When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy (Matt. 2:10).
What made these men so happy?
They had come a great distance with expensive offerings, determined to find this "king of the Jews...that they might worship Him..."
How much they knew about Him is uncertain, but they knew this king would be unlike any other.
This One would be worthy of worship.
Not even His own parents fully understand who or what He is––there’s no mention of them worshiping Jesus...
But these men desire to do so...so much in fact that they are overjoyed when they see the star pointing the way...
So what were they so happy about?
Evidently magi cuneiform writing tablets have been preserved and, according to R.C. Lenskin who cites one such tablet, it states..
“...a great king will arise in the west; then justice and righteousness, peace and joy will rule in all lands and bless all nations..."
I'll leave further investigation to you but Lenski notes there are many other tablets with "similar expressions...”
You might recall the prophet Daniel was chief of the magi in the east…perhaps his prophecy was handed down through their generations...
"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy” (Dan. 2:44-45).
There were kings of the past among the Jews who brought spiritual renewal and restoration, but even the best of those human leaders always disappointed in some way eventually. None of them could fulfill all our expectations for good.
Jesus is different…the magi knew this...
The wait was over. No more must we anxiously wander this ruthless, sinful world enslaved to our own desires. No more frustrating, unsatisfying escapism wherein we sedate ourselves with pleasure, entertainment, or work. No more hopeless anticipation of death and punishment from the hand of a righteous God.
This king would set us free--free from sin, free of guilt, free of dread and worry, restore us to the source of joy, and assure us a place at His side in eternal paradise.
"Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death" (Heb. 2:14).
That kind of victory, that kind of rule brings joy that transcends circumstances...
So that men rejoice in suffering for Him...
Men rejoice in praise in the midst of prisons...
This King brings assurance bound by His unbreakable promise that He will save...
This is why the magi rejoiced with great joy.
When He came into the world, angels said to shepherds nearby...
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people" (Lk. 2:10).
This good news…this joy is for all people...
How shall we find Him?
The wise men followed the guidance of Yahweh and found His Christ. Finding Christ, they found joy.
"And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Pet. 1:19).
"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Pet. 1:8-9).
Joy is found in Christ; Christ is found through the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).