Advent Joy: The Wise Men’s Journey to “Exceeding Great Joy”

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” Matthew 2:10 (NIV)

A Joy Worth the Journey

Imagine going on a journey to a foreign land knowing that at the end of that journey

you will come face to face with the king of said land. What joy might rise in you at the thought of meeting a king?

Now imagine making that journey on foot—traveling not for hours or even days, but for months, perhaps years.

Do you thing your joy would endure the long, dusty miles? Or would the weight and the waiting of the journey

begin to quiet your anticipation—your joy—of meeting the king?

What the Magi Teach Us About Seeking the King

Scripture recounts the journey of the three wise men—Magi—who traveled far to meet no merely a king

but the King. Their journey was long—some speculate several months, others believe it may have stretched close to

two years—yet they never stopped traveling, searching, or seeking Jesus. Even when the star that first announced

His birth seemed to disappear for a time, they continued forward in faith.

The Faith That Fueled Their Joy

Their faith was rooted in prophecy (Numbers 24:17), in the God who appointed the divine sign, and in the

identity of the child they sought. In Matthew 2:2, they asked Herod:

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”

They hadn’t foolishly sacrificed months—maybe years—of their lives merely to pay homage to an earthly king. No,

they were seeking the King of heaven, whose reign has no end. And He is the King we must also seek.

Joy That Leads of to Jesus

As they drew nearer to where Christ was in Bethlehem, the star reappeared, and Matthew 2:10 records it this way:

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

No matter which version we read, it’s clear the three wise men experienced an abundance of joy when that

star appeared again. But their joy wasn’t rooted in the star itself. Their joy came from the One the star was leading them to.

They were about to personally witness the very fulfillment of the promise God had spoken generations before. I

imagine their joy was almost palpable.

The Joy We Await Today

Friend, we too find ourselves standing on the cusp of the promise God declared long ago. This time, we are not waiting

for the King to be born—He has already come. We are anticipating the day His eternal reign fills the earth. And for this

reason, our joy should be almost palpable too.

A Joy That Carriers Us Home

Because like the Magi, our faith in the fulfillment of that promise—in the One who made it and in the identity of that long-ago

newborn King—should enkindle in us a joy that draws us towards Christ, no matter how long the journey or difficult the path.

Be overjoyed my dear friend, for the Star still shines and continues to guide us ever closer to the King of Kings.

For Reflection

What “long, dusty miles” in your own life are testing your joy right now, and how might remembering the Magi’s faith renew your joy today?

Where do you see the Star shining in your life today, showing you small but sure signs of God’s guidance and presence that invite you to rejoice again?