I really don't like that title, but I don't know how else to put it.  Last week I shared some thoughts about good news to the common folk, based on the involvement of the shepherds who went to Bethlehem.  This week I want to share thoughts about good news to the upper crust of society, based on the involvement of the  wise men or magi.  This fascinating account, found in Matthew 2, involves men known as magi.  They came from the East, perhaps that part of the world which is modern day Iran or Iraq.  The magi were scholars, professors, astrologers.  They were intellectuals, part of the upper crust of their society.  Being a part of the upper crust, they had time to study.  They did not have to work all the time as common people usually do.  They could read their books, study their charts, gaze at the heavens night after night, looking for a sign which might indicate that something special somewhere was taking place.

To these men a special star appeared.  We call it the Star of Bethlehem.  There have been attempts to explain from the standpoint of modern astronomy what the star might have been and whether or not it really did appear.  Even today, these efforts are academic, intellectual exercises for people who have the time to do them.  After studying the star and consulting their charts and books, the magi decided that the star signified the birth of a king in Judea.  So they made preparations and then set out for Judea, following the star.

When they arrived in Judea and in Jerusalem, they went immediately to the king.  He would know about the birth of a king--perhaps his own son.  Alas, this was not so.  Herod did not know about the birth of Jesus until the magi came.  Then he called together his wise men and scholars with their books, charts, and texts, and scriptures inquiring when and where the new king should be born.  They responded from their research that the new king would be born in Bethlehem.  So Herod instructed the magic to go and find the new king and then return to him and tell him where to find the new king.

When the magi found Jesus, they presented to him fabulous gifts--gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  These were expensive gifts, fit for a king.  They were given by upper crust people.  Jesus and his earthly parents received the gifts.  We do not know what they did with them, but no doubt they were used in significant ways.  Does Jesus still receive expensive gifts from well-to-do, upper crust people?  Of course, He does.  His kingdom benefits greatly from these fabulous gifts.  This is the way that wealthy people worship.  They often give extravagantly.  Remember, that God gave His only begotten Son.  So, why not give an extravagant gift?  We simply need to remember that these are not the only gifts given and received .

After the magi had worshipped the Christ, they were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod.  These were spiritual men, after all.  They heeded the warning and returned to the East by another route.  This gave Jesus, Joseph, and Mary time to flee to Egypt from the murderous rage of Herod, who wanted to kill Jesus.  The magi were just as happy in their roles and in their places in their society as the shepherds had been in theirs.  How we respond is not as important as the fact of responding at all.  Whatever your background or customs, the good news of the birth of Jesus is for you.  How you respond to this birth depends in large part on your conditioning and ability to respond.  The shepherds gave the gift of joy and of telling the good news everywhere.  The magi also rejoiced, gave expensive gifts to the baby, and returned to their country knowing that they had seen the Lord's messiah.