“They went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:9-11).

Have you ever hung out with a toddler? Toddlers are nuts. Erratic behavior. Nonsensical words. Mood swings. As the name suggests, toddlers can’t even walk straight. So why would these Magi, these “wise men” from the east travel a huge distance to find one? To offer him expensive gifts? To bow down before him? Unless . . . he was a special toddler. Unless he was worthy of praise and honor and glory. Unless he was our heavenly King. Jesus. Can you imagine a perfect toddler? That was Jesus. Oh, he was human in every way. He was still a baby who needed Mary and Joseph to feed him and hold him. He was still a toddler who couldn’t walk straight. He was still a teenager who had acne and body odor. He was still a man who got hungry and was tempted and felt all kinds of pain. But he was also God. The apostle Paul explains it in this way:

[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)

Every knee! Every tongue! The wise men were ahead of the game. They were in on the secret. They knew this toddler was God in human flesh. They knew he was already worthy of being exalted. They fell to their knees. Their tongues confessed that Jesus was their King. The shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth did the same; they weren’t as wise or knowledgeable as the Magi, but they recognized that this baby was going to change the world, and their tongues were “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20).

Throughout Jesus’ life on earth, some would recognize him for what he was. And some would not. Some would bow before him in wonder and praise his name. And some would not. Some would bend the knee, and some would walk away. Some would open their mouths to confess Jesus as their Savior, and some would spit on him and curse him. And then Jesus would be lifted up on a cross. Humiliated and scorned. And as he died, some would recognize that Jesus was more than a man—“Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)—and some would not. And when Jesus did not stay dead, like any other man, even more bowed down to their Savior and King. But not all.

There is a story in the Old Testament that is not well-known, but it is extremely awesome. The ark of the covenant, which was the visible representation of God’s presence with his people, had been captured by the Philistines during a battle. They took the ark to their temple and placed it next to their man-made god, Dagon (and slightly underneath him to show that their god was better). And here’s what happened:

After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. (1 Samuel 5:1-4)

Even a statue fell down before the presence of our God!

Jesus will come again. And when he does, every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess that he is Lord. On judgment day, believers and nonbelievers alike will recognize who Jesus is. All will bow, though it will be too late for some. This is the time of grace we are given. Right now. Time to learn and study and confess that we are not worthy. We need a Savior. We need Jesus.

Jesus is worthy. Jesus is King. The wise men knew it. The shepherds knew it. The man on the cross next to Jesus knew it, and he confessed his belief when he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus answered him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42,43).

This King invites us into his kingdom to worship him forever. Get your kneepads ready and fill up your water bottles. Every knee. Every tongue.