During the past weeks we have looked at the time of Jesus’ birth according to God’s calendar and the place of Jesus’ birth as God’s perfect Lamb. We will now consider the traditions regarding the Wise Men who visited the Christ child. Traditions have stolen God’s glory. From the moment in Eden when Satan’s defeat was promised until the instant Christ fulfilled that prophecy on the cross, the Father continually brought good from bad situations. In this way, He advanced His plan to save the world. The Romans made the roads, but God paved the way for a Savior. So it was with Constantine who changed the time of Jesus’ birthday on the calendar and even the designated birthplace of Christ. However, his declaration of combining the pagan calendar with the religious calendar stopped the pagan child sacrifices offered on the winter solace! Yes, what Satan meant for evil God used for good!

Let’s consider the traditions concerning the visitation of the Wise Men to Bethlehem to honor the King of the Jews. Of course, we know that the traditional nativity scene depicts three wise men who came from the East riding on camels and bowing before baby Jesus in a manager. They were known as Magi who were ancient interpreters of dreams, studied stars and signs in the heavens, enchanters, sorcerers, and magicians. We learn from the Bible that Kings or Rulers surrounded themselves with these advisors to protect their kingdom. Essentially, they were known as “king-makers” who were consultants in both military and political matters. We learn about them in Egypt where Joseph gained favor with the Pharoah by interpreting his dreams and was made second in the kingdom; from Pharoah in the days of Moses whose magicians entered the competition in miracles and magic with Moses and Aaron; and when Daniel was made leader of the King’s Magi in Babylon because of his interpretation of his dreams and visions. The Magi most likely were from Persia and had known about the prophecies in scripture through Daniel (especially the prophecy of Balaam in Numbers 24: 17 about a Star out of Jacob who would be a Ruler over Israel) and the timing in Daniel 9: 24-25 in regard to the coming of a Messiah who would be King of the Jews. They were wealthy and owners of fine horses and would have traveled in an entourage on horseback in great numbers with wagons equipped for the 800-900 mile journey and their security army. No wonder Herod felt threatened by their entrance into the city with this show of power looking for one born that was to be King of the Jews!

We saw in Revelation 12 a woman in labor, a dragon bent on infanticide and a ruler of the nations. We saw the Ruler as the Lion of Judah in Genesis. The dragon which waits to kill the child at birth would be Herod, who did that very thing. This was the beginning of a the dance of the stars from September 11, 3 BC until June of 2 BC when ancient stargazers witnessed a triple conjunction that gave the appearance that Jupiter (the king star) stood still over Bethlehem. They concluded that they were seeing signs of a Jewish king and followed the star. This of course would set the time of the Magi’s entering Bethlehem when the young child was with his mother and earthly father in a house—not in a manager. (Mt. 2: 11) God gave a heavenly map to lead them to the Christ child. Herod would then issue a decree that all male children would be killed below the age of 2. If Satan could not prevent the birth of Christ then he would seek to have Him killed. God overruled again and protected His Son born of a virgin!

Let’s look at the gifts presented to Christ which confirm His role as Prophet, Priest and King. They presented Him with gold which is a gift symbolic of royalty—a monarch—a king. Frankincense was used by the Levitical Priesthood as incense in the Temple which symbolized the power of God in the smoke from heaven to earth . Lastly, myrrh was a fragrant perfume and used in the priestly recipe for holy anointing oil given to Moses by God in Exodus 30: 22. Anointing oil was used for the ordination for kings, priests and prophets and also as a part of the death rituals of Judaism indicating Jesus’ humanity and the manner in which He would save His people—that He would die for them!

Now we know the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say. Matthew’s journeymen Magi bowed before a Hebrew and heralded Him as King. They found a child seated on His mother’s lap. As they bowed and worshiped Him, they became the first to recognize the end from the beginning—the Lamb of God pictured from Genesis through Revelation. This child would surpass both Daniel and Joseph as chief of the Magi: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” (Matthew 28:18) These words were a part of the Great Commission given to Jesus’ followers. These words are timeless as He still beckons us today to “Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you: and, I am with you always, even into the end of the world. Amen” May these words resonate with each of us today and awaken us from our sleep to be obedient to His command and remember Emmanuel is God with us! May 2023 be the year that we bow in adoration to our Savior and go forth in His Name empowered by His Spirit and tell others about His story! Wise men still seek Him!