In Matthew 2:1-12 we have the story of wise men from the East coming to Jerusalem sometime after Jesus’ birth, bringing with them ultra-valuable gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and inquiring, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
These wise men and the camels they purportedly traveled on are traditionally included in our Nativity scenes as being present at the birth of Jesus. However, careful reading of the passage tells us that this event did not occur at that time, but later, up to two years later, as in this account Jesus is no longer referred to as a babe lying in a manger as He was in Luke 2:12, but as a young child, with Mary and Joseph no longer in a stable, but now in a house in which the wise men, upon entering and seeing the child with Mary, fall on their faces in an act of worship. We also have Herod who, when the wise men do not report back to him regarding the location of this King, orders the massacre of all the male children, two years and younger, in Bethlehem and the surrounding regions.
Who are these wise men who are seeking the one they refer to as the “King of the Jews”, whom they find worthy of their worship and gifts? They are not men of little renown or consequence, as Herod is greatly troubled by their arrival and their stated purpose of seeking and worshiping one whom Herod would see as a rival to His rule over Judea. However, they themselves are not kings as they are depicted in the related hymn and Nativity scenes. Most Bible translations refer to them as wise men, with a few referring to them as Magi.
Magi are historically associated with the Babylonian and Persian empires during the time of Israel’s exile. Those empires would have, at the time of Jesus’ birth, evolved into what was known as the Parthian Empire, which was centered in present day Iran, over 600 miles east of Jerusalem. It was considered a rival empire, an enemy of Rome.
It is unlikely there were only three Magi, but a whole caravan of such men, with a security force accompanying them. History indicates that they would have most likely rode on horses and not camels.
Historically, the Magi were men of great prominence, men of great wealth, political power and influence. They were instrumental both in the raising up of kings and rulers within these great world empires as well as being highly involved and influential in the operations of the empire. They would have been the chief advisors to the rulers and nobles of these empires, much like the President’s cabinet in our nation today.
The power and influence they wielded within these great world empires was a product of their great wisdom and knowledge; their understanding and insights regarding that which would have been most important, most valuable to the King in exercising His rule and dominion over His subjects, in achieving peace and prosperity within His Kingdom and in maintaining or expanding His Kingdom. They were designated wise men as they were seen as having the wisdom necessary to solve important problems, to be able to size up difficult situations where much is unknown, and constantly provide the best possible solution.
And they would have been able to do so because they devoted themselves to obtaining the knowledge, insight and understanding that would have been most valuable, most important to their Kings and rulers not only in the administration of their kingdoms, but even in regard to personal and family issues. This would have included wisdom and knowledge gleaned from nations conquered by the Babylonian and Persian Empires and absorbed throughout the years into their culture. This would have most certainly included Israel and their sacred writings, writings such as the Books of Proverbs, Job and Psalms, which would have revealed to them true wisdom in the knowledge and understanding of the one true God, the God who by wisdom created all things (Proverbs 3:19-20).
They would have had the witness and writings of Daniel, an exiled Jew, who because of his God given wisdom became the chief advisor or Magi to the Kings of Babylon and Persia. Daniel courageously worshiped God in the midst of multiple pagan idols and jealous opposition. And it was in Daniel’s writings we find revelations of the greatness, majesty, and sovereignty, the incomparable wisdom of God (Daniel 4:34-36). We also find throughout the Old Testament (most prominently in Daniel 7:13-14 and Isaiah 9:6-7) prophecies of a Jewish Messianic King whose Kingdom would be from everlasting to everlasting, bringing peace and blessing to all of the world.
They would also have found in Numbers 24:16-17, an interesting prophecy regarding a Star that would come out of Jacob representing a ruler that would arise out of Israel.
Thus, it is the Bible, the written wisdom of God, that points them to the One, the King of the Jews, Jesus Christ, who is the source, the embodiment of all true wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3); of all that is necessary for us to live our lives to the glory of God, and to find our eternal joy and satisfaction in God.
However, all that these Magi would have learned from the Jewish scriptures would have meant nothing to them unless the Spirit of God had worked in their hearts and minds to make sense of it and testify to its significance, just as the Holy Spirit does in our hearts and minds today.
Thus, these wise men will travel over 600 miles on horseback into enemy territory, guided by a Star, that they may worship a newborn King; a King whom they will not provide wisdom to, but receive wisdom from, the infinitely valuable Wisdom that will make them wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15), and in whom they will receive eternal life (John 10:27-28). And it is this King, King Jesus, whom each of us would be wise to seek with our whole heart, today.
Grace and Peace ×
Thanks Jim