Richard Burgess
I love the Christmas story, it is the most amazing story ever enacted in human history. It speaks of God’s great love for a fallen and broken humanity. How, this God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, this loving community of being, brought about our salvation and reconciliation through the incarnation of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, in human flesh just like ours. The one who was very God, co equal with the Father and the Spirit, becomes man without ceasing to be God, in order to live the life that we should have lived, then die the death we should have died, and then rise again to reconcile us to God, having conquered everything that separated us from God: Satan, sin, death and hell.
It’s also worthwhile noting, that after around 400 years where there was no major recorded Holy Spirit activity, suddenly, there was an abundance of it! Not that God had gone silent and wasn’t at work during that period, he was. The problem was even then that there were those who believed prophecy was no longer required and used such teaching to their own ends. There were prophets and prophetesses. Anna, for example, in Luke’s gospel, didn’t suddenly become a prophetess on seeing Jesus, she was already recognised as one. Likewise John the Baptist was a prophet, the last in the line of old covenant prophets. The Spirit was still at work among his people. But now, suddenly, in the fullness of time – it can be like that in our lives and in the church. Things seem quieter, but God is still at work… Then one day there’s a suddenly. Maybe you are in a ‘quieter’ season. It’s also a reminder that we are part of a much larger story.
In Matthew 2:1-12, the story takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a group of men, foreigners, from the East – its not what you’d expect as you turn from the Old Testament to Matthew’s gospel! Bit like one of those dramas where there’s a sudden unexpected twist. More on that later!
Now, some have found this passage difficult to reconcile with the account we have in Luke, and would prefer to treat it as a parable. But the fact is, it bears all the hallmarks of an eyewitness account.
Having said that, over the years it has adopted features that are not in the original story. And we need to separate fact from fiction. For example that the…
• Visitors were kings
• There were three of them
• And it all happened on the same day – think of those pictures with Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus with the shepherds and kings gathered around them.
SO, WHEN did they Arrive, WHERE DID THEY COME FROM, WHERE did they FIND JESUS, and WHO WERE THEY and HOW MANY of them were there?
• WHEN did the so-called kings arrive? The events in Luke and in Matthew are frequently conflated or compressed into one event on one day. But on the basis of Herod’s question in v.7 about when they first saw the star, it could be a year to two years after the birth of Jesus.
• WHERE did they COME FROM? In chapter 2:1 it says, “from the East…” which we should note, was an area and people that held bad memories for the people of Israel. Many years before they had been taken into captivity to the east… Remember, “By the rivers of Babylon…”
• WHERE did they find Jesus? Not Jerusalem as might be expected. It’s often thought to be Nazareth because of the time frame, but the fact that Herod calls for a search of Bethlehem suggests that Mary and Joseph and Jesus might still have been there.
• WHO were these visitors and HOW MANY of them were there? This is where it gets interesting and I’m going to take some time to develop it.
WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE?
1. These were no casual visitors. And certainly not a group of mystic star glazers, or fortune tellers – if they were, it’s highly unlikely that Herod would have given them the time of day. The fact that not only Herod but all Jerusalem is disturbed by their arrival suggests that they are respected and to be reckoned with.
2. Frequently, because of their gifts, it’s thought there were three of them. In all likelihood there were several.
3. Frequently, they have been portrayed as kings, even given names representing different continents, Melchior-king of Persia, G/Caspar-king of India and Balthazar-king of Arabia, but there’s nothing in the text to suggest they were.
4. They are better described as WISE MEN or MAGI. This is where the interest mounts! The term Magi has been used of people using supernatural powers or “magic” for their trade, but the primary use and common understanding is related to magi as a “tribe” of priests. Such priests were a bit like a religious civil service to various empires in the region, from the Babylonian through to the Medo-Persian and on to the Parthian. They were religious professors, philosophers, and scholars who were highly educated in many fields, including religion, astronomy, and even astrology. There are possible references in scripture back as far as Esther. It was to such a civil service that Daniel the prophet was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:11).
Daniel had been taken into captivity along with many others. He was a man of godly character, extraordinary spirit, intelligent, of great insight, he could explain riddles, interpret dreams and was known for exceptional wisdom. Daniel was a man of great influence, and there is every likelihood that he told them of the prophecies regarding a promised Messiah, a king who was to come.
As a result they were passed on from one generation to another down to the time of Jesus… So when the star appeared they knew exactly what was happening and Israel didn’t!
Another important fact about the magi is that the Jewish historian Josephus tells us that no one could be King in Parthia unless they knew the ways of the Magi and had the support of the Magi.
This suggests they were priests who were King-makers! If this were so, their arrival would really take the wind out of King Herod’s sails. No wonder Herod was disturbed along with all Jerusalem! Herod was king of Judea, king and of the Jews. In many ways he was a brilliant and able ruler, and did much for the people of Israel. But as time went by he became despotic and fearful of losing his throne. He was benevolent and brutal, suffered depression and paranoia and used secret police, spies and brutality to achieve his ends. Such was his paranoia, he had two wives and three sons murdered, plus his mother in law and brother in law, because he thought they were conspiring to kill him.
Now Herod was getting on in years. And suddenly there are these magi-priests in town speaking about a new King of the Jews! They had seen the star/sign – something which has all the appearance of a supernatural event – put 2 and 2 together and thought to go and affirm/recognise and honour and worship the King – Matthew’s focus is on Jesus as the King.
And they came with gifts fit for a king gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Traditionally understood as indicators of kingship, priesthood and sacrificial death, though Matthew doesn’t go there. In the narrative, they are simply extravagant gifts fit for the true ‘king of the Jews’.
FIVE TAKEAWAYS:
1. Its about God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – as the Prime Mover in human history. To often we approach scripture to see what it has to say to us and what we need to do – that gets us onto the wrong footing. The gospel is first and foremost about what God has done. It is first and foremost, a story of God’s activity in human history, what he is about, what he has done. It begins in eternity past with the decision that the Son would come and do what needed to be done to redeem, reconcile and renew. So he is sent by the Father and was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a young virgin named Mary.
2. It’s about the One, Unique, Saviour King, Jesus – the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. The only one who is able to save and reconcile us to God. We will never fully comprehend the Christmas story, unless we comprehend why we need a saviour… A broken relationship with God… Our sin… Under judgment… He comes as our Saviour and King. The gifts of the Magi, gold, frankincense and myrrh remind us that Jesus’ was a king like no other, yet he came as a servant to live and die in our place and the greatest gift anyone can receive is the gift of salvation, not worldly wealth.
3. It reminds us of the Global Reach of the Gospel – it is Good News for all people, transcending culture: the journey of the Magi is a reminder that Jesus’ birth is not just for Israel but for all nations. That he is not just Israel’s king, but king of the nations – Israel who had the promises weren’t interested, but those who didn’t were.
4. It challenges the Materialism and Powers of this world: Herod, like many others before and since, may well have strutted his stuff on the world stage, built some amazing palaces for himself… but ultimately he was accountable to God. With all that is going on in the world today, it’s a reminder, that when God moves, the powers of this world are shaken and no man or woman can stand in the way of God.
5. It’s an Invitation for us all to come and worship, to submit to, and embrace the reign of King Jesus.
O come let us adore Him…
The Word 4 Life 