From a few years ago, but worthy still...the scene is one night in Babylon...
Melchior - Gentlemen, thank you for coming! But why are there just two of you?
Caspar - Because no one else would give up a good night's sleep to listen to your ravings, Melchior.
Balthazar - And why are we here in the middle of the night, instead of our soft warm beds?
M - Look to the sky...over there...and tell me what you see.
B - Sooo Dramatic!
C - OK, I'll bite. Sky, stars. Same as at the beginning of time, same until time's end. Again, why are we here, Melchior?
M - Look to that one star, the bright one.
B - So, it's bright. It's just the north star. No, wait, that's the eastern sky. Then maybe a planet or sun we hadn't noticed?
C - You could have told us this in the morning. Why now to tell us of a star?
M - Because it is not A star, it is THE star.
C - (pause) The one from the Jewish prophecies.
M - The same.
B - How are you sure?
M - I've been watching the sky since this star appeared. It did not move into place, it appeared. And since then, as the other lights have moved and danced across the sky, THIS star took a different path, straight and true. And for the last week, has not moved at all. This is the place. We follow the star, we find the KING!
All of this is conjecture, of course. What we know from scripture is that men came from the east, sidetracked to King Herod's palace, found Jesus, gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and after a warning dream, dodged Herod on the return trip. (Which did not make Herod a happy boy.) Everything else is tradition and supposition. That these men were not Jewish is probable, but they may have had servants who were, thus their knowledge of the prophecy of a Messiah/King.
Jesus is not a God of just Jews, or just Christians, but is a God of all. John 3:16 says "God so loved THE WORLD.". He was not here for just a subset of society. We are not seen by God as the classes and groups we have placed ourselves and others in. Our only two classifications are "All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God." and "Those who are born of water & spirit.". Remember, too, that being part of the latter doesn't exclude you from the former! Treat all as God's creation. Love all as your bother/sister. Seek God, and offer the gift of yourself. And try not to let Herod catch you!
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