The star shone brighter than any star he had ever seen. Its brilliance and beauty took his breath away. He had spent his whole life looking up at the heavens, studying and searching for meaning amidst the stars. He was considered ‘wise’ because of this and because of his life long dedication to learning. He was tutored and trained by the most knowledgeable and respected men in the land. He studied the stars, ancient texts, dreams and prophecies. He observed the peculiarities and wonders of nature and human behaviour and thought. He learned quickly and was lauded a prodigy amongst his peers and elders alike. Despite all of this, whenever he looked up at the sky on a clear night and saw the stars, he felt small and insignificant.

Then one night, he saw it; a star unlike any he had ever seen. A star that was larger. A star that was brighter. A star that did not follow the course of the other stars through the night sky and remained during the day. He knew of ancient prophecies telling of a star like this that hailed the birth of a king. A powerful king who would deliver a nation and bring blessing to all the peoples of the world.

This star, unlike all the other stars, did not make him feel insignificant and small. Rather, it filled him with wonder, and a renewed purpose. It filled him with a burning desire to see this new king that it seemingly heralded. The trip would be far – very far…all the way to Jerusalem in the west – but a king who had his own star and prophecy was worth making the journey for…

So he set off, along with some of his friends and colleagues who had also noted the arrival of the star and knew of the ancient prophecy. They left their homes with their camels, donkeys and only the bare essential supplies they would need for the long journey. They also brought with them three gifts for this child king. Gold, a precious gift fit for any king. Frankincense, an aromatic resin fit for worshipping the God of the Hebrews. And Myrrh, the bitter perfuming amber used for embalming – for with new life, death must eventually follow.

They travelled for months, crossing border after border, their sights set towards Jerusalem. The star seemed to be ever before them, almost guiding them, just out of reach, encouraging them to continue, to follow. With each passing day, he found himself craving to meet this little king more and more. During their breaks along their journey, they would open the ancient texts and prophecies about this king and discuss and speculate their meanings. The more they knew, the more they wondered about who this king was and what he was like. What was his destiny and how would he accomplish it?

Finally, off in the distance, Jerusalem appeared.

He and his friends made their way to the palace and sought an audience with the king; Herod. Their excitement was palpable as they were ushered into the palace courts. But something felt wrong; he noticed that the star appeared to be behind him, pointing away from the palace as he and his party walked through the gates. The palace itself felt empty and devoid of the joy you would expect when a new life is born, let alone the birth of a new king and heir. As they were brought before Herod, he and his party bowed courteously, but it was plain to see that Herod did not understand why these foreigners had travelled such a long distance to see him.

“Your majesty,” he started politely, as he looked to king Herod. “We have travelled a great distance to see the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Herod frowned as he looked at them. He then stood and without a word, walked into the adjoining room. His advisors and palace officials followed him. After several other minutes, men dressed in priestly garb also went into the adjoining room where the king was.

The wise men from the foreign land were puzzled at this behaviour, but it began to dawn on them all that they were in the wrong place. They waited patiently for the king to return while casting wary eyes to each other. After several minutes an advisor to the king beckoned to them to come to the king in the adjoining room.

Herod sat in a luxuriously cushioned chair as they approached him. He smiled at them, but his eyes were cold and calculating. After a few moments of silence, he asked them about their journey, probed them about details pertaining to the star and the prophecy they followed. They answered truthfully and once the interrogation was over, Herod informed them what they already deduced: the child king was not here. Herod continued and reported that his chief priests and teachers of the law had studied the prophecies carefully and believed the child to be born in Bethlehem.

Herod stood to his feet as he ushered them back to his throne room, he smiled his cold smile as he requested that they make haste to meet this new king and worship him as they planned and once they had, he requested they return to him to inform him of the child’s location, so he may also worship this new king.

The foreigners left the palace with a heavy disappointment weighing in their hearts as they stepped back out into the warm Jerusalem night. He stood at a distance away from the others – they had come so far and still had nothing to show for their journey. Now they had to travel further.

For the first time ever, doubt crept into his mind. Could the prophecies be mistaken? Would this path to Bethlehem also be a dead end? And even if this child king were there, how would they ever find him? He sighed as he, by habit, looked up at the sky. The star shone brightly before him. It almost seemed to be waiting for him. And it hovered above the road that would lead them to Bethlehem.

Rather than following directions to Bethlehem, the wise man and his companions began following the star. Remarkably, the star did indeed appear to be guiding them. After many miles, they neared their destination. Bethlehem lay before them.

It may have been his imagination, but as they journeyed towards the star, it seemed to be getting larger and brighter. As they walked through the sleepy streets of Bethlehem, they vaguely became aware of the strangeness of their surroundings. Dirty streets and paths, small and dilapidated houses and stalls. No palace, royal guards or attendants to be seen; nothing that would declare the presence of a king in the near vicinity. Nothing but the star and it’s radiant light.

They turned a corner, and there it was, a small house bathed in the starlight. The night was quiet and still, and yet the air seemed to be alive around them. It felt like nature itself was holding its breath with anticipation and joy. His pulse quickened as he looked on the small and battered dwelling. Somehow, he just knew that this was it. That behind those worn wooden doors lay the king who was promised. They dismounted from their camels and approached the house. His hand was at the door, heart bounding, as he thought of all the weeks, months and years of studying, anticipating, and journeying, all to meet this child king. Suddenly, the gifts he and his friends brought with them seemed enormously inadequate for such an occasion. What would he be like? What would it be like to be in his presence? The answer to all his questions lay behind the door; all he had to do was knock.