If you’ve ever participated in a children’s Christmas play, you might have been one of the three magi who visited the baby Jesus. Whether you were up on stage or watching from the audience, chances are you didn’t think about the magi quite the same way my friend Rudy Ross does. Rudy shares his unique perspective on the magi in today’s video.
Here is what we know about them: They were astrologers from Babylon or perhaps even further east. As magicians and Gentiles, they read the stars—guided either by revelation from God or other spiritual forces—and journeyed to find the new Jewish king.
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage” (Matthew 2:1-2).
King Herod was a tyrant, and like many autocrats, he lived in constant fear of someone taking his throne.
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born (Matthew 2:3-4).
While Herod worried about a rival outside his family ruling Israel, the people of Jerusalem were terrified of how Herod might react to this news. To understand Herod’s ruthlessness, consider this: he planned a mass murder of prominent men to take place upon his own death, just to guarantee that the nation of Israel would be in mourning when he passed away.
Knowing the scriptures, the religious leaders told Herod exactly where the baby could be found.
They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel. (Matthew 2:5-6)
Bethlehem was a humble town of about 1,000 people in a small Middle Eastern nation that had been dominated by one superpower after another. Yet, this unassuming place was chosen for the birth of the Savior of the world.
Herod called the foreign visitors in for a private meeting. He lied to them, claiming that he, too, wanted to honor the newborn king.
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.
Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage” (Matthew 2:7-8).
To think that these wise men from a foreign land would naively act as spies for Herod is quite a stretch. We can only assume his true motives were obvious to them. Nevertheless, they continued their quest for the baby Jesus.
When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy (Matthew 2:9-10).
In children’s Christmas pageants, the magi simply walk from one side of the stage to the other. In reality, these men traveled for weeks from Babylon and beyond to reach Bethlehem, and they rejoiced greatly upon finally reaching their destination.
The next chapter of Jesus’ story involves a desperate escape from Herod’s death threat. The magi didn’t just kneel in homage to Jesus; they provided the holy family with valuable gifts that would financially sustain them during their upcoming flight to Egypt.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).
The magi had likely sensed Herod’s deception, but God also gave them a dream to safely direct their exit from Israel.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road (Matthew 2:12).
Who Is to Be King?
Matthew’s Gospel frequently highlights Jesus’ worldwide impact. He includes three Gentile women in Jesus’ genealogy, and he emphasizes the journey of these foreign magicians bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. Fittingly, his parting words at the end of the Gospel are a commission to His followers to make disciples of all nations.
You and I are the recipients of the efforts of those faithful witnesses who continued to make disciples across the globe.
We are not so different from the magi or King Herod. We all have a choice to make: Who will we honor as the king of our lives?
Before answering too quickly, pause and consider who truly holds the throne of your life. You may be like me, finding that self-centered desires often try to rule the day. I face a daily battle over who will be in charge. Will it be Jesus, or me?
Herod opposed Jesus, as did many others, culminating in the ultimate rejection of God’s plan that led His Son to the cross.
As we evaluate our own relationship with the Lord, let’s make certain we never find ourselves opposing what He is doing in the world. The best way to guarantee that is to make sure Jesus is the ruling power of our lives.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 