IDENTIFICATION AND RECOGNITION OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE KING RESULTED AT TRUE SERVICE AND WORSHIP.

Introduction.
It is godly and profitable to be an observant one like the Wise-men because observation results at new discovery. Suspicion is very necessary and useful when one suspects something research on critical thinking and thorough observation and necessary for dependable information. Observation should be applied for critical looking into any strange thing suspected. The researcher in his work should neither relent nor wearied and not relax until he reach a meaningful conclusion.
This was what happened to the three Wise-men (The Magi) of Jesus Christ’s birth. They suspected a star very strange in the sky, the star was extraordinary different among other stars in the sky and they decided to take a look into it. The wise men wanted to know and understand how the Star came to be? Why the Star was appeared? And where was it going?
The Wise-men first discovery of the strange Star was that each person’s birth is attached with the appearance of each star in the sky. They believe that the moment a child is born, a star would surely appear in the sky.
Another discovery of the Wise-men (Magi) was that how big a star appeared in the Sky determines the greatness of a child born to the world. They had accepted that the brightness of the appeared star at the birth of a child describes how famous such born child would be.The suspected star led the (Wise-men (Magi) to the step of identification of Jesus Christ as the King.

The Wise-men’s Knowledge of the Stars.
Remember! The Wise-men had aware of the allegoric expression used by God to describe the multiplication of the children of Abraham, Issac and Jacob (Genesis 22: 17). The Bible accounts for the promise of God for Abraham the father of faith which says that the children of Abraham would be as many as the stars in the sky (Genesis 22: 17). The scripture says as many as the stars in the sky, likewise the children of Abraham on Earth. This illustration may mean each star in the sky represent (stands for) each person, meaning that when a child is born on Earth, a star would appear in the sky. In Africa, it is believed that when a person died, a star from the sky dropped (or fell) down and if a star dropped (or fell) down, a person died. So, this knowledge and beliefs are similar to the Wise-men’s and perhaps that was why the Wise-men accepted the appearance of the star is the notification of the birth of a mysterious child.
Apart from the above, astrology was the vocation of these Wise-men. Studying and researching on the stars, moon and sun was their daily activities and they were very skillful in the occupation to the extent that whatever be the result after their verification was valid. This was the reason for their believe that the appearance of the biggest star was the hint that a Mighty King was born. The brightness of the brightest star illustrated how famous the King would be.

Jesus Christ as the God’s Promised King
So, because the star was the biggest among others, they believe the born child Jesus Christ would be biggest person among the people of the world. For the star was the brightest one among all others made them assumed and said that the child born would be most famous person throughout the world. They had also learnt in the past from the prophets that a Mighty King (Messiah) would be born for the deliverance of people from their oppressors. Therefore, the Wise-men had accepted that the Star should belong to the King promised by God to be born for the deliverance of the people of God. Therefore, the Wise-men saw the star as a suspicious one and they said they should trace it so as to understand what really happened.

The Magi (Wise-men) were the first set of people identify Jesus Christ as the King of the people of God (I.e. Jews). This means one who is not of God would not benefit from the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Before one could be benefited from Jesus Christ here and thereafter, he or she should be born again, doing the will of God by being obedient one towards Jesus Christ’s do’s and don’t’s as Jesus Christ says: … Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed – John.8.31 (NKJV). Why one should abide in Jesus Christ? Reason is that he who abide in Jesus Christ is the one whom Jesus Christ rules his life. So, it is important that you and I should abide in Jesus Christ the King of all other Kings so that He would be able to rule our lives.

The Seekers of Jesus Christ should be Humble.
The Spirit of Humility of the Magi (The Wise-men) is encouraging for Emulation
The Wise-men in age were older than Jesus Christ. They were elderly men and despite their age, they decided to bow and worship Jesus Christ as King. As the Wise-men got to the place of Jesus Christ’s birth, as they said in front of King Herod (that they came to worship Jesus Christ), they said again, they had come to worship before him (Jesus). Meaning that the Wise-men had the Spirit of humility and again they had accepted the infant Jesus Christ as their master, King, Lord and saviour.

Identification and Recognition of Jesus Christ as King.
It is good for each Mankind to be an observant and a wise men. Wise-men proposed to bow-down for Jesus Christ the King of the Jews and worship Him (Matthew 2: 2) the Magi worked towards their determination and desire to affirm the kingship of Jesus Christ and to make the whole world sees, identifies, understand and recognize Jesus Christ as the King over mankind starting from the geographical location area of sunset to the sunrise and to all other parts of the world, the Wise-men said they came from the sunrise to bow down before Jesus Christ and worship him this statement of the Wise-man means the kingship of Jesus Christ covers the whole world.

What does it means to bow down for Jesus Christ and Worship Him?
Bowing means bending for Jesus Christ, prostrating before Jesus Christ and lying down before Jesus Christ. Bowing down could also means giving honor, regard or respect to Jesus Christ or worshiping Jesus Christ.
Bowing for Jesus Christ the King of the universe is more than ordinary demonstration of bending down and prostration. It is also beyond the common honour and respect as men use to do to each other. Outer bowing and prostration, honour and respect with human lips are not acceptable by Jesus Christ the King of Jews. Jesus Christ the King of Jews says: … people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honour Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men – Matthew 15: 8 – 9 (NKJV).This indicates that Jesus Christ rejects honour and respect that does not come from the inner heart. Honoring and respecting Jesus must be a true worship from the inner heart of individual person.

How could One bow down for Jesus Christ the King and Worship Him?
One could do this by searching for Jesus Christ until seeing him by surrendering one’s body and life unto Jesus Christ and by offering all the part of one’s body as a living sacrifice unto Him (Jesus Christ). Hear what the scripture according to Apostle Paul says: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service – Romans.12: 1 (NKJV).
As the Wise-men surrendered themselves to search for Jesus Christ, the Christ’s followers and lover of Jesus Christ must do the same. The Wise-men surrendered their time for Christ’s search, the Christ’s followers should imitate them. As the Wise-men brought out from their treasure to Honour Christ the King of Jews, mankind who truly has Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour should emulate them to make Jesus their King too.
Searching for Jesus Christ with wholehearted is anxiety (or anxiousness) to give one’s life to Jesus Christ to honour Him. Honouring and respecting Jesus Christ as true worship means to abandon and neglect all other things to have enough time and to concentrate on whom one wishes to honour. A man with sense don’t be bowing down for a person and be looking back discussing with other people at the back, that is unwise. The Wise-men wished to honour Jesus Christ and bow down for Him and they prepared with whole heartedness for the searching of Jesus Christ until they see Him. The Wise-men abandoned all their daily activities and set on their journey from the Eastern part of the world searching for the newly born King and they were not tired on their journey until they fulfill the wish of their heart. They didn’t worry about the number of days the journey would take them. The Wise men worried not about the inconvenience embarrassment and other problems they may experience on their way. Their target was their focus and they put on all efforts on their search until their desire was fulfilled. The Bible says: … when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh – Matthew.2: 11 (NKJV).
They visited Jesus Christ and saw Jesus Christ with their naked eyes, they did their wished by bowing down and worshiping the Mighty and Supreme King, they also presented Jesus Christ very costly and precious gifts.

Observations
Mankind should be observant and always be engaging in critical looking and thinking on anything they see, any information they had and any feeling they experience if they would be a wise person. The Wise-men saw a strange biggest and brightest star appeared in the sky, they paused all their daily activities, they began searching for the newborn child to worship the one whom the appeared strange biggest and brightest star belongs. This performance add more value to the Wise men’s honour and prestige. All mankind should learn from the Wise-men’s attitude.
The Wise-men abandoned all of their doings when the alarm sounded to go and render worship and services to Jesus Christ the everlasting King.the strange biggest and brightest star that was suddenly appeared was the alarm sounded. Bowing down, honour and respect given to Jesus Christ by the Wise-men was the worship rendered by the Wise-men to Jesus Christ, vacation away from their daily routine for Jesus Christ sake was one of their sacrifices and services to Jesus the everlasting king of Jews. And their decision to pay a visit to Jesus the King and the gift they presented to Jesus Christ were also the services rendered by the Wise men.

How to Identify Jesus Christ?
The Wise-men trekked, worked hard, took steps to identify Jesus Christ ( the King of Jews) by taking up investigation, research, studying and observation for the purpose of Jesus Christ Identification. The Wise-men did their investigation, research, studying and observation for days before they located Jesus Christ at Bethlehem. The Wise-men’s research work took time of the Wise-men before it resulted at a meaningful end. It was even put their lives at risk, it endangered their lives because broadcasting of the birth of the King of all other Kings was a bad news in the hearing of the whole world Kings of the era. The Wise-men were even courageous (bold) enough to carry such information to the Herod’s palace. Because they desired to identify Jesus Christ, they did all these for better for worse.

Steps to take to Identify and Recognise Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour.
The Then Wise- Men Effort had Helped in the Identification and Recognition of Jesus Christ.
For one to identify Jesus Christ today like the Wise-men is not difficult again, it is very easy these days, the Wise-men had did much of it for us. We need not much energy to waste again. One could just sacrifice a little time to attend Bible study regularly, attend Sunday School lessons regularly on Sundays, having personal encounter with God and Jesus Christ His Son in daily quite time at home and always be asking questions about Jesus Christ from your pastor and the teachers of the Bible frequently, all these steps above are the journey which one should make like the Wise-men, identification of Jesus Christ is sure for you.

How to Recognize Jesus Christ as the King?
The Wise-men continued on their research and investigation until they reached Bethlehem the place of birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The scripture says when they got there – … they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, … Matthew 2.11 (NKJV) and they solemnly submit themselves to Him. Meaning that they saw Jesus Christ the King with their naked eyes and this made them recognized Jesus Christ the Saviour. This tells the seekers of Jesus Christ that the investigators and researchers of Jesus Christ should search till they see, identify and recognize Jesus Christ as the King and Saviour. One recognizes Jesus Christ as the King and Saviour by listening to Jesus Christ’s teaching, following His commandments (rules and regulations). Abiding in Jesus Christ’s commandments affirms one as a person who Identifies and recognizes Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour.

How to Worship Jesus Christ as the King and Saviour?
The Bible says: – … they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him … Matthew 2.11 (NKJV). This is submission. Total submission to Jesus Christ is required from the seekers and lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ. This indicates honour, respect and regards to the Lord Jesus Christ. Honouring Jesus Christ in words, characters and doings is required by Jesus Christ from all mankind. Being obedient to Christ the King and His teaching is highly commendable.

The True Service unto Jesus Christ the King.
Service here is sacrifices and givings. The Wise-men sacrificed their time and lives for research and investigation of Jesus Christ by risking their lives in passing through Herod’s palace despite the Herod’s wickedness, the Wise-men enquired him of the birth of Lord’s Jesus Christ with no consideration of what Herod could say and how he could feel. Services has to do with sacrificing time to do one or two things for the sake of Jesus Christ. Like the Wise-men, they willingly sacrifice their time to investigate what really happened with the appeared star. Service is also sacrifice of giving. The Wise-men (Magi) laid down model to emulate, as they sacrifice their body and life to investigate the infant Jesus Christ by observing and following the star until they reach the place of birth of Jesus Christ, they also sacrifice their time and again, they came to Jesus Christ with precious gifts for the scripture says: – … they … opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh – Matthew 2.11 (NKJV).

Human Body Parts are Acknowledged in the Services of Jesus Christ
Now, one should understand that the use of human parts of the body e.g. mouth for teaching and spreading gospel as the Wise-men told Herod about the birth of Jesus Christ, legs for trekking for gospel sake and hands to do one or two things for Jesus Christ’s sake are sacrifices to God.

Offering Givings are the Services unto Jesus Christ too.
Giving gifts should not be left out, if one does work for Jesus Christ without stretching out arms and gives out gifts, the work isn’t perfect, the work is faulty. He who is a gospel forecaster should have good and decent gifts to back up his gospel’s propagation. Let all serve Jesus Christ with all he has to make his work of gospel a whole.

Conclusion
How would you Honour Jesus? When would you Honour Him? How, when and where would you worship the everlasting King? Which type of gift would you give Jesus Christ as a service from your treasure?
He who claims he belongs to Jesus Christ the Everlasting King of the whole world should ready to participate in the Christians worships and services in body and in spirit and with offerings of money and other precious useful materials. Act today.