The Wisdom of the Magi

Scholars debate just how wise the "wise men" really were. Some criticize them for putting Herod on to the baby Jesus while others dismiss these magi as Jeanne Dixon types---mere astrologers and quasi- magicians. Still others see them as the real scientists of the day; people who might appear on the stage of a Billy Graham revival. I tend to side with the scientist view. Either way these magi show me a deep truth in Matthew 2:11 when they bow down and worship the baby Jesus. The truth is not just that we should bow down before Jesus-- we certainly should. It is seen in where they bow down. If Jesus is born in a "stable" which is actually a cave in ancient Israel, then these magi are getting their knees, if not their faces, in the sheep manure which would cover the dirt, mud and rock bottom of any cave. The truth I see in this is that if I truly want to worship Jesus I will have to get "dirty"! To worship Jesus means that we get involved in the painful and difficult places of our world on his behalf. We want to worship Him with clean hearts but our feet and hands should evidence that we are working for good in His world.
DMac