When Jesus Comes

There are people who seem like they are supposed to know (or else they just think they know) everything about everything. You know, the politicians, the pundits, the celebrities, the “wise men” of our day. But how often have things happened that seemed to catch them all by surprise? In case you weren’t sure, the answer is, a lot!

There were some folks just like those a couple of thousand years ago. For them, as the sun climbed into the dawn sky, it was just like any other day. They didn’t know about the struggle of an unknown young couple to complete their journey to a little town in Israel. There was no reason for the elites to pay them any mind. The couple weren’t rich, they weren’t famous, they had no political power, they had nothing at all to bring them to the notice of the privileged or the powerful. If only all those “important” people had known what that day really meant… It was the most significant day in human history, and they had no clue.

With Mary in the last stages of pregnancy, Joseph led her painstakingly towards Bethlehem. You know what happened when they got there. No room at the inn, and nowhere to take shelter except to join the animals in a humble stable. How could anyone possibly mistake these lowly circumstances as being at all important?

Well, the angels had no doubt, and they filled the heavens with their praises: “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10). Then, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14, KJV).

Then the wise men proved just how wise they really were, risking everything to see the One they sought: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2.

The greatest day in history, and only a few were able to recognize it. Jesus came, and the world has never been the same. Our job is to make sure we’re there like the wise men (and unlike so many of the supposedly wise) to welcome Him into our lives and our circumstances every single day, and declare that He is our King! And when He comes, as He did for those wise men, He’ll fill our seeking hearts with nothing less than “ecstatic joy.”