Wise Men Visit Jesus

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, saying, ‘Where is he who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him…And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country another way.” -Matthew 2:1-2; 11-13 (ESV) [Read Matthew 2:1-12]

Scholars hold that as much as two years had passed since the birth of Jesus when wise men from the east came to Bethlehem searching for the king whose natal star they had observed, and which they had followed until they reached Bethlehem. Who were these wise men—Magi, as they have been designated, from the Greek word Magos, meaning scientists or wise men. These travelers were probably form Persia. The nova—new star—they had seen in their own country was interpreted by them to mean that a new King had been born to the Jews. The logical place to look for a new king of the Jews was in Jerusalem, so they inquired at the court of Herod, the Roman ruler at his palace there. Since Jews had been in exile in Persia and Babylon—lands of the East—perhaps the Magos had read about prophecies of the coming king of the Jews. Numbers 24:17 was held as a prophetic scripture forthtelling this king: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.”

The Jewish scholars Herod summoned could quote from Mica 5:2, giving Bethlehem as the expected place of the new king’s birth. But it is interesting to note that neither the Jewish learned men nor Herod accompanied the wise men from the East on their further search. They continued to follow the star, and it led them to a house in Bethlehem where they found Mary and her baby, Jesus. They fell down and worshiped him. Notice the holy reverence with which they regarded the child. And being warned in a dream, they did not return to Jerusalem to tell Herod they had found the young king. They went back to their own land another way. Did these men recognize the impact the child they adored would have on peoples everywhere? It is not likely that they did at that time, but in their action was a foreshadowing of a time when all Gentile nations will acknowledge and recognize the Lord Christ. The presentation of gifts was significant: gold to represent Christ’s royalty; frankincense His divinity; and myrrh His passion and sacrificial death. In the Wise Men’s visit and adoration is deep symbolism of Jesus coming not just for the Jews but as the Savior of the World.

-Ethelene Dyer Jones 12.20.2015