by Shannon Perrett
Apart from being excellent fodder for Christmas Cartoons – I realised recently that I didn’t know all that much about the wise men that visited Jesus. As I did a bit of research, not only did I learn some things about them, but also learned some valuable lessons from them.
Matthew (2:2-12) is the only gospel that tells us anything of the visit of the Magi. However, many of the ideas or beliefs that are held regarding the wise men, didn’t actually come from the gospel, but rather from tradition, carols and even Hallmark.
For example, most nativity scenes have the wise men together with the shepherds and the angels on the night that Jesus was born. However, Matthew just says that they came, ‘After Jesus was born.’ Most Biblical scholars agree that the wise men came to visit Jesus at some stage after he was back home in Nazareth (after his circumcision and presentation at the temple.)
The Bible doesn’t say, anywhere, that there were 3 wise men. Western tradition and nativity scenes have painted the picture of 3 wise men, basically because they brought 3 different items as gifts. But in reality, we don’t know what the quantity of the gifts looked like or how many men carried them.
Thanks to a famous Christmas Carol, another assumption that is often made, is that the wise men were kings, but once again, this is not actually what the Bible says. The NIV version refers to the wise men as Magi, which is a translation of the Greek word magoi, meaning “A sorcerer or a magician.” Now while we understand this to have negative connotations, this wasn’t necessarily how the word magi would have been understood when the gospel of Matthew was penned. The persons denoted here were learned men of the Eastern nations, devoted to astronomy, to religion, philosophy, and to medicine.
But when you put aside the questions of who they were, how many there were, or where they came from, what really struck me as I studied the story of the magi, is that these wise men sought the Lord . . . they came from a faraway place to seek and honour Jesus.
As wise and learned men, the Magi would have studied Hebrew Scriptures, understood the timing of the Messiah’s birth and the signs that would lead them to the place where God would reveal himself to the world in the form of a baby. In learning from the Wise Men, I had to ask myself - am I are scholar of scripture? Do I make a habit of studying the Bible in context, or do I maybe take more of a magic 8 ball approach opening to a random chapter hoping for answers?
Do I, like the wise men, seek God through studying His word? Do I follow their example of being expectant of Jesus? Not only in His second coming, but each and every day. Am I expectant as I pray, that God will answer my prayers, in His timing? Am expectant that God will equip me and use me as I follow the Holy Spirit’s promptings? Am I expectant to see God move in a world that sometimes feels like it is spiralling out of control?
Matthew may not give us any idea how many Magi there actually were, but we definitely know this – there was more than one and they were together on the journey of seeking Jesus. In a recent Facebook Post, author Lisa Harper wrote this “…while salvation is a completely personal decision … sanctification ~ which is essentially growing into a more Jesus-shaped life ~ happens best in the context of community. . . The bottom line is we weren’t created to make this journey called faith alone.”
The Magi were together on their Jesus seeking journey. They studied the scripture and were expectant of his arrival. But don’t miss what their actions were when they finally found themselves in the presence of a King. Matthew 2:10-11 tells us that “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.” Some translations say that fell to their knees or fell down and worshipped. Through this act of surrender and reverence, they declared the sovereignty of this infant Saviour King.
I realised that so often I seek the presence of my Saviour for my comfort, my peace and my direction. Which he undoubtedly provides. However, reading this story of the Wise Men ‘anew’, prompted me to ask - When was the last time I fell to my knees in awe and wonder of my Saviour king?
Shannon lives Far North QLD, with her husband and 3 gorgeous girls. After serving for 6 years in Papua New Guinea, her family relocated to Mareeba where they continue to work with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Shannon is thrilled to be part of the Anew Conference team. She is passionate about encouraging women to pursue their God given identity in all seasons of life – especially the chaotic ones!
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