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06 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Sacred Texts Archive

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  We have seen his star. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea
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  and the days of Herod the King Behold, there came wise men from the
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  east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the
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  Jews? For we have seen a star in the east and are come to
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  worship him. The wise men from the east were philosophers. They belonged to
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  a large and influential class that included men of noble birth and comprised much of
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  the wealth and learning of their nation. Among these were many who imposed on
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  the credulity of the people. Others were upright men who studied the indications of
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  providence and nature, and who were honored for their integrity and wisdom. Of
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  this character were the wise men who came to Jesus. The light of God
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  as ever shining amid the darkness of Heathenism. As these magi studied the starry
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  heavens and sought to fathom the mystery hidden in their bright paths, they beheld
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  the glory of the Creator. Seeking clearer knowledge, they turned to the Hebrew
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  scriptures in their own land, where treasured prophetic writings that predicted the coming of
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  a divine teacher. Balem belonged to the magicians, though at one time a
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  prophet of God by the Holy Spirit. He had foretold the prosperity of Israel
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  and the appearing of the Messiah, and his prophecies had been handed down by
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  tradition from century to century. But in the Old Testament the Saviour's advent was
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  more clearly revealed. The magi learned with joy that his coming was near,
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  and that the whole world was to be filled with the knowledge of the glory
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  of the Lord. The wise men had seen a mysterious light in the heavens
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  upon that night, when the glory of God flooded the hills of Bethlehem.
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  As the light faded, a luminous star appeared and lingered in the sky.
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  It was not a fixed star, nor a planet, and the phenomenon excited
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  the keenest interest. The star was a distant company of shining angels, but
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  of this the wise men were ignorant. Yet they were impressed. The star
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  was of special import to them. They consulted priests and philosophers and searched the
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  scroll of the ancient records. The prophecy of Balem had declared there shall come
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  a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel Numbers
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  twenty four seventeen. Could this strange star have been sent as a hard bringer
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  of the promised one? The magi had welcomed the light of heaven sent truth.
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  Now it was shed upon them in brighter rays through dreams. They were
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  instructed to go in search of the new born prince. As by faith Abraham
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  went forth at the call of God, not knowing whither he went Hebrews eleven
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  eight, as by faith Israel followed the pillar of cloud to the promised land,
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  so did these gentiles go forth to find the promised Savior. The eastern
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  country abounded in precious things, and the magi did not set out empty hand
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  it. It was the custom to offer presents as an act of homage to
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  princes or other personages of rank, and the richest gifts of land afforded were
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  born as an offering to him in whom all the families of earth were to
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  be blessed. It was necessary to journey by nine in order to keep the
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  star in view, but the travelers beguiled the hours by repeating traditional sayings and
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  prophetic utterances. Concerning the one they sought. At every pause for rest,
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  they searched the prophecies, and the conviction deepened that they were divinely guided.
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  While they had the Star before them as an outward sign, they had also
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  the inward evidence of the Holy Spirit, which was impressing their hearts, inspiring
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  them with hope. The journey, though long, was a happy one to
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  them. They had reached the land of Israel and are descending the Mount of
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  Olives, with Jerusalem in sight, when lo, the star that has guided
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  them all the weary way rests above the Temple, and after a season,
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  fades from their view. With eager steps, they pressed onward, confidently,
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  expecting the Messiah's birth to be the joyful burden of every tongue. But their
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  inquiries are in vain. Entering the Holy City, they repair to the temple.
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  To their amazement, they find none who seem to have a knowledge of
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  the new born King. The questions call forth no expressions of joy, but
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  rather of surprise and fear. Not unmingled with contempt, the priests are rehearsing
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  traditions. They extolled their religion and their own piety, while they denounced the
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  Greeks and Romans as heathens and sinners above others. The wise men are not
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  idolaters, and in the sight of God they stand far higher than do these
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  his professed worshippers. Yet there looked upon by the Jews as heathen. Even
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  among the appointed guardians of the Holy Oracles, their eager questionings touched no chord
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  of sympathy. The arrival of the Magi was quickly noised throughout Jerusalem. Their
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  strange error created an excitement among the people, which penetrated to the palace of
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  King Herod. The wily Edomite was aroused at the intimation of a possible rival.
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  Countless murders had stained his pathway to the throne. Being of alien blood,
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  he was hated by the people over whom he ruled. His only security
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  was the favor of Rome, But this new prince had a higher claim.
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  He was warned to the kingdom. Herod suspected the priest of plotting with the
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  strangers to excite a popular tumult and unseat him from the throne. He concealed
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  his mistrust, however, determined to thwart their schemes by superior cunning, summoning
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  the chief priest and scribes. He questioned them as to the teaching of their
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  sacred books in regard to the place of the Messiah's birth. This inquiry from
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  the usurper to the throne, and made it the request of the strangers,
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  stung the pride of the Jewish teachers. The indifference with which they turned to
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  the rolls of prophecy and graged the jealous tyrant. He thought them trying to
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  conceal their knowledge of the matter with an authority they dared not disregard. He
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  commanded them to make close search and to declare the birthplace of their expected king.
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  And they said, unto him, in Bethlehem of Judea. For thus
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  it is written by the Prophet, And now Bethlehem, land of Judah,
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  art in no wise least among the princes of Judah. For out of thee
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  shall come forth a governor which shall be shepherd of my people Israel are Herod
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  now invited the magi to a private interview. A tempest of wrath and fear
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  was raging in his heart, but he preserved a calm exterior and received the
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  strangers courteously. He inquired at what time the star had appeared, and professed
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  to hail with joy the intimation of the birth of Christ. He bade his
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  visitors search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him,
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  bring me word again, that I may come and worship him. Also so
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  saying, he dismissed them to go on their way to Bethlehem. The priests
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  and elders of Jerusalem were not as ignorant concerning the birth of Christ as they
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  pretended. The report of the angel's visit to the shepherds had been brought to
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  Jerusalem, but the rabbis had treated it as unworthy of their notice. They
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  themselves might have found Jesus and might have been ready to lead the magi to
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  his birthplace. But instead of this, the wise men came to call their
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  attention to the birth of the Messiah. Where is he that is born King
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  of the Jews, They said, for we have seen his star in the
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  east and are come to workship him. Now pride and envy closed the door
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  against the light. If the reports brought by the shepherds and the wise men
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  were credited, they would place the priest and rabbis in a most unenviable position,
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  disproving their claim to be the exponents of the truth of God. These
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  learned teachers would not stoop to be instructed by those whom they teemed heathen.
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  It could not be, they said, that God had passed them by to
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  communicate with ignorant shepherds or uncircumcised gentiles. They determined to show their contempt for
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  the reports that were exciting King Herod in all Jerusalem. They would not even
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  go to Bethlehem to see whether these things were so, and they led the
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  people to regard the interest in Jesus as a fanatical excitement. Here began the
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  rejection of Christ by the priests and rabbis. From this point their pride and
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  stubborness grew into a settled hatred of the Savior. While God was opening the
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  door to the Gentiles, the Jewish leaders were closing the door to themselves.
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  The wise men departed alone from Jerusalem. The shap night were falling as they
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  left the gates, but to their great joy, they again saw the star
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  and were directed to Bethlehem. They had received no such intimation of the lowly
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  estate of Jesus as was given to the shepherds. After the long journey.
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  They had been disappointed by the indifference of the Jewish leaders, and had left
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  Jerusalem less confident than when they entered the city. At Bethlehem, they found
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  no royal guard stationed to protect the new born king. None of the world's
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  honored men were in attendance. Jesus was cradled in a manger. His parents,
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  uneducated peasants, were his only guardians. Could this be he of whom
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  it was written that he should raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the
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  preserved of visual, that he should be a light to the gentiles and for
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  salvation unto the end of the earth Isaiah forty nine six. When they were
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  coming to the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother,
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  and fell down and worshiped him. Beneath the lowly guise of Jesus,
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  they recognized the presence of divinity. They gave their hearts to him as their
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  savior, and then poured out their gifts, gold and frankincense, and myrrhr,
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  what a faith was theirs? It might have been said of the wise
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  men from the east, as afterwards of the Roman centurion, I have not
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  found so great faith, No, not an Israel Matthew eight ten. The
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  wise men had not penetrated Herod's design towards Jesus. When the object of the
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  journey was accomplished, they prepared to return to Jerusalem, intending to acquaint him
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  with their success. But in a dream they received a divine message to hold
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  no further communication with him. Avoiding Jerusalem, they set out for their own
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  country by another route. In like manner, Joseph received warning to flee into
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  Egypt with Mary and the child, and the Angel said, be thou there
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  until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy
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  him. Joseph obeyed without delay, setting out on the journey by night for
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  greater security. Through the wise men, God had called the attention of the
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  Jewish nation to the birth of his son. Their inquiries in Jerusalem, the
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  popular interest excited, and even the jealousy of Herod, which compelled the attention
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  of the priests and rabbis, directed minds to the prophecies concerning the Messiah and
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  to the great event that had just taken place. Satan was bent on shutting
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  out the divine light from the world, and he used his utmost cunning to
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  destroy the Savior. But he who never slumbers nor sleeps, was watching over
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  his beloved son, He who had reigned manna from heaven for Israel and had
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  fed Elijah in time of famine, provided in the heathen land a refuge from
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  Mary and the child Jesus. And through the gifts of the Magi from a
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  heathen country, the Lord supplied the means for the journey into Egypt and the
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  sojourn in a land of strangers. The Magi had been among the first to
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  welcome the Redeemer. Their gift was the first that was laid at his feet.
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  And through that gift, what privilege of ministry was theirs? The offering
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  from the heart that loves God delights to honor, giving it highest efficiency in
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  service for him. If we have given our hearts to Jesus, we also
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  shall bring our gifts to him. Our gold and silver, our most precious
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  earthly possessions, our highest mental and spiritual endowments, will be freely devoted to
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  Him who loved us and gave himself for us. Herod and Jerusalem impatiently awaited
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  the return of the wise men. As time passed and they did not appear,
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  his suspicions were roused. The unwillingness of the rabbis to point out the
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  Messiah's birthplace seemed to indicate that they had penetrated his design, and that the
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  magi had purposely avoided him. He was maddened at the thought craft had failed,
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  but there was left the resort to force he would make an example of
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  this child king. Those haughty Jews should see what they might expect in their
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  attempts to place a monarch on the throne. Soldiers were at once sent to
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  Bethlehem with orders to put to death all the children of two years, and
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  under the quiet homes of the city of David witnessed those scenes of horror that
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  six hundred years before had been opened to the prophet in Ramah. Was there
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  a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning. Rachel weeping for
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  her children, and would not be comforted because they are not this calamity the
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  Jews had brought upon themselves. If they had been walking in faithfulness and humility
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  before God, he would in a single manner have made the wrath of the
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  king harmless to them. But they had separated themselves from God by their sins,
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  and had rejected the Holy Spirit, which was their only shield. They
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  had not studied the scriptures. With the desire to conform to the will of
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  God, they had searched for prophecies which could be interpreted to exalt themselves and
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  to show how God despised all other nations. It was their proud boast that
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  the Messiah was to come as a king, conquering his enemies and treading down
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  the heathen in his wrath. Thus they had excited the hatred to their rulers
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  through their misrepresentation of Christ's mission. Satan had purposed to compass the destruction of
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  the Savior, but instead of this it returned upon their own heads. This
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  act of cruelty was one of the last that darkened the reign of Herod.
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  Soon after the slaughter of the Innocence, he was himself compelled to yield to
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  that doom which none can turn aside. He died of fearful death. Joseph,
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  who was still in Egypt, was now bidden by an angel of God
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  to return to the land of Israel. Regarding Jesus as the heir of David's
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  throne, Joseph desired to make his home in Bethlehem, but learning that Archelaus
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  reigned in Judea and his father's dead he feared that the Father's designs against Christ
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  might be carried out by the son of all the sons of Herod, Archelaus,
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  most resembled him in character. Already his succession to the government had been
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  marked by a tumulton Jerusalem and the slaughter of thousands of Jews by the Roman
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  guards. Again, Joseph was directed to a place of safety. He returned
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  to Nazareth, his former home, and here for nearly thirty years Jesus dwelt
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  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets. He shall be
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  called a Nazarene. Galilee was under the control of a son of Herod,
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  but it had a much larger admixture of foreign inhabitants in Judaea. Thus there
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  was less interest in matters relating especially to the Jews, and the claims of
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  Jesus would be less likely to excite the jealousy of those in power. Such
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  was the Saviour's reception when he came to the earth. There seemed to be
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  no place of rest or safety for the infant redeemer. God could not trust
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  his beloved son with men, even while carrying forward his work for their salvation.
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  He commissioned angels to attend Jesus and protect him till he should accomplish his
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  mission on earth and die by the hands of those whom he came to save.
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  End of Chapter six