Some time prior to this the shepherds on the hills of Bethlehem were terrified by the appearance of an angel surrounded by light one night. He assured them "Don't be afraid...The Savior...has been born today...you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12. With these clues they immediately went to search for him. They figured it out quickly and met this miracle child. "The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen..." vs. 20
The actual Epiphany event may have been close to 2 years later. "...About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:1b&2
Probably these were Kurdish Astrologers or Astronomers who came along the trade routes of the day through the ancient city of Petra, Jordan. They'd been gazing at this star. Their calculations finally brought them to Jerusalem. King Herod viewed this baby as a threat to his dynasty. He found out from the religious scholars where the Messiah was supposed to be born. With that information the 'Wise Men' set out for Bethlehem and not a GPS but the star directed them to the exact house where Jesus, Joseph, and Mary were staying. They worshipped Jesus and gave him gifts. They were directed in a dream to take a different route home and warned not to report back to Herod.
A variety of Muslims are discovering the real Jesus today. What clues do they go by? Some are assisted in their search by Christian programs or internet sites. Others receive clues from the Qur'an. It confirms what the prophet Isaiah wrote about 1400 or more years before the Qur'an was written. A virgin would give birth to Jesus, the Messiah. Perceptive Muslims observe, "This was no ordinary prophet."
In recent months an educated young man living in a Muslim country was on such a search. He stumbled across the Apostles Creed (click) on the internet and began to understand who Jesus is. His search led him to a 'Muslim friendly' website in Canada that helped him to discover the truth in the Bible. We connected with him and were able to direct him from a distance. God confirmed his search by several dreams. In fact, he wrote us that one of his dreams was identical to a dream described in 'I Dared to Call Him Father' (click). It was a victorious day when he wrote "I am a follower of Jesus." and again when he wrote "I was baptized today. I am starting a new life."
We read in 'Daily Bread' a few weeks ago that people respond in different ways to the coming of Jesus--some reject the message. Some ignore the message as many in our Western cultures do and others welcome Jesus."For those who make room for Jesus in their hearts, God makes room for them in heaven." (Daily Bread)
Lord God, reward all those on a search for truth to find you. Amen.
