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The Journey of the Magi


The journey of the MAGI (it was "wise men" when I was a kid) is one of the most traditional parts of the Christmas story, even though it probably takes place months after Jesus' birth.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
Matthew 2:1-5 (NASB)

The word "magos" in the text indicates a group of people who were not Jewish - i.e., Gentiles - who came inquiring about the birth of a King.

Up until this point in the Jesus story, little public impact has been made. Some shepherds came in response to the angelic visit, but that would hardly cause the nation to pay much attention. But an entourage of Magi traveling by camels from the east made King Herod sit up and take notice.

It does not say, as our tradition has stated, that there were three, even though we sing "We Three Kings of Orient Are..." There were three gifts given, but that does not mean there were three Magi. The ancient church gave the Magi three names: Gaspar, Melchior and Bathasar. We simply don't know who they were, but at least we have a hint of "what" they were.

The Magi were probably from Persia, and followers of an ancient religion called Zorastrianism which believed in Astrology as a way of foretelling present and future events.
I'll look at the story some more tomorrow, or Monday, but for now, think about this...why? why did Matthew share this account when neither of the other gospel writers include it?

It's a highly symbolic and prophetic story. Jesus came into the world - a Jew, yes, but not just a Jew. He came to demonstrate that God's purposes were world-wide. Jesus came as a Jewish man to demonstrate to the Jewish nation God's purposes for their role among the nations. Jesus came to demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom of God coming not only upon Israel, but also to the nations of the earth. Perhaps it wasn't "we three Kings", but it certainly was prophetic that they came searching for the "King of the Jews".

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