Did you ever notice the details of the Christmas story are jarringly humble? A young virgin, a common carpenter, submission to unreasonable authority, an arduous trek, a stable, a manger, lowly shepherds. And then…

Enter the Magi—wise men, kings, visitors from the East, Gentiles. Royalty arrives.

Jesus is not yet two. It is unclear whether the family returned to Nazareth or remained in Bethlehem, but they were unknowingly positioned for an amazing visit. Regardless of their address, a star supernaturally led wise men from the East to their doorstep.

Royalty joined the cast of humble participants in the Christmas narrative. When the kings saw the Christ, they fell to their knees and worshiped Him. Men who were wealthy, learned, prestigious, foreign, and respected, knelt before the King of all kings, presenting Him with rich gifts and highest praise. Isaiah foretold this event hundreds of years prior:

Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn….
bearing gold and incense
    and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.*

Both the lowly Jewish shepherds and the royal Gentile magi worshiped when saw they the Christ. When we see Him, not on the pages of a book but through the eyes of faith, we also fall down and worship.

Like the wise men, let’s accompany the worship of our King with unrestrained, freely given, generous gifts from our time, talents, and treasure.

*Isaiah 60:3,6

Four hundred years of silence. No prophets. No angels. No word.

Was there talk in the heavenly realms? Did the angels wonder why earth seemed to be disregarded? Peter tells us angels long to look into the things concerning man’s salvation (1 Peter 1:12). Did they realize something momentous was about to happen? What did they feel when they were released from heaven to announce the birth of the Messiah?

I like wondering about these things, but I can only be sure of what Luke 2 tells us—the angels’ joy could not be contained and they erupted into worship.

First came the message from an angel in shining glory:

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Then, a great host of angels appeared, praising God:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

He’s here! The silence has been broken. Messiah has come.

May our hearts be as responsive as the shepherds. They hurried off to find Jesus and, “when they had seen Him, they spread the word and all who heard it were amazed.”

Share the shepherds’ message and amaze someone today!

It was a dark time for Israel. The plots of war against them caused the king to shake “as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind” (Isa.7:2). Isaiah delivered a message from God—Israel would not be destroyed, now, but in 65 years it would be decimated. Talk about good news, bad news!

But Isaiah had more to say and described a sign they would receive:

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (v 14).

One unspoken detail—this will happen in approximately 750 years.

All Isaiah’s prophecies came true. Israel was not destroyed, her enemies were. Sixty-five years later she was taken captive by Assyria. Hundreds of years later Immanuel was born, fulfilling  more words from Isaiah:

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…

of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isa.9:2-7).

Our perspective of life and time is immediate and often urgent. We watch wars and hear rumors of wars emanate from our screens. Nations again conspire to destroy Israel.

Peace is only possible when we trust God to unfold His plan in His perfect way and perfect time. All His prophecies are true. What He said, He did, and will yet do.