A pause for Advent 2: Advent Calendar day 4: Wise men

The font display from my church.

Whenever we read the gospel according to Luke, I always think about those wise men, however many there were.  But I wonder if I or even you have ever thought what it took for them to go and see Jesus?  Surely, it takes a great leap of faith to take a massive hike across the world because of something you have seen in the stars.  Was everything they saw always accurate?
How was the decision made? Were there concerns or worries from any of the party that it was a wild goose chase or it might result in difficulties or danger?
In those days, crossing from one country to another was not as easy as climbing onto a flight courtesy of Emirates or BA; it would be perilous, expensive, uncertain.  Had those wise men or learned men ever travelled that far or to these places. Essentially they were following a star.  That is pretty ludicrous!  I can't say I've ever decided to trek half way across the world because there is a bright star in the sky. Have you?

And what about what they were leaving behind?  Families? Responsibilities?  Reputations?  Comfort and security? Renown? Would those they left behind have supported them? So many uncertainties that aren't even covered in the biblical passages.

But despite all these possible issues, they went.  They left and they followed the star and we know they met at least one danger in the form of an insane despot, King Herod.  Kings in those days were not sanitary and gentle like our Queen Elizabeth, they were  sometimes barbaric, jealous, manic, depraved in Herod's case and murders.  Yet, they continued and eventually came to find Jesus in the manger.  How long had it taken them to reach that point? Months, years??  How must they have felt when they realised that God had been true and had rewarded them with being the first few people to see Jesus?  What impact did it have on their future life, post-Jesus meeting?

I imagine their lives were touched, blessed though we don't know what happened to them afterwards, especially since they returned home another way.  Did they reach home?

All I know is that they made a great leap of faith and sacrifice in order to seek Jesus.  And that is something worth emulating.

xx

This is my Pause for Advent with Ang at Tracing Rainbows and also forms my day 4 of my advent calendar with Julie at KC's court