Like many people, my family spent a lot of time this past December reading through the Christmas story in the Bible. And while I enjoy all angles of the story, this year I was gripped most by the Wise Men. Their intention was so crystal clear. Matthew 2:2 states “we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” And then Matthew 2:11 states “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.”

The Wise Men came from the East for one reason – to worship Jesus.

In the week after Christmas as the new year rolled around, I was reading the Great Commission in Matthew 28 (always seems fitting to re-read it at the beginning of each new year), and I noticed something fascinating. Matthew 28:16-17 states “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him…”

The disciples followed Jesus for one reason – to worship him.

Both passages say the same thing – they worshiped him.

Matthew’s gospel begins with the birth of Jesus and people worshipping him.

Matthew’s gospel ends with the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus and people worshipping him.

The Wise Men didn’t know him personally yet but they knew he was King. They came to worship the new born King.

The disciples did know him personally, and they worshiped him.

The Wise Men were seeing him for the very first time, and they worshiped him.

The disciples had been with him daily for the past three years, and they worshiped him.

Matthew wants us to understand our purpose – to worship Jesus!

It may be a different season, but people still have the same reason.

As we get busy looking to make 2017 have more purpose than ever, lets focus on worshipping Jesus!