Responding When He Appears — Lessons from the shepherds and the wise men

Tikkun Global

Jerusalem, Israel

The birth narratives of Yeshua introduce us to two groups who respond to His appearing in very different ways: shepherds in nearby fields and wise men from a distant land. Scripture does not present these accounts to compare their worth, but to reveal something deeper about how God prepares His people—and how they respond—when Messiah appears. Together, these two stories offer a timeless framework for understanding readiness, faithfulness, and response as we await His return.

The wise men first encounter God’s call through a sign that appears long before they arrive. “We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2). This was not a sudden interruption but the beginning of a long journey. Recognizing the sign required attentiveness and understanding. Responding to it required planning, resources, and perseverance. Their journey likely took many months, perhaps longer. Along the way, they adjusted course, sought clarity, and pressed on until they finally stood face to face with the child and worshiped Him (Matthew 2:11).

For many readers today, this journey will feel familiar. Years of faith, study, prayer, and intentional preparation shape our walk with God. Yet the story of the wise men also carries a gentle warning: long preparation must never lead to spiritual pride. The wise men did not arrive boasting in their knowledge or endurance. They arrived to bow. Their gifts were laid down, not held up. Their wisdom led them not to self-confidence, but to worship. In the same way, those who have walked with Yeshua for many years are called to humility—remembering that preparation is a gift of grace, not a badge of superiority. As Scripture reminds us, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

The shepherds’ experience is very different. They are not studying signs or planning journeys. They are simply faithful in their everyday responsibilities. In the middle of an ordinary night, heaven suddenly breaks in. “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them” (Luke 2:9). The message is immediate and unmistakable: “Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you” (Luke 2:11). The sign is simple and accessible. There is no long preparation—only a call to respond. “They went with haste” (Luke 2:16).

For many of us, the shepherds bring to mind people we love—family members, friends, or neighbors who do not yet believe. Their story anchors us in hope. The shepherds did not miss the moment because they were unaware beforehand. When revelation came, they responded fully. They believed, they went, and they rejoiced. This assures us that God is not limited by timing. Hearts can awaken late. Lives can change suddenly. Faith received near the end is no less real than faith nurtured over decades.

Yeshua Himself affirmed this truth when He taught that those who come at the last hour receive the same reward as those who labored all day (Matthew 20:9–16). This is not an injustice—it is grace. The shepherds remind us never to give up praying, never to lose hope, and never to assume that God has finished working in someone’s life. As long as there is breath, there is invitation.

Importantly, the Gospel narratives do not elevate one group above the other. The wise men are not praised for their long preparation, nor are the shepherds diminished for their late awakening. Both respond in faith. Both worship. Both are welcomed. Scripture shows us a Messiah who receives all who come to Him—early or late, prepared or newly awakened.

As we look toward the return of Yeshua, we should expect to see both patterns again. There will be those who have prepared for many years, carrying wisdom, responsibility, and depth. There will also be those who respond suddenly, even close to His appearing. Together, they form one body—united not by identical journeys, but by a shared response to the same Lord.

The shepherds and the wise men did not arrive the same way, and they did not arrive at the same time. But they met the same Messiah. And so will we—and so may those we still pray for—responding when He appears.