Advent: Enter the Magi

Many of us grew up with nativity stories that included camels bearing magi to greet the newborn king in the manger.

That’s true–sort of. Let’s look at the passage and rethink the story from a different angle.

Magi= wise men, seers, learned astronomers. Matthew 2:1-18 tells us they came from the east to Jerusalem.

East of Jerusalem at that time (much like today), the land stretched barren and relatively unpopulated. The “east” probably would have included the area of the fertile crescent, and that center of learning Babylon.

While we do not know, exactly, who these magi/kings/seers were, we can surmise they were wealthy–or at least had wealthy patrons–to have made such a journey carrying their infamous gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

They saw a “star” in the sky, determined it marked something important, gathered together what they needed and headed west–on a journey that probably took some time.

The text explains their motivation through their surprised question when they arrived in a somnolent Jerusalem not celebrating:

 “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.”

This is what they they knew: they were seeking a male, he was born, he was the King of the Jews, they wanted to worship him and they had seen his star.

Whatever that star was, and there are plenty of suggestions–see Christianity Today or Reasons to Believe, it was something extraordinary that prompted such an enormous response when travel was complicated, dangerous and took a long time.

The magi may or may not have had access to the Hebrew Scriptures, but the fact they understood whom they were seeking and why, suggests they believed a significant event had occurred.

Why are magi included in the nativity story?

It adds an historic element to the story–it sets the time, during Herod’s rein; it indicates even those who were not Jewish understood the significance; it demonstrates the emptiness of temple worship at the time, and helps us understand Herod and his scribes were not reliable witnesses.

Indeed, Herod’s corrupt kingdom administration had influenced the temple authorities in their refusal to act in accordance with the Hebrew texts.

The magi’s visit also lets us see Jesus did not remain forever in a stable. His family moved on to a dwelling and as we see next time, Joseph was still getting dreams from God.

What’s interesting about the Matthew passage is that while the narrator is omniscient, the opening scene at Herod’s court is basically told from the point of view of folks in Jerusalem, not the magi themselves.

The magi made no pretense about why they had come. They would have traveled in an entourage of servants and guards–probably on camels, which you can read about here.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they expected the town to be buzzing about that new king. Instead, nothing.

But their question inspired others in that Judean hill country that must have remembered all the fantastic things that happened–Zacharias in the temple, the shepherds, Anna and Simeon.

The questions eventually reached Herod’s court and he, though only half-Jewish, understood something momentous had happened.

Maybe a minor temple priest’s story, shepherds and the others, were insignificant to a man under Rome’s authority, but obviously wealthy magi from afar seemed to know something he didn’t–and expected him to have answers.

Before calling the magi in to confer in private, he called together all his priests and scribes–the people who should have informed him of this coming, and asked them.

They knew the answer, anyone trained in the Hebrew Scriptures could have pointed him to the answer.

“In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:  ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.”

If you were the king, wouldn’t you be angry you didn’t know the “usurper” to your throne had been born not a few miles away?

He called in the magi. Herod needed to know when this king had been born.

Perhaps the star the magi had followed had not been apparent in the Judean hill country; that may be the reason the local authorities missed its appearance. (Did no one report about the angels appearing to shepherds? Were shepherds considered unreliable authorities?)

The magi, having no reason to suppose a half-Jewish ruler would not share in their excitement, gave him the date.

Herod thanked them and sent them on their way, covering his only duplicity with the suggestion they return to him and tell him where the babe was, so he could worship him, too.

“And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

Do you really think he didn’t send spies to follow the magi? After the magi left Herod,

 “behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”

I wonder if the star had disappeared from sight, and it only reappeared after their meeting with Herod. Regardless, they followed it again to the house where Jesus was living with Mary and Joseph. They entered and worshiped that new born king, giving him their gifts–valuable items if sold.

Like Joseph, they were responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and when they we were warned in a dream, they returned to their home country a different way, without reporting in to Herod.

Interestingly, it was that same night that Joseph got his next dream.

The feast of the Three Wise Kings is celebrated on Epiphany–January 6.

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