“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Matthew 2:10
What has caused you to rejoice exceedingly with great joy? I imagine it was a big life moment: a wedding, the birth of a child, the reward of a promotion, the adventure of a bucket-list trip, or another personal event that came with excitement and celebration. This isn’t your everyday run-of-the-mill rejoicing. This is an exceedingly abundant kind. It’s a monumental, energetic joy like the wise men expressed!
What occasion brought about their conspicuous burst of joy? The magi, revered as wise men and knowledgeable about the heavenly constellations, saw a star. Not just any star. The star. The star written about in Numbers 24:17 prophesying a King coming out of Jacob, a scepter rising out of Israel. This was the star they were anticipating and saw in the east. The very one they chased. The one that was suspended over Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was born.
Was the enthusiasm of these astronomers for the star or what the star represented? The wise men told King Herod they saw the star of the King of the Jews and came to worship Him (Matt. 2:2). Then when they entered the house and saw the child with His mother Mary, they fell down and glorified Him. They were Spirit-led to know the significance of the star and of their exceedingly great joy!
I’m challenged by these verses and ask myself what causes me to rejoice exceedingly with great joy? Is it Jesus our Savior’s arrival as an infant at Christmas? Or Jesus our Passover Lamb at Easter? What about Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Heb. 12:2) to become our resurrected high priest? Closer to home, perhaps is it a friend coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? What makes me so joyful that I respond by falling down in worship to the King of Kings?
Too often my big joy shows up for earthly celebrations rather than heavenly worship sessions. What priority needs to change for my response to Christ—with all that I know and believe about Him—to be like the wise men who rejoiced exceedingly with great joy?
Prayer: Lord, may I be such a student of You that reading the story of the wise men causes me to rejoice with big, energetic joy. Let the true joy of this holy season be foremost in my heart and mind all year long. Prompt me to enthusiastically worship and tell others about this life-changing, good news of great joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want More?
Read Luke 15:1–10. Note the use of the word joy. It has the same meaning as joy in Matthew 2:10. What are the circumstances of joy in Luke 15:1–10? How do you feel about the joy Jesus refers to when a sinner repents? Personalize His joy over your repentance. Who will you talk to about the life-changing good news of exceedingly great joy?
