Seeded and Sent
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “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.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
Matthew 2:1-6
The three kings on camel backs carrying their costly coffers in outstretched hands is an unfortunately inaccurate account as we most often tell it. It’s painful to accept that they were not present at the nativity. Not because it matters so much when they arrive, but it’s just so quaint to imagine the strangers showing up at the stable and adding their affirmation to the holy family in their cold outcast night. Alas, we can’t even count on three. There were three gifts, but not three men, or at least it seems unlikely to be the exact number. I’ll still place them in my nativity displays, because I do love the traditional vision of it all and the nostalgia it brings. But let’s not stop here. It seems too often what I read concerning these wise men is meant as some pejorative correction as if to say, “Ha! You’re not celebrating it right! Let me tell you why you’re picturing it all wrong, you silly Christian person who loves tradition too much.” There’s quite enough of that talk going around, and it isn’t terribly helpful.
Let me invite you to another perspective, and hopefully a more accurate one. In seeing it, we will witness something more beautiful and more worthy of our celebration and gladness than a few oriental guys on camels with gifts. We can create a new nostalgia to imbue meaning to our nativity displays. If we understand who these Magi are, we can see a superintendence that declares a marvelous message.
These magi came from “the east” which is to say the lands of Persia. These magi first appear in historical record around the 7th century B.C. Many historians also associate them with the descendants of Noah’s son Shem, making them a semitic people. This would explain their monotheistic religion that evolved into Zoroastrianism, and a very similar sacrificial system to the Jews.
They were regarded for their knowledge of agriculture, science, history, mathematics, astronomy, and astrology. They were involved in various forms of sorcery, and especially regarded for their ability to interpret dreams. They are where we’ve derived our English words of “magic” and “magician.” They held significant political power as historians also tell us that no Persian could rise to assume kingship without proving his mastery of the disciplines outlined by these magi, and they would be the ones to crown him. They were the most powerful group of advisors and functioned also as priests to the Medo-Persian and later Babylonian empires. While much more information is shrouded in the dust of ancient history, it is most likely that these magi were responsible for “the law of Medes and Persians” which we see referenced several times in the books of Daniel and Esther.
In Daniel 2:48, after successfully interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel is made chief prefect over the wise men of Babylon. Daniel was well-respected among these magi, as it was he who saved their lives in pleading with the king not to destroy them as he had planned, in retribution for their interpretive failures. So we know that Daniel held the highest office among these Magi and was the most respected among them for a generation. We also know that thousands of exiled jews stayed in Babylon and intermarried, keeping their Jewish religion with them and thus exerting a significant influence there. So it is most likely that these magi were well-acquainted with Judaism and the messianic prophecies, especially those of Daniel.
If you remember, it was Daniel’s revelation from the angel Gabriel in Daniel 9:21-26 which delineated the specific times of arrival and death of the messiah. We have a harder time interpreting the figurative language of these “weeks” and periods of time, though we see them clearly in retrospect. However, we can almost assume that such language was readily interpreted by these magi. They had an eye already cast to Jerusalem, and it is why they go first to inquire of him there. Notice that the star did not lead them directly to the specific place in Bethlehem, but knowing the Jewish king would rule from Jerusalem, they go there first, seemingly naive of the treacherous king they would find in Herod. It was a Jewish king they were seeking after all, and no one should have been more aware of his whereabouts than the jews themselves, and especially the king himself! Are they surprised he needs to gather the chief priests and scribes together to ascertain further details? Probably. They are likely shocked at his lack of wisdom! No such king could rise to power in their neck of the woods. And here they get their first inklings that not all is well in the land of Judea, miraculous awaited messiah king notwithstanding.
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:9-11
Scholar, scribe, historian or otherwise is unsure what to do with this star. Is it the shekinah glory of the Lord? Is it an actual star? An angel perhaps? Whatever it is, it moves from its orbit and stands over the very house where the young child Jesus is (notice he is no longer a babe). It is a miraculous moment and they know it, for they rejoice with exceeding great joy! When they find him, these magnificent magi marvel at the messiah. They do not just bring gifts. They WORSHIP him.
And here is the hidden beauty of the story of the misnomered kings. Hundreds of years of superintended history come to their climax. A sovereign God allowed His people to be taken captive. His discipline of His own people, would initiate the redemption of another. A savior seed was planted, so that strangers might be saved. Among the first worshipers of the jewish Messiah, would be sojourners, foreigners, strange magi from afar. The angel chorus is realized again, “Great joy, which will be to all people(Luke 2:10).”
In the Magi we see ourselves; Outsiders, gentiles, strangers to this covenant God. But this God’s love could not be contained to a single family or tribe or nation. He would scatter seeds all along the storied way, to reap a worldwide harvest. It’s a story that cannot be stopped, or stamped, or silenced. His good news will be to all people, and He will send it forth. This gospel seed was planted 700 years prior in Babylon, so that fruit would spring to life in this moment and fulfill multiple uses(more on that next time). So display those camels in your nativities and keep them in threes for the sake of the three gifts, and the seeded gospel promise planted in an ancient exilic land. That’s what those wise men mean to me.
Your own redemption story is one written long before you were born, in eternity past. What might have been the seeds planted along the way so that you would encounter Christ?
Scattering seed requires sowers. The jews in Babylon, missionaries in far flung lands. Will you go and plant seeds? Or will you send another in your stead? These are the only two options for obedient Christ followers.
