Jump Start # 246

Matthew 2:1-2 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

  The wise men. One of the traditions surrounding the birth of Jesus, is nativity scenes which has sheep, cattle, Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus, shepherds and three wise men all gathered together, talking and praising. Further traditions tell us that these three were kings, have you heard of the song, “We three kings…?” Even more, legend has given us their names: Melchior, Caspar, Balthasar.

  The problem with legends is that “they are legends.” Sometimes, the legend, myth and story becomes more believable than the facts. Only Matthew and Luke record the birth of Jesus. Only Matthew tells of the visit of the wise men.

  Here is what we know from Matthew:

• The magi (or wise men) are not called kings. Most likely they were eastern astrologers.
• They saw a star and followed it. They had knowledge of “He who has been born king of the Jews.”
• It was King Herod that sent the wise men to Bethlehem (Mt 2:8)
• The number of wise men or their names are not revealed. They brought three gifts and most assume that each had one gift. Could they have gone together on some of the gifts? Could there have been two wise men or five wise men? We don’t know.
• When they found Jesus, he was in a house (Mt 2:11) not the manger.
• The Bible doesn’t say anything about the shepherds being present, nor any animals when the wise men arrived.
• They worshipped Jesus (Mt 2:11). This is the first record of anyone worshipping Jesus.
• God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod (Mt 2:12)

  It seems that God was involved with all of this. How did men from the East know about the coming king of the Jews? That was prophesied in the law of Moses but not common knowledge among other nations.

  It is impressive that they worshipped Jesus. Later on, Pharisees would ridicule Jesus, challenge Jesus, question Jesus, accuse Jesus, but few, ever worshipped Him. These men did. They did before Jesus had died upon the cross. They did before He preached His first message, or, healed the first crippled. Their understanding must have come from God.

  The King Jesus, reigns over His spiritual kingdom (Jn 18:36). His kingdom is made up of the saved who have bowed their hearts and acknowledged Him as Lord and Christ. At His ascension, Jesus sat down at the right hand of His Father. He reigns until He comes again.

  We sing, “All hail the power of Jesus name…” The book of Acts tells us that there is no other name by which we can be saved. Paul told the Colossians that whatever you do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

  Myth…legend…fact. Our faith rests upon the revealed word of God!

Roger