The Story of the Magi

“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…” (Matthew 2:1)

Note the term “wise men” is not used as a noun in the Scripture, but rather as an adjective. The Magi were referred to as being wise men descriptively, but never as a title, that is, “Wise Men.” About 300 years after their journey “Wise Men” was a title given to them for the first time.

In the ancient Middle Eastern world Magi were trusted advisors to kings, were learned men proficient in the knowledge of mathematical calculations, astronomy, medicine, alchemy, dream interpretation and history as well as practitioners of magic and paranormal arts. They were king makers as part of those who chose new kings.

Magi themselves were not kings. Had they been kings upon visiting King Herod, he would have followed tradition and celebrated their presence with a banquet. He was very impersonal in his treatment of them. 

Their number is not noted in Scripture. They would have been accompanied by an entourage of some size. Feed for the animals, security personnel, and the attendance needed to provide for the contingency would have been necessary.

It wasn’t until about the 8th century the names of Balthasar, Melichior, and Gathaspa in a chronicle known as the Excerpta latina barbari. They have become known most commonly as Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar.

The Magi did not consider Jesus as just the king of the Jews. The fact they bowed and worshiped Him indicates they believed Jesus to be divine.

They would not have ridden camels. Camels were the equivalent of 18 wheelers and not suitable for prestigious riders.

They would not have ridden donkeys. They were too small for such a long journey and were used for short distances.

They would not have ridden horses. Romans rode horses and anything associated with a Roman was beneath them.

They would have ridden mules, which were ideal for distant travel. Camels may have been used by them to carry items.

They had seen Jesus’ star in the east. It was when they were in the east, not the star. Bethlehem, and hence the star were to their west. Matthew describes them as “wise men from the East.” If the magi came from Perisa, aka modern-day Iran, it would be an estimated 1,400+ miles to Bethlehem, from Babylon/Mesopotamia  600+ miles to Bethlehem. The Arabian Desert would have a similar distance. 

Several places now claim to be the point of origin.

Such caravans, when moving, traveled 2 to 3 miles an hour.

They were following a star of unknown origin. Much has been speculated as to what was  considered the star. There are some possibilities, but nothing definitive.

It would have been easy to follow the star in that they would have traveled at night to avoid the oppressive heat of the desert days.

How would they have known to follow a star to find the King of the Jews? They had obviously heard of the importance of the Messiah from eastern Jews. Many Jews remained in Babylon/Persia after the Babylonian exile of the 6th century B.C. and did not return to Israel. They would have told the Magi the account.

The office which Daniel eventually earned ( Daniel 5:11 ) was probably rab-mag –chief of the Magi. As such he may have been a source of prophetic insight. He would have required the Magi study the Torah, historical text, and the prophets. 

They were wise in preparing their gifts before leaving on the journey. Such faith was based on the prophetic accounts told them by Jewish exiles.  

In the second-century Church Father Irenaeus of Lyons was the first on record to postulate the magi offered Jesus myrrh (used for anointing corpses) to indicate that He was to die and be buried for the sake of mortal humans. Gold, because he was a king of an eternal kingdom, and Frankincense (burnt on altars as divine offerings) because he was a god.

The quantity of each gift must have been significant in that the gifts enabled Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to go to Egypt, live there a while, and return to Nazareth. 

Jesus is said to have been born in a manger. When the sojourners arrived He was in a house. The word used in the gospel of Luke to describe Jesus when the wise men arrived means “young child,” implying He was no longer a baby.

Herod was also aware of the time the star appeared, courtesy of the wise men, and when he tried to have Jesus killed to protect his own power, he had all the baby boys two years and younger killed. Jesus escaped only because an angel told Joseph to take the family away to Egypt to hide.

Historian Josephus does not mention Herod’s massacre of the infants of Bethlehem. This is not surprising since Bethlehem was a small village and the number of children could not have been large. Considering Herod’s many ruthless actions in murdering sons, wives, and all manner of political opponents, this event was of little historical consequence at the time.

There was a fourth gift to Him by the Magi. It was “worship.” They fell down and worshiped Him. These Gentiles were the first persons to worship Jesus.

Let us on a regular basis emulate them and worship Him.

This Christmas Don’t Dim the Light

John 1: 9 – 14

Jesus “was the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world.”  As John the Baptist came “to bear witness of the Light” so each Christian is to today. Don’t be a bushel hiding the Light. Be a candlestick to the Light so it can give light to all around you. 

From our perspective, it would seem that the coming of Christ in Bethlehem would have resulted in world-wide recognition of Him. If not His birth, surely His life and teachings would have revealed Him. Not so! They didn’t receive Him.  Have you?  To receive Him means to acknowledge the fact of Who He is and willingly submit in love to Him as your personal Savior. It means to unconditionally receive Him.

It would be more likely that you could put the Atlantic Ocean in a coke bottle than to get into Heaven without receiving Him.

You could more likely put the North Georgia mountains in an aspirin box than get into Heaven without receiving Him.

You doubt more easily can fly to Heaven in a glider than get there without receiving Him as Savior.

To receive Him means to make room for Him in your life.

John wrote of Jesus as the agent of creation. 

“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:3)

In recent years there has been a wealth of scientific insight gained that refutes evolution and strongly supports creation. Because of a misrepresentation of the principle of separation of church and state, our courts are shielding the minds of enquiring youth from this information.

In the Genesis account of creation after describing part of the creation there is included an expression that is almost parenthetical. It states, “He made the stars also.” (Gen. 1: 16)  It is as though God had an after-thought and as a bonus decided to throw in the stars as part of His creation package also.

Think for a moment about the stars as an evolutionary impossibility. Consider one of our nearest neighbors, the Andromeda Galaxy.  It contains over 200 billion suns larger than our one. A light year is 6 trillion miles. Andromeda is over 2 million light years from our Milky Way. Voyager II is our fastest spacecraft. Traveling in it would require 150 billion years to reach Andromeda.

He “made the stars also.”  How many?  No one really knows; but it is thought that if you had started at the time of Christ’s birth nearly 2,000 years ago and had counted one star per second, you would not have counted half of them yet. 

To assume that happened with orderly design as a result of a cosmic explosion is as preposterous as imagining that a Mercedes resulted from an explosion in a Pittsburgh steel mill.

The babe of Bethlehem made the straw on which He lay. He, in eternity leaned on the chest of His Father without any mother, in time leaned on the breast of His mother without any father. He was as old as His Father and eons older than His mother. He was Immanuel, God with us.

They didn’t receive Him.  Have you? 

What Motivates One to Serve? 3/29/98

John 12: 20 – 32
Page 1575 Come Alive Bible

JESUS CHRIST said, “if anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, Him My Father will honor” (John 12:26).

People are desirously looking for a way to have a fulfilling life. There is a way well defined.

“The ant knows the formula for the anthill. The bee knows the formula for the beehive. They do not know the formulas in a human way, but in their own way. Only man does not know his formula.” Dostoevsky

Our text states man’s formula. A group of Greeks came asking Philip to aid them in getting to see Jesus. Jesus had spent much of His life ministering along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Caravan routes from Europe, Asia, and Africa ran along those shores. Persons from all three continents had been exposed to Christ and His teachings. Reports of His teaching drew these Greeks back to see Him. They wanted Him to come with them to Greece and be made a king.

I. THE SERVICE OF PASSIONATE DEVOTION
A. Source of Devotion “loves” (Vs. 25)

Love of Jesus Christ ONLY is the source of proper devotion. Jesus does not seek devotion to a principle, but to Him.

For many Christians service is something one does; to Christ it is what one IS to Him.

Our love for Him will not permit us to ask Him for help, if we are not making any effort; for strength, if we have strength we are not using; for guidance, if we ignore guidance we already have; for forgiveness, if we continue to hate someone; for mercy, if we intend no expression of it.

Love is the source of devotion.

Dr. Richard Clark Cabbot and his colleagues at Mayo Clinic released the results of a clinical study regarding factors influencing good health. They concluded there are four: WORK, PLAY, LOVE, AND WORSHIP.

The importance of love can’t be overly emphasized.

B. Secret of Disaster “loving ones own life” (Vs. 25)

There are many people devoted to many good causes; but few devoted to Him.

“Demas has forsaken me having loved this present world more.”

“He that is a hireling…flees” (John 10:12).

If you love others, you become vulnerable. If you love others and seek to serve then, you WILL be used. You WILL be hurt. There is no immunity. C. S. Lewis wrote: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung out and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable…The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers…of love is Hell.” The Four Loves (p. 169).

C. Spring of Direction “follow me” (Vs. 26)

Christ and Christ alone should be the spring of our direction. Do not take council of your own cravings but follow His command. Don’t believe what people say about Him, believe Him. If you devote yourself to what some people say is His cause, you can get confused. Devotion to Him personally is at once challenging and comforting.

He said “Take up your cross and follow me.” The Greek word translated “follow” means to follow so closely that when He picks up a foot you put your foot in His track. To follow so closely there is not room for two crosses. Therefore, the cross He carried is your cross.

Many seem to live with their signals mixed up. A visitor was traveling with a new friend who was driving. Every time they came to a red traffic light the guy ran it. Finally, after about three of these the passenger asked, “What’s with this, running red lights?” To which the driver replied, “Me and my brother always run red lights.”

Next they came to a green light and the driver slammed on brakes. “Why?” asked the astonished passenger, “You run red lights and stop at green ones. Why?”

“Because you can never tell when my brother might be coming down a side street!”

In following Christ He enables us to keep our signals straight.

II. THE SOCIETY OF PERSONAL DEDICATION “Where I am there shall my servant be” (Vs. 26) When the society of servants gets together, it results in:

A. Fruitfulness of Friendship “servant”

The nature of things around me tends to make me disloyal. The fellowship of Christ within me makes me loyal. Friendship results in fruitfulness.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24).

Christ revealed a basic principle. As in agriculture so in the spiritual realm there is no “multiplication of life” without Him, like grain, falling “into the ground.”

The closer our friendship with Christ is, the more we realize its value and the more we want others to share it.

A recent national survey conducted by Father John A. O’Brien, research professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, revealed that of all the denominations and sects of America, Southern Baptists are making a stronger attempt to win people to their faith than any group. A servant wants to obey his master. Use your vivid imagination and engage in a youthful past time “playlike” or “malike.” Pretend that I run a large company and you are one of my supervisory employees. I go away for a few months but write often letters of instruction, inspiration, and expectation. When I return, I am amazed that the exterior of the building is unkept and the grass uncut. Inside the building is even worse. Employees are casually sitting around playing card games or throwing darts. I ask where you are and someone points down the hall and shouts “I think he is down there.” There I find you finishing a game of checkers with the sales manager. I disturb you long enough to ask you for a few private moments. Upon entering my office I find it has been turned into a lounge for watching afternoon soaps.

“What in the world is going on?” I ask.
“What do you mean ole buddy?” you reply.
“Didn’t you get any of my letters?”
“Sure did. We got them all and bound them in an attractive black leather cover. As a matter of fact, we have had letter study every week since you left. We even divided the personnel into small groups and discussed many of the things you wrote. Some of those things are really interesting. You will be pleased to know some of us have even committed to memory some of the sentences you wrote. Some even memorized entire paragraphs and two entire letters!”

“Okay — you got the letters, read them, studied them, meditated on the, discussed them, and even memorized them. BUT WHAT DID YOU DO ABOUT THEM?”

“Do? Well uh, we didn’t do anything.”

Don’t make that illustration crawl like a baby.

B. Fullness of Fellowship “where I am” (Vs. 26)

In chapter one of the Revelation, Christ is pictured as standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks. The candlesticks are identified as the churches. Christ is still in love with His church which, with great joy, He called His bride.

Some by their schedule reveal they are not fully with Him. Their being with Him is a matter of convenience. Our present society challenges devotion to Christ. Soccer, baseball, ballet, and other functions conflict with Christ’s schedule. I am persuaded that when worship is being conducted in a members church Christ is there. If that member isn’t they aren’t where Christ is.

If Christ is represented in a Hindu nation people readily respond to Him. To them there are many gods and they are willing to add one more. In doing so they don’t give up their many old gods they add another to their collection. Many modern Christians seem to want Christ to be just another object of their devotion, not the supreme object of their loyalty.

C. Fulfillment of Faithfulness “My Father will honor” (Vs. 26)

There is happiness in faithfulness. The joy of a thing lies in fulfilling its intended purpose. So many people are miserable because they have failed to understand their purpose and/or are failing to fulfill their purpose. When we realize we were created to be co-servants with Christ and commit to fulfilling this role, then life takes on meaning.

Some years ago in Elko, Nevada there lived a successful young, cynical businessman. He was bitter, critical, and skeptical. One day a minister asked Him, “Are you a Christian?” It angered John Randolph, but he could not forget the question nor deny the awful negative answer. It lead to his eventual conversion. Soon thereafter he and his wife went to the pastor and asked, “What is this we hear about the Bible teaching tithing?” The pastor timorously said it did. Randolph replied, “Very well, we’ll do it.” A second question, “Someone told us we are to witness to others. Are we?” Again the pastor swallowed deep and answered, “Yes.” “OK,” said Randolph, “we will.” Several such diagnostic questions regarding the Christian faith followed and John Randolph responded compliantly to each.

Little wonder that when a few years later the pastor left that church the Lord honored John Randolph by the people calling him to be their new pastor. He had been faithful in that which was least and the Lord made him responsible for that which was greater.

III. THE SEAL OF PERFECT DISCIPLINE
A. The Drill of Purity “follow” (Vs. 26)

There is a difference in innocence and purity. An infant is innocent but a forgiven Christian is pure.

Romans chapter five concisely explains what it means to “follow Christ.” Therein, it is revealed: We are saved by Christ’s death — objectively. He is the object of our faith. We are saved by His life — subjectively. We, the subject, are impacted daily by His life.

Romans 5: 1 – 10 uses the word “sins,” plural. Christ’s death cleanses from them positionally.

Romans 5: 12 – 21 changes and uses “sin,” singular. Daily the life of Christ saves us from dominance by our old sin disposition.

We are saved by His death positionally — we are in Christ.

We are saved by His life dispositionally — Christ is in us.

This results in —

B. The Duty of Patience “serve” (Vs. 26)

He asks no one to follow Him who is not His servant.

The Psalmist gave a graphic illustration of our posture as a servant of our Lord.

“Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us” (Psalm 123:2).

Rather than always giving verbal commands Oriental masters often gave their servants hand signals. In his letter on Egypt, Savary, an ancient traveler to that land wrote: “The slaves, having their hands crossed on their chests, stand silently at the end of the hall. With their eyes fastened on their Master, they seek to anticipate his every wish.” That should be our ambitious desire.

Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh and What?

In the second-century Church Father Irenaeus of Lyons alluded to the role of the magi in his allegorical interpretation of the magi’s gifts. 

According to Irenaeus, the magi offered Jesus myrrh (used for anointing corpses) to indicate that he was to die and be buried for the sake of mortal humans. 

Gold, because he was a king of an eternal kingdom.

Frankincense (burnt on altars as divine offerings) because he was a god.

Years later another wrote of the preparatory wisdom of the Magi for their journey.

“How did it come to be that these men, who left their home country without having seen Jesus, and had not noticed anything in his appearance to enforce such systematic adoration, offered these particular gifts? It was the star that attracted their eyes, but the rays of truth also penetrated their hearts, so that before they started on their toilsome journey, they first understood that the One who was promised was owed gold as royalty, incense as divinity, and myrrh as mortal…and so it was of great advantage to us future people that this infant should be witnessed by these wise men.”

The Magi were referred to as being wise men descriptively, but never as a title, that is, “Wise Men.” About 300 years after their journey “Wise Men” was a title used for them. The logic expressed in the above sermon gives reason for the men who were indeed wise were entitled “Wise Men.”

There was a fourth gift accorded the infant Jesus. The Magi fell down and worshiped Him. Thus, the fourth gift given Him was worship.

Private personal devotion and worship is admirable and uplifting. Plan to include it in the new year.

Public worship in company with colleagues of similar devotion is expedient.

COVID changed our lives. Most churches were closed for a time and people got out of the habit of going to worship on Sunday. Many have not returned. Live streaming and worship services of TV have replaced public worship for many and simply un-involvement resulting in secular Sundays keeping others away.

Scripture prophetically speaks of a great falling away. Could COVID be the occasion of such?

Scripture also gives this instruction: “ …not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10: 25)

As a young minister I spoke in a church where there was a lady who could not hear. Naturally that prompted the question in my mind of why did she even bother to come. I was told she wanted to show her devotion and let everyone know of her commitment to the Lord. That is one very good reason

Give the beloved Lord your gift of public worship on a renewed basis.

An Epic New Year

In ancient Roman mythology, Janus was the god of gates and doors. He held the key, so to speak, to the metaphorical doors or gateways between what was and what is to come. He had two faces enabling him to look forward and backward. His job was to keep evil spirits out of homes, buildings, shrines, schools, courtyards, and wherever there was a doorway or gate. His role changed and was applied to the new year when he could look back on the old year and forward to the new. His name came to be applied to the first month of the new year, January.  The Roman people took a minute each day to pray to Janus.

Such gods were mythological, fanciful. However, there really is a God who looks back and forward. He is omnipresent, all present. Companion parts of His nature are He is omniscient, all knowing, and omnipotent, all powerful.

The Apostle Paul adopted some of His characteristics and said, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead….” (Philippians 3: 13) In summary, don’t live in the past. The past is now merely a prologue of things to come. Those who live in the past forfeit the best of the present and rob their future potential. Consider this scenario.

In the past (point “A”) you made a decision. Now (point “B”) looking back you see it was not a good decision. The result is a sense of failure and associated guilt. Never judge your point B decision from point A. At point B you made a decision based on two things: the knowledge you had at the time and the love you sought to employ. Now at point A you have more knowledge and greater love than you did not have at point B. The result is you unfairly judge your past self and pull the grief caused by your point B decision into point A. Romans prayed to Janus.

In December 1939, King George VI was England’s reigning monarch.  Storm clouds of war were gathering. As was the custom, the king addressed the nation on a BBC radio broadcast on Christmas Day, and, in the uncertain last days of 1939, the king spoke words of peace to calm his nation. He reminded them of the only true King, the One who can provide true peace and real rest in such troubled times.  As King George concluded his message of encouragement, he read the preamble of a poem that had been brought to his attention by his young daughter, Princess Elizabeth.

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’

And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’”

Try it, you will find it to be true, making for a HAPPY NEW YEAR.