need to give your mind to God and come to Him first when problems arise.
Maybe you need to dedicate Sundays to worshipping with the Church.
Maybe you need to come to Jesus with the expectancy that He will be present with His people.

Maybe we can learn from the Magi and say: Whatever the cost, Lord, we will come to be in Your presence and worship You.

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Interested in reading more of my blog posts? Check out some of my most recent ones here!

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