Bible Briefs

J O H N   W.   M O O R E WORTH THE TRIP With swollen knees, my brother kept on walking. With blisters on my feet, I kept on climbing. We walked, and walked, and walked. We climbed and crawled, exploring the caves and ruins of ancient Israel. We scaled the summits of Masada, Nebo, and Olivet. Heroes of the Bible had once walked in these places. The month-long class was challenging, rigorous, and costly, but it was worth the trip. It reminded me of a far more important journey which happened nearly two thousand years ago. According to the Bible, magi from the east traveled for many days across a rough and rugged land to the small community village of Bethlehem. If traveling by foot, their journey could have taken as much as thirty days to complete: a trek no doubt fraught with danger and difficulty amidst the primitive and rugged territory of Palestine. But at last their labor had seen its reward as their weary eyes fell upon the baby Jesus and His virgin mother. The magi “rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Matt. 2:10). They had been in the presence of the “king of kings and the Lord of Lords.” They were looking upon a child who would save the world from sin and become the Prince of peace. They had bowed in worship before the only begotten Son of God. Their journey, though costly and rigorous, was worth the trip. The pilgrimage of the magi inspires me. Every Sunday when my family and I travel to worship, we find ourselves in the presence of Christ our Savior. In songs of praise we laud His glorious life, and in prayer we utter His sweet name. His story pierces our hearts. His message admonishes our lives. His words purify our souls. We “rejoice with exceeding great joy.” We leave with greater resolve and determination. At the next period of worship we will seek Him yet again, and to be in the presence of the Savior is truly worth the trip.