We Three Kings...

“We three kings of orient are / bearing gifts we traverse afar…”

Except we don’t know how many there were and they weren’t kings! The story of the Magi’s visit has been embellished with all kinds of imaginative details. By the sixth century names had even been invented for them: Melchior, Balthazar and Casper.

Never mind the school nativity play traditions – why does Matthew include this story in his gospel (in Mt 2.1-12)? Surely it’s because one of the themes he is especially interested in is that of the Gentiles being brought into the kingdom of God. He is writing to Jews to show that God’s promises to Abraham have been fulfilled in Jesus – promises such as Genesis 12.3: …all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. This is why Abram’s name was changed to Abraham: “father of many nations”. Sadly over the centuries, instead of eagerly anticipating and praying for the day when the Gentile nations would be brought into the kingdom, the Jews became exclusive and inward-looking. They wanted to keep the Gentiles at arm’s length. The custom developed among pious Jews of shaking the dust of Gentile land off their feet before they crossed the border back into Israel, lest it contaminate the holy soil of the Promised Land.

 The visit of the Magi, right at the beginning of Jesus’ life, foreshadows God’s blessing of the Gentiles. From the very start of his gospel, Matthew is announcing that Jesus will be the Saviour not just of Jews, but of all nations. In fact he bookends his gospel with this theme – remember how it ends, with Jesus sending his disciples out into the world to make disciples of all nations? This story packs a powerful symbolic punch: Gentile stargazers (of all people!) come from Babylon (of all places!) to honour the Jewish Messiah, while the very people who ought to have welcomed him showed no interest.

The Reason for the Journey

Who were these men and why had they come? Matthew answers both of these questions:

 They were ‘Magi from the east’ (v1). “Magi” were once a priestly caste of Medes who could interpret dreams. They are referred to several times in the book of Daniel as “magicians”. (Our English words “magic” and “magician” come from “magi”.) Later the word was used more loosely to describe men interested in astrology, books about the future and magic.

 They arrive in Jerusalem with a question: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (v2). There had been a strong Jewish community in Babylon for centuries because most of the Jews didn’t return home from exile. This would have given the Magi ready access to Daniel especially, as well as the rest of the Old Testament. It was exactly the kind of writing they were interested in. As they puzzled over the Scriptures, it seems they came to understand that a great Jewish ruler would be born. It seems that they had come to expect his birth to be linked with the rising of a new star, perhaps because of texts like Numbers 24.17: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel.” In their worldview, the appearance of stars and other astronomical events were regarded as heralds of momentous events. Now a new star had appeared in sky and the Magi deduced from this that the Messiah and King of Jews had been born.

 Matthew doesn’t tell us the exact nature of this star. Perhaps it was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces (which happened three times in 7BC). To ancient astrologers, Jupiter represented kings, Saturn was linked with the Sabbath (the Jews), and Pisces was associated with the Hebrews. This could explain the Magi’s expectations. Or it might have been a supernova, a comet or even a supernatural star. We can’t be sure and so it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that these astrologers believed the star’s appearance was linked to the birth of the Messiah.

 Matthew knew of course that God’s word condemned astrology. He is not defending the Magi here, but simply stating what their reasoning had been. Thus they are such a challenge to you and me: in spite of extremely limited understanding and all kinds of misguided notions, these Gentile astrologers came looking for Christ, while those with much more light and understanding remained in darkness.

 The Reaction at Jerusalem

Herod is a paranoid megalomaniac who wants to kill the Messiah as a threat to his throne. But surely the chief priests and teachers of the law, the religious leaders of the Jews, will be different? They know the location of the Messiah’s birth. When Herod consults them they are able to say without any hesitation that according to Scripture he will be born in Bethlehem.

 And yet not one of them thinks of going to Bethlehem to see if perhaps by any chance the hope of Israel has actually been born! The people who should have been most alert and eager have no interest whatsoever. It’s just six miles down the road, but for whatever reason, they didn’t go to Bethlehem. Instead these Babylonian stargazers make the journey.

 Their Reverence for Jesus

Everything we’re told about the Magi brings out the contrast with the Jewish leaders. When they see the star again Matthew says “they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy!” (v10). They are beside themselves with delight to think that they will soon find the King of Jews. And so it’s no surprise that when they do finally find Jesus, they fall down before him and “worship”. This word is ambiguous – it can describe religious worship, but it can also simply mean “do homage to”. The Magi probably didn’t think Jesus was God – just a great ruler born in remarkable circumstances. But what they intended as an act of respect, Matthew sees as a highly symbolic act: a preview of all the nations coming and bowing the knee before Jesus Christ.

 Several strands of Old Testament prophecy are fulfilled in the Magi’s gifts. Haggai 2.7 prophesies how the nations will bring precious treasures to Israel’s temple; Psalm 72.10-11 speaks of kings of distant lands bringing tribute to the Messiah; Is 60.6, often read at this time of year, looks forward to people coming from the East w gold and incense. The Magi may not be the final fulfilment of these prophecies, but they are certainly part of their fulfilment – a foretaste of the future, when every knee in the universe will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

 What tremendous faith was given to the Magi! I wonder what were they expecting to find. They had followed this star for months over hundreds of miles. They must have thought it would lead them to a great palace in Jerusalem (that’s where they went first, after all!). Surely the last thing they expected to find was a child in a stable born to a young teenage peasant girl and the village carpenter! But they don’t turn up their noses and say, “I’m sorry – there’s obviously been some mistake. We’re looking for someone else.” No – they bow down in homage and hand over these expensive gifts without a moment’s hesitation.

 The Jews in this passage had so much light and understanding and privilege. These outsiders, these Gentile foreigners were guided half by superstition – yet they came from the ends of the earth to honour Jesus.

 That’s a challenge for many of us, isn’t it? Does our devotion to Jesus, our love, zeal, service and sacrifice match our light and privilege? Much is expected of those to whom much has been given. As we’re reminded in different ways about the birth of the Lord Jesus in this coming week, let’s follow the example these Magi set of commitment, devotion and zeal.