This past week the Church celebrated the holy day of the Epiphany, the day the Church honors the coming of the Magi, or wise men, to worship the baby Jesus. Our Scripture passage for today from the Gospel of Matthew tells of the Magi’s visit, and as we look into this account we’ll see that it is more than just some figures in a Nativity scene or Christmas card, or a mention in a Christmas carol.
Who were these men who are only mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel? The “wise men” were Magi, who were of the priestly caste of the Persians and Babylonians, possibly Zoroastrians. Their duties would include studying the stars. They were also very familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures, as this priestly caste traced its lineage back to the days of Daniel. Tradition has set their number at three because of the number of gifts given, though Matthew never indicated a number other than that there was more than one. When these Magi saw the sign in the heavens, possibly a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Venus, they believed that this was the star that Balaam had prophesied would announce the arrival of the Jewish Messiah (Numbers 24:17). They immediately set off to do homage to this Messiah.
As we read the account of the Magi, we read of King Herod, along with the chief priests and scribes. Herod was a very psychotic, paranoid and dangerous ruler. He had even murdered several of his own sons, along with his favorite wife, Mariamne. In an attempt to please the Jewish people, he had made extensive and grand renovations and enlargements to the Temple in Jerusalem. He could rebuild the Temple, yet he did not know the Lord God whose Temple it was! The chief priests knew the Scriptures foretelling the coming of the Messiah, and were even able to tell both Herod and the Magi the prophecy of where He would be born (Micah 5:2). These men from faraway lands recognized Jesus as the Messiah when most of God’s chosen people in Israel did not. God’s chosen people, who should have been anticipating the Messiah’s coming, were largely oblivious to the sign of His coming. However, the Magi were alert and responsive.
The Magi traveled vast distances to find the Messiah. They followed by faith, not really knowing exactly where the star was leading them, just as Abraham did (Hebrews 11:8). When they finally found Him, they responded with joy, worship, and gifts. That is so different from people today. People today expect God to come looking for them, to explain Himself, and prove who He is, and then to give them gifts.
Three different gifts were given to the Lord Jesus by these Magi - gold, frankincense, and myrrh (vs. 11). The Magi knew they were looking for a king. They acknowledged Jesus as sovereign ruler. Gold is a gift for someone of rank and authority, a gift of great value, fit for a king. They were willing to give all. Frankincense was burned in the Temple to God. Incense in Scripture often represents our prayers rising up to God. The Magi acknowledged Jesus, not only as king, but also as Deity, as God. Myrrh is an aromatic spice that was used in ancient times for embalming the dead. It also had medicinal uses, such as being an analgesic. The fact that the Magi brought this as a gift signified how important the death of Jesus would be. Gold for our King, frankincense for our God, and myrrh for the One who died for us.
In verse 11 we read that the Magi worshipped Jesus. They recognized the deity of Jesus, in addition to acknowledging Him as a newborn king. After giving Jesus their gifts, the Magi took a different route back to their homeland, as God warned them that Herod was not planning on coming to worship Him, but intended to kill Him. Often, after we find Jesus, we also must change the direction our life is going.
People without ready access to God’s Word, if they are sincerely seeking God, will find Jesus just as the Magi did. He will use any means to get their attention (Jeremiah 29:13). Sadly, many refuse God’s call. King Herod and the Jewish religious leaders who were in Jerusalem at the time the Magi arrived, weren’t alert or seeking for the coming Messiah, and were not interested in following with them when hearing about the star. Will we miss out on God’s blessings because we, as well, fail to seek the Lord? As an old saying goes, “Wise men still seek Him.”
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