The Magi – Kings from the East

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

We have all sung the Christmas carol “We Three Kings,” either the traditional song or the secular grade-school version. Have you ever really thought about the significance of the Magi visiting Jesus as a child? We all know they brought gifts to the young Savior and that they desired to worship Him. We also know they followed a star to find Jesus. The Greek historian Herodotus, writing in the fifth century B.C., identified the Magi as a caste of Medes who had a priestly function in the Persian Empire. What other things can we glean from the scripture passage that mentions these mysterious Magi from the East? Let’s take the passage in Matthew 2:1-12 and see what we can learn from this historical account.

 

Matthew 2:1‑2

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the East and have come to worship him.’”

 

God exposed His truth to these Eastern men of knowledge in several ways. The star that guided them was a demonstration of God’s truth revealed in nature. Just as Romans 1:20 tells us that God’s character and power is revealed in His creation, God used this special star in His creation to grab the attention of these wise scholars. These Magi were educated men who studied the stars, mathematics and science as well as religious matters. While they practiced astrology, a false practice condemned by God, God broke through their misguided system to make the great event of His Son’s birth known. These Magi were possibly familiar with the Old Testament in their studies and knew of the prophecies of the Jewish Messiah. While we aren’t told exactly how they attributed the star to be connected with the birth of Jesus, it is evident that God revealed Himself to them for His own purposes.

 

These Magi not only recognized the significance of the star and it relationship with the birth of the Jewish Messiah, they also believed that the birth of this child was one of great importance. Scripture tells us that they stated their intentions were not just to find the prophesied Savior to satisfy their curiosity, but they also desired to worship Him. This communicates to us that these were not just men seeking knowledge; these were men whose hearts had responded to this revelation of the gospel in the Christ-child. Further evidence of how dramatic this truth had motivated them is the fact that they chose to make a long and dangerous journey to locate the young Jesus Christ. They arrived before King Herod inquiring about this King of the Jews.

 

Matthew 2:3-6

“When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”

 

When King Herod heard this information from the Magi He became concerned. He apparently was in the dark of such religious information and knew that such impressive, intelligent men, as these Magi, would not travel such long distances for a mere peasant. He felt that his kingdom was threatened and he immediately sought out how to protect his power structure. We are told here that all of Jerusalem was also troubled by the news of a birth of a Savior. This was probably true for several reasons. When you are a subject of an earthly King and he is bothered about something, you have reason to be troubled as well. You have no idea what your King might do to protect his interests. You very likely would expect some sort of persecution or subjugation to result when such a man of power is threatened.

 

Other individuals who would be troubled by such news would be those in the religious establishment of the day. They too had much to lose if a “Savior and King” came into the picture. The Jewish religious leaders of the day had spiritual power sewn up in their interpretations of the law. They were looked upon as the representatives of God Himself. The entrance of a Savior would very likely usurp their power structure much like the King’s and their religious kingdom could be turned upside down. The King, and many in Jerusalem, had much to be concerned about with the coming of this predicted Savior. While King Herod’s advisors knew of the town of the Savior’s birth, they did not know the exact location or by what name he was to be called. King Herod therefore devised a plan.

 

Matthew 2:7-8

“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’”

 

King Herod through lies and deceit presented a request whereby the Magi would find the young Savior and report back to him. He communicated that his purposes were to worship this Savior himself, just like the Magi desired to do. Of course we know this was not his intent. His plan was to find the Jewish Messiah and have Him killed so that he could preserve his kingdom. We are not told the Magi’s response at this time, but we can assume that true wise men might be suspicious of the King Herod’s actions. Dismissed, the Magi continue on their journey to find the Christ.

 

You might ask the question, “Why couldn’t King Herod follow the star himself?” Possibly the star was only revealed to those God wished to see it. Possibly the complexities of the astronomy necessary to determine which star, was beyond the king and his court of advisors. Possibly the pride of King Herod caused him to have total confidence in his ability to persuade others to do his bidding. For whatever reason, King Herod allowed the Magi to continue and expected them to report back to him.

 

Matthew 2:9-11

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the East 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. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

 

Here we see the fulfillment of the dreams of the Magi. Following the star provided by God Himself, they locate Jesus, and bestow upon him their gifts and worship him. While we often assume there were three wise men or Magi, this may not necessarily be so. While there were three gifts mentioned, there may have been a couple of Magi or several dozen present. We are not told their exact number. We can perceive from their discovery of the young Christ that they were not disappointed to have achieved their goal. Despite his lowly social status as a common Jew, they recognized the heavenly Kingship that was due this young child. God ministers in numerous and miraculous ways when He opens the eyes of the lost. Very likely God’s Spirit touched their hearts with the reality of His plan for salvation as the eyes of the Magi gazed upon Jesus Christ. The Magi were generous with their treasures and gifts as well as their homage and worship. These rich, noble, men of knowledge bowed down on their knees in humble adoration of a young child, the Savior of the world. Having worshiped the One they had sought, their return journey would either take a path straight back to their home or with a slight diversion to report back to King Herod.

 

Matthew 2:12

“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

 

We are told in this verse that God further intervenes in the lives of the Magi one more time by giving them a dream of the real intentions of King Herod regarding the young Jesus. Whether they had suspected King Herod’s evil intentions or not, God made it dramatically clear in a dream that they should say nothing of their discovery. This may have not only been for the protection of Jesus, but also for the protection of the Magi themselves. Having paid homage to Jesus, King of kings, they may have been killed by Herod for such actions. The Magi risk their lives once more by ignoring the commands of King Herod to report back and returned instead to their homeland.

 

This passage of scripture gives us an account of how God intervened in history, in His creation and in the lives of unbelieving Magi to work His plan for salvation. There are several possible reasons for God to reach out to the Magi. It proved that God’s plan of salvation was not limited to Israel but extended to the Far East and essentially to the whole world. It demonstrated that God would use any means possible, in His creation and in dreams of revelation, to accomplish His purposes. It illustrates that the knowledge, richness and status of this world, represented in the Magi, has no choice but to bow before Jesus Christ our Lord and King. It shows the futility of evil, represented in King Herod, to thwart the plans of God. It shows that those who respond to God have a great privilege to witness the works of our Heavenly Father in their lives and those who harden their hearts and build their own kingdoms will not only miss out on God touching their lives, but will have their earthly kingdoms taken from them. May God bless you this Christmas season and may you seek to respond to the King of Kings, the One born in a manger and worshiped by Magi from the East.

 

“Glory to God in the highest!”