It’s amazing how much they understood this moment in time – the birth of Jesus. In fact, they were one of the first to understand.

Wise men from the east who studied the stars saw that a great king was to be born in Israel. So great in fact, that they needed to come and bring gifts and worship. And it wasn’t just 3 wise men as stories say, but many. The idea of 3 came because there were 3 main types of gifts.

But here’s the thing. They came. Middle Easterners. At their own expensive. To bring costly gifts to worship and bow down to a king that was not of their land.

What’s greater is that they didn’t make requests. They didn’t ask to be remembered and blessed by this king when they came to power. No. They truly understood it was about worshiping and giving and selflessly honoring the King Jesus. The Jewish king. They understood Jesus nature and identity before most of the rest of the world.

So many things come to mind. But two that stand out in particular.

First, I think of today how far so many of the Middle Eastern countries have rejected Jesus. Especially considering how honored they were to be of the first to know about Jesus. God even blessed them more by warning them in a dream not to go back to Herod. He kept them safe.

Second I am amazed and touched even more by the absolutely selflessness of these wise men. They came at their own expense. They came bearing costly gifts. They came asking for nothing other than to worship a king who was not their own–a king of the Jews.

Wow. How often do we come to the King of all Kings to ask for something? To get something from him? Not that this is bad, but what expense do we go to just worship Him like these Middle Easterners?

It makes me want to worship Jesus more. Just for who he is, like these Middle Easterners did.

And it also makes me want to pray for the Middle East. That they would come back to their roots. Their roots of being the people who recognized Jesus for who he was and worshiped him.