No they don’t.
Turn with me to Matthew 2:9-11 and read the Ancient Anointed Words:
“And the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”
Each year at Christmas, I am gripped by the power of these words. I have this insatiable longing to mine deep down into their teaching to glean the wonder of all that rests within their reality. Annually, I take another penetrating look into what they have to say. I just can’t help myself.
I ask, “What am I missing? What can I learn? What is here still waiting to be discovered?” I fear I will miss the fresh message. I fear I will turn elsewhere; I fear, lest I let my roads lead to Rome.When I stop the noise of the holidays, the chaos of our world, the confusion of materialism, the concern for our future, I am left with a stunning sense that this is what Christmas is about.
The Wise Men and their following the star teach us so much.
They were relentless in their pursuit. They pushed and pressed. But when they arrived, they stopped! They did not keep searching. The star stopped, because the search was over. They recognized Him when they found Him - "who was and is and is to come.” (Rev.4:8)
Two thousand years later, you and I are so tempted to search the Internet, to text the tribe, to turn on the TV. We are tempted to let our roads to lead to Rome. Yet, what the star showed them, it still shows us. Stop. The search is over.
All roads lead to Rome. No. No they don’t, not at all.
All roads lead to Jesus.
Ask the martyr on the beach: “My Lord Jesus.”
Ask the man who lost his wife: “I did not sleep for 4 months after her death, but the Lord’s grace has been with me.”
Ask the mother whose prodigal has returned: “I always had hope.”
Ask the missionary whose brother is finally released from an unjust prison sentence: “You know how painful the situation has been…we really appreciate what God has done.”
Ask the mortal who is facing a fearful disease: “As we look back over the past 10 weeks when our story took this unexpected turn, we can't thank God enough that His mercies are new every morning and in His mercy and grace He is providing the strength that we need for every day!”
And if you will, … ask me: “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.” I am so thankful years ago, my star stopped. This Christmas, I humbly celebrate the day my search ended:
“His name is Jesus, Jesus,
Sad hearts weep no more.
He has healed the broken hearted;
Opened wide the prison doors.
He is able to deliver evermore.”
Question: How are you celebrating the joy The Star Stopped?
