A wise man ... A man of knowledge ... An advisor to kings.

These were once words used to describe me. Of course, I had not actively pursued such distinction. These titles instead were given to me. It was not because of my own achievement or accomplishment, instead my father had great influence and he made sure that his son, me, would be a person of distinction.

In my youth, of course I reveled in my prestige. I was assigned great mentors and teachers who taught me about many things. However, my passion became the study of the heavens, the stars.

I threw myself into the pursuit of knowledge and there I found an important principle that has governed my life since. The principle does not emphasize the answers but that the question you ask will determine the knowledge you acquire. For example, if I was to ask “Where did this rock come from?” that would determine my pursuit for knowledge and to a great degree my destiny. It would later prove to my great advantage to have chosen the pursuit of the heavens.

Have you ever studied the stars? I mean really studied them? You can get lost in them. The sky seems endless. And the stars are incredible. I wonder how they got there. And what do they mean. The popular belief is that they are past great kings; former world leaders. Don’t you remember the story about when Julius Caesar died—how a new star suddenly appeared in the sky? I am not sure though, that is what those stars mean.

Growing up I pursued the knowledge of the heavens and studied and observed them with obsession. However, my many teachers and mentors realized that as an advisor to princes and future rulers I had to have a broad base of knowledge, so I was instructed in the history of civilizations. It was during this early study that I learned to read Hebrew and the history of the Jewish people. And during that study many questions began to enter my mind. Of course as learned men we believed that knowledge would be our salvation. Once we learned all there was; we would be able to solve the problems of civilization. And by giving the correct sacrifice to the various gods we would of course be treated well in the afterlife.

However, the disturbing revelation which I found in my study of the Hebrew people is that they thought very differently. They believed in a Messiah. I had never been confronted with such a thought. They believed that someone would be sent from God to save them. That he would become their king. Didn’t their prophet Isaiah say something about him like, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom.”

After I read such words, doubt began to brew in my mind; questions began to form. Questions which I could not utter to anyone. Questions which no one I knew had the answer. Questions such as: Do people need a redeemer? Are people really that bad? Do people need a savior? If so, who would be that redeemer? It must be someone more powerful and perfect than I. Then the questions became personal. Do I need a redeemer? Do these religious rituals that we practice to pagan gods really do anything? What do I really believe about the heavens that I study so diligently?

“A star will come out of Jacob.” This too I found out of the Hebrew writings. It was always interesting to me that the Hebrew’s God would announce the birth of his Messiah through the appearance of a star; yet the Hebrew culture looked down with disdain on the practice of astronomy and astrology. This too I found strange. Didn’t everybody believe in the wisdom of the stars? I mean, who would know of this Messiah’s birth if no one studied the stars? But I studied the stars and I began looking not for just any star but for his star.

The star first appeared, almost the size of another heaven. I know for the untrained eye they probably would have missed it. But to me that star was brighter and bigger than any star I had ever seen. Historians have since written concerning the astronomical events of the year of that star. It seems that Jupiter came into conjunction with Regulus, the star of kingships, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo. And Leo was the constellation of kings.

As you can see I can get excited about such events. Okay, I need to slow down. What is a conjunction? A conjunction is a coming together, a union as it were of two celestial bodies. And there was this conjunction between Jupiter and Regulus. It was as though these two planets became one. And then it was repeated two more times that year.

Listen, as a first hand observer I can assure you that the sight of these magnificent bodies of light coming together in the heavens was . . . glorious . . . brilliant. It was a once-in-a-lifetime type of event. I hear that many of you got all excited about a solar eclipse recently. Can I tell you, that a solar eclipse is nothing, zero, almost like an everyday occurrence compared to this coming together of Jupiter and Regulus.

Of course, I began asking questions: How did this conjunction form? How large was it? Why did it happen?

I wondered about the Hebrew God, whom they claimed was the great Creator —over everything, land, sky, trees, animals, you and me, and the stars. Did he do this?

And then I knew the answer. I knew whose star it was and what it was announcing. I knew that the Hebrew king had been born. And I knew I needed to journey and find this king.

Of course, I knew this would not be a quick journey and I wanted to be prepared. Others had also seen the star and wanted to go with me. Their knowledge of astronomy and other events were limited like my own but I did not refuse anyone who wanted to join our journey to follow the star for I understood that like me they were also searching.

The larger question was not who would go, but rather what gifts we would bring to this Hebrew King. Whatever gifts we decided on, they had to be significant. They had to demonstrate the worthiness of the one to whom they were given. Of course we had to bring gold for gold was the symbol of royalty. It is the metal of kings. It was decided we would bring gold.

It was then decided that we would bring incense for it was used in religious worship. We knew that the Hebrew people were religious people and would use incense in their worship. It was decided we would bring incense.

The final gift was more difficult. I did not know what the life of this King would be but as I remembered the words of the Hebrew prophet Isaiah that “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering,” it occurred to me that the final gift should be myrrh. Myrrh was used in the embalming process as a spice to prepare the dead for burial. And even though I could not see into the future I knew that death would have to come to this new little king. Out of respect for things I did not know or understand we decided to bring Myrrh.

As the journey began, the star disappeared. We could no longer physically see that great light, however, we knew it was still there. But it wasn’t as if we did not have any ideas as to where we were going without the star guiding our way. We were headed for Judah, specifically for Jerusalem.

Another Hebrew prophet named Micah said, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” We knew that the king, Herod, would surely know of this birth and he would know where this Bethlehem was where the king had been born.

Our journey took many months. It gave me time to think about what I was doing and what I was hoping to find. At moments, to be honest, I felt foolish. Here I was traveling all over the world to find a king whose birth was signified by a star which no longer anyone could see. It sounded rather absurd. However, deep in my soul I knew it was not absurd to go in search for answers. Some questions are merely for the purpose of discourse. These questions have no answers. But other questions need to be answered. A person needs to know if they are outside the reach of God. A person needs to know if God knows their name. A person needs to know if they are redeemed by God’s grace. A person needs to know in whom to place their faith.

As we entered Jerusalem I was astonished that there were no significant signs of people celebrating the birth of this new king. Jerusalem seemed just like so many other cities that we had passed through on our journey—busy with their own things, caught up in the pursuits of life. Had they not seen the star? Did they not know the words of their own prophets? Perhaps I was expecting too much.

Because we were such a large group, the word of our arrival quickly spread. And before we could find lodging for the night, we were summoned to a meeting with King Herod. As a Magi you meet many men of esteem and power. Some hold their power with an open hand . . . almost as if a bird sat in their palm. These men do not use this power unwisely for they understand the delicate balance and once they clinch their fist . . . they kill the bird. Other men however, hold their power like a serpent that they are trying to control without getting bitten. These men do not understand grace and they abuse their power in an effort to keep it. King Herod was such a man. From the first meeting I distrusted him. He was fearful of losing the power he held so dear. And I knew that this would soon not be a safe place for the new king.

Herod asked us what we sought. I told him, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Having been in the presence of many kings and princes, I could read his face; his eyes. I could see him seething with anger as he contemplated turning his kingdom over to another. It seemed as though my question, caught him by surprise, as he called together his advisors.

I kind of laugh now as I think about it. How ironic. Here he was, the king of the Jewish people, yet he had no idea what the Hebrew Scriptures said about where the Messiah would be born. And here we were, Gentiles from the east and yet we knew what he did not. The king was to be born in Bethlehem.

To our great joy we discovered that Bethlehem was only a short trek away. We were ecstatic to be so close to the end of our journey. We assured Herod that we would return to let him know what we had found and we left.

I could not think about sleeping that night even though I was greatly fatigued from the journey. We were so close. So we continued our journey. I looked to the sky as is my habit. And I was overjoyed to see the star. It had come to take us to the new king. We followed it to Bethlehem. To the very place where the child was. And it seemed to me as though the star hovered over that place as if it was keeping vigil.

On entering the home I saw the boy with his mother. It was in that moment that I realized that my journey had truly come to an end. It was as though I was looking at the face of the true king. Again, you must understand, I have been around my share of royalty. I have seen them all dressed up in fancy robes, wearing all sorts of fancy crowns, sitting on fancy thrones. But here, in this modest home, dressed in simple clothes, surrounded by nothing but his parents, there was something about this young child that was different. His royalty was not announced with the trappings of wealth but rather by a single star that could only have been placed by the creator … God. This child was heir to a kingdom like none I had ever known.

We quickly brought all the gifts which we had so carefully chosen. After presenting all we had carried I looked around at those gifts and somehow they seemed out of place. Of course they were valuable, more valuable than any furnishing which the little home contained. However, I had come this great distance and had searched the heavens all my life not to just come and give gifts which were easily purchased. No, I quickly realized I had come and searched to give myself to this king.

I went to the child and fell down before him and gave him everything I was, for my journey had brought me face-to-face with my redeemer. From that day on I did not question my faith . . . for I had seen who I had put my faith in. My faith was put in a God who had miraculously guided my steps to this child who would grow up and be a great King.

We didn’t stay long. We left, not returning to Jerusalem that night, but excited that our journey had ended so well, that we had found the one we had been searching for. Once again God revealed himself to me for in a dream, I was warned not to return to Herod, so the next morning we left Judea by another route—quickly before Herod found out.

Of course Herod became known for his notorious anger and the killing of so many young children. I have heard it said since my return that the gifts we brought the king saved his life. They made it financially possible for the child’s parent to escape the wrath of Herod and go to Egypt. But I know the truth, the God that had ordained the birth of this child and would not allow the anger of a jealous king to destroy his plan.

As I reflect on my journey to Bethlehem I have spent much time thinking what the life this child-king might have led here on earth. This child-king would never wear a crown which was placed there by men, yet he could summon the jewels in the sky whenever he wanted.

This child would not sit on an earthly throne which could be destroyed by invaders. No this child’s throne would be in the heavens where men could not destroy.

This child’s kingdom would not have the boundaries of countries or would not be divided by language or race. Just as the heavens are over all men so would be the kingdom of this child.

This child has unlimited power over the heavens and earth but yet it is the restraint of this power that brought him to a modest home in Bethlehem.

As a member of the Magi … a wise man … I know with absolute certainty that this child was sent from God. God has revealed much to me through my journey. Through a star, a magnificent star he showed me his power and through a small vulnerable baby named Jesus he showed me his love.

Since my journey as a Magi I have bent my knee to many kings and rulers but … in my heart I have only knelt before one.

Joel Sutton is the senior pastor at First Evangelical Free Church in Minneapolis, MN.