I was thinking about the Magi on this Christmas day and how commendable their alertness was.

The Magi came from the east, from the Babylon/Persia area. Judah had been carried away captive into Babylon and then to Persia about 400-500 years earlier. Daniel had been set over the magicians and wise men of both kingdoms because an excellent spirit was found in him. He taught them, from the stars, the astrological signs, what was to come to pass in the future – that God would send a king to be born who would rule the earth. Daniel taught them how the stars would align when that occurred.

These wise men watched the skies and the stars for about 400 years until they saw the stars align properly that would indicate the birth of the Messiah. Once they saw that king star, Jupiter, in the rising, just before the sun would come up and the other stars align properly, they set out on a long journey for Jerusalem to see this babe born king of the Jews. They had watched for about 400 years. Quite something!

Once they arrived in Jerusalem, they figured everyone would be aware of the event, especially the king and the priests, but they were wrong. The priests nor the king had any idea the birth of the Messiah had come to pass. Apparently, they were too caught up in their religion and the prosperity of the things of this world to be paying attention to the things of God.

The priests had to go look up the event to even know where this king of the Jews was to be born.

Matthew 2:1-6 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

It is absolutely amazing to understand that the entire nation of Israel except perhaps for a couple of people, Anna and Simeon, had no idea that their redeemer had come. As a nation they were so caught up in day to day life, the things of this world, their prosperity and their religion, they were no longer waiting for That Prophet promised by Moses. They had gone to sleep spiritually.

But even Jesus himself encourages US to do a better job next time at his second coming. To not fall asleep. To not become so distracted. To attend on the things of our lord until that day.

Mark 13:32-37 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.