Why the Magi?

 I'm pretty captivated by the Magi.

Teaching about their Old Testament roots and about their journey to Jesus was actually the subject of my first official speaking engagement.

Images of them are everywhere right now. The Magi flood Christmas cards and Christmas carols, manger scenes and garden flags, children's plays and storybooks. But as ubiquitous as they are in our celebrations of Christmas, Matthew doesn’t really tell us anything about them in his gospel. He doesn’t explain why this entourage "from the East" came to worship Israel’s yet-unknown, newborn king.

The Magi (1915) by H. Siddons Mowbray

Matthew probably didn’t explain because everyone already knew. First century Jews and Gentiles all knew that Magi were a tribe within the Medes from Persia. They had special status, kind of like the Levites within Israel. Magi were known to practice astrology, medicine and ancient science. And they served as royal advisors on both religious and political matters.

The Magi were people with position and power. You may remember that Daniel not only became part of the Magi, but was elevated as their leader.*

Almost six hundred years before the caravan of Magi chased the star to Bethlehem, their people - the Medes - experienced the same kind of turbulence as Israel. While Babylon was busy carrying God's people into exile, Persia conquered the Medes, folding them into their empire. Then, with Darius the Mede at the helm, Persia turned around and conquered mighty Babylon. 

The merging of these two empires created a melting pot of biblical cultures: Persians, Babylonians, Jews, & Medes - among others. So many monumental things took place during that time. Things like the drama of Esther, the fiery furnace, the lion’s den, and the messianic and apocalyptic visions of Daniel.

The Medes and their MAGI were there witnessed it all, and then passed everything they'd seen and heard and learned, down through their generations. This is why the first-century Magi set out for Bethlehem when that promised star rose to the sky. They'd heard all about the God of Israel from the Magi before them. They heard of His power, and His kindness, and His coming redemption. They'd heard that when the Israel's Anointed One finally did arrive, He would not be for the Jews alone, but for all nations and all people – including them. 

And so, our first-century, gift-bearing Magi set off on their famous journey filled with great expectation. They would not be disappointed. 

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2 NKJV

God had taken those times of trial - for Israel and for the Medes - and had woven them into His global, eternal redemption plan. 

Today, as we draw close to Christmas, I invite you to think about the Magi on their journey toward Bethlehem. In invite you to think about how God used their difficult time of occupation, and Israel's painful season of exile, to draw the very first gentiles to the Savior.

This year, each of our own roads to this Christmas is unique. Since last year, we’ve all experienced different joys, and also our own disillusionments and heartaches. 

But no matter what this past year has held for us – because of what this past year has held for each of us – we, too, are invited to move ourselves toward Bethlehem. We, too, are invited to simply draw near to the glorious mystery of the Messiah’s incarnation, and to find our hope in what His Presence among us means for us, now and forever.

From "The Songs of Zion: A Collection
of Choice Songs," 1918.

By light of star

They travelled far,

To seek the lowly manger;

A humble bed,

Wherein was laid

The wondrous little Stranger:

Hosanna! 

*Daniel 2:48