“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
(Matthew 2:12 ESV)
I’m glad God waited till after the wise men saw Jesus to warn them about Herod. It would be a shame to spoil their meeting with Him by letting that evil intrude on it.
And yet, they were wise men. They probably had a fair idea already of what was in Herod’s heart. But God made sure of Jesus’ safety by sending that dream. And so the last gift the wise men gave Jesus was His own safety—as much as that was in their hands to give.
They were keeping their own Savior safe—and did they ever realize that, in their lifetimes? Maybe not. Maybe yes, if some of the early Christians made it to their country 30-some years later, after Jesus had been crucified, died, and rose from the dead. Maybe in old age they heard the story of how the baby they tried to keep safe grew up to save them—bringing them life, joy, and peace with God.
Whether they ever knew that or not, we know it—and we rejoice in it. God came into our world to save us from the power of death and evil. And now He offers love, hope, and salvation to anyone who will take it—to all of us who trust Him.
We Pray: Thank You, Father, for sending us our Savior, Jesus. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Do you think the wise men had doubts about Herod already? Why or why not?
* What kinds of things do you do to keep safe the people you love?
* How far would you go to save them? Why? What does that say to you about Jesus’ feelings for you?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on January 2, 2025
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights