Let’s look at 10 truths about Christ’s birth and the Magi, or Wise Men.
Matthew 2:1:
Now when [more than a year after the events recorded in Luke 2] Jesus was [had been] born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men [Magi] from the east [Persia] to Jerusalem.
1) Years before this, after explaining Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel was promoted to be the chief over all of the “wise men.”
Daniel 2:48:
Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
2) These wise men were Magian priests in Persia. We call them the Magi. Their religion was a form of Zoroastrianism, which had a god of light and a god of darkness.
3)They were also keen astronomers who studied the stars and planets regularly. Daniel taught them the significance of the constellations and planets, and their reference to a coming Messiah and redeemer.
4) These Magian priests continued to search the heavens long after Daniel’s death. For hundreds of years they looked for the “signs” he told them about. That included the constellation Leo representing Judah. Jupiter was also important as the “King Star” in many cultures.
5) Scholars believe that a great massing of planets led the Magi to recognize Jesus’ birth in September 3 BC. They traveled to Judah to find this “king of the Judeans.”
Matthew 2:2-6:
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star [Jupiter is a “planetes aster,” a wandering star] in the east [its rising], and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
6) King Herod was understandably concerned that another “king” was born over his earthly kingdom. Those who studied the scriptures knew where the Messiah was to be born. Micah had prophesied of this long before.
Micah 5:2:
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [the Hebrew word means “family descent”] have been from of old, from everlasting [the Eternal One, God was Jesus’ Father].
Matthew 2:7,8:
Then Herod, when he had privily [secretly] called the wise men, enquired of them diligently [precisely] what time the star appeared [the exact time they had seen the astronomical sign that sent them on their journey].
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently [precisely] for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
7) Herod sent the Magi to the right town, based on a prophecy about the Messiah. Interestingly, he actually helped them find the young child.
8) By this time, Jesus was nearly a year and four months old. Herod found this out from the Magi. Yet, this devilish king pretended that he wanted to “worship” the new Messiah. Instead, he had great jealousy and evil in his heart.
Matthew 2:9:
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star [Jupiter is a “planetes aster,” a wandering star], which they saw in the east [its rising back in Persia], went before them, till it came and stood over [at its zenith] where the young child [a different Greek word than the “newborn” baby seen by the shepherds in Luke 2] was.
9) As the Magi headed south toward Bethlehem from Jerusalem, they saw the King Planet at its apex over Bethlehem. Once there, they asked about the birth of a child over a year ago that would have been significant. Of course, the shepherds had told their story to many people, and God would have led the Magi to the home of Joseph and Mary.
Matthew 2:10-12:
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house [not a stable or manger], they saw the young child [not newborn baby] with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
10) God honored these Magian priests who had faithfully looked for the Messiah that Daniel had taught them about. Like the shepherds who came at the right time to see Jesus’ birth, these men came at the right time to see this young child. They gave him their finest gifts to honor a true king. Then God directed them how to return home safely and avoid Herod’s evil intent.
We have so much to be thankful for in “finding” our Lord Jesus today. When we humbled ourselves to “journey” to the throne of God’s grace in Christ, we found the Messiah and the eternal life he brings. What a joyous salvation we have in God’s great gift to us!
