“Every Knee Shall Bow”  Robert Allred

inally, the Three Wise Men from the East become players in the Nativity. They arrived late because they had to come from so far away. They came to Jesus as representatives of a whole world that would eventually be invited.

These three wealthy, well educated princes, and their caravan of people and animals had to come around the desert, following the ancient road of the fertile northern crescent from what is now Baghdad to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem. By they time they arrived, Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus had found more permanent quarters in a house. When they saw the Savior of the World, “They bowed down and worshiped him.” (Matt. 2: 11, NIV) Their act of worship was a foretaste of the Old Testament prophecy pointing to this event, and beyond, that in the culmination of time, everyone will realize that Jesus is the Son of God. (Isaiah 45:23)

Indeed, the scope of Scripture points to an eventual universal recognition of Christ as Messiah by all people everywhere. Not everyone will accept Him as Lord, but everybody will ultimately realize who this Baby was, and is. Our commission from Christ is to “Go and make disciples of all nations…” ( Matt28:19) Jesus did not say that everyone would accept Him, but our mission is to allow everyone to have an opportunity.

It is noteworthy that the two most volatile cities in the worldwide media at the end of 2002 are Jerusalem and Baghdad. Does anyone doubt that if war breaks out these two heavily populated capitols will be targets for devastation? Do these ancient cities still not represent the fact that we have not yet reached the whole world with the Good News of the Prince of Peace? Is it still possible that the Church could finally get the Good News out to everybody everywhere.