The gospel of Matthew tells us that sometime after Jesus was born (Perhaps up to two years after he was born) some wise men from the east went to Jerusalem in search of the Child-Savior. Upon their arrival, they asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).
The text doesn’t tell us exactly how they came to learn about the birth of Jesus, but these men (Greek, magoi) were individuals whose practices included astrology, the study of sacred writings, and the pursuit of wisdom. Somehow—perhaps due to Jewish writings left in Babylon and Persia from the time of Israel’s captivity—these men learned of the star that signaled the Messiah’s birth, and they were wise enough to seek him.
Here’s something to think about: wise people still seek Jesus today. It takes wisdom to have a heart that leans toward God, and that same wisdom produces action. Perhaps we cannot seek Jesus in a physical town today, but we can still actively seek him in many other ways. This New Year, what wise step(s) can you take toward seeking Jesus daily?