Wise Men from the East
By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
Have you ever wondered what made the wise men wise? Who called them wise and why?
The Bible simply says they were wise men from the east in Matthew 2:1-
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold the wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.
There are all sorts of people that are called wise today. Sometimes the people that are called wise today stretch the limits of believability. With all sorts of ideas, theories and ideas running rampant in our world, you sometimes are left wondering who really are the wise. Interestingly enough it was the same in ancient times.
Desire of Ages gives us a glimpse into the wise men of the east and others that were so called wise men.
The wise men from the East were philosophers. They belonged to a large and influential class that included men of noble birth, and comprised much of the wealth and learning of their nation. Among these were many who imposed on the credulity of the people. Others were upright men who studied the indications of Providence in nature, and who were honored for their integrity and wisdom. Of this character were the wise men who came to Jesus.
Notice some were really not that wise and others were men of integrity and wisdom. The very next paragraph in Desire of Ages pointed out that the wise men from the east had found the Hebrew scriptures and had been earnestly studying the contents and from that they determined that there was a Savior to be born and that the time was close. Of course they saw the star in the heavens and followed that star until they found Jesus.
The point however is where they spent their time of study: In the Bible that was inspired by God.
Psalms 1:2,3 gives us the place of wisdom in our lives and the results of our study in God’s word.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he mediates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season Whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper.
This Christmas season as we commemorate the birth of Jesus, let us all be like the wise men and spend our time in reading and contemplating the Bible and what it’s message is for us today just like the wise men of old.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. May you sense the presence of "God with us."