Shepherds vs. Magi

Last week, as we began this short Christmas Wars series, we looked at the “battle” between Zechariah and Mary. This week, we move from two individuals to two groupings of people: the shepherds of Luke 2 and the Magi (wise men) of Matthew 2.

Just as Zechariah and Mary had some similarities, this week’s main characters also have some similarities.

• Both the shepherds and the Magi had supernatural experiences that helped them find the Christ child.
• Both were given the wonderful opportunity to worship the infant King.
• And both experienced great joy!

And yet, as much as these two groups of people shared so much, they could not be more different from one another!

• The shepherds were most likely extremely poor. The Magi, on the other hand, were quite wealthy, as seen by their extravagant gifts.
• The shepherds were local. The Magi traveled an extreme distance.
• The shepherds were Jews just like Jesus and his earthly parents. The Magi were foreigners coming to a strange land.
• The shepherds were likely uneducated beyond basic schooling. The Magi most likely spent their entire lives doing nothing but studying a wide variety of subjects.

And yet, God, in His perfect purposes, drew both groups to worship His One and Only Son.

I hope this encourages you! Whether you are rich or poor, well-educated or a high school dropout, from Iowa or India, single or married, Jew or Gentile, short or tall, male or female, old or young, employed or not, Jesus came for you. So come and worship the newborn King!