Dave’s Monday Blast – December 5, 2022
Happy December! The Christmas season always makes me think about the Magi in the Biblical account (Matthew 2:1-12). Who were they? Why were they looking for the Christ-child? How’d they know when and where to look for him? We know that Magi or “wise men”, were a priestly caste in the ancient world that often served as advisors to kings and emperors. They were sought out for their knowledge of astronomy and astrology, as well as their supposed ability to foretell the future and discern the meaning of dreams and visions.
The Magi of our Nativity Story were possibly from Babylon; and if so, they were likely influenced by the teachings of the Biblical prophet Daniel, who a few hundred years earlier was the chief of the Wise Men of the Babylonian empire (Daniel 2:47-48). It is likely that the influence of Daniel the magi would have been familiar with the Old Testament and its 300 + prophecies pointing to the coming Messiah; and from the text of Matthew 2. It’s apparent that these Magi believed the promises of God’s word intended to worship the coming King of the Jews.
The Magi were likely watching the heavens looking for a sign of the Messiah’s arrival as a result of exposure to Balaam’s prophecy in Numbers 24:17, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” They would have known the general timeframe of the Messiah’s arrival as a result of Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel 9:25, that the Messiah would appear 483 years after the decree to allow the Jews to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.
The gifts of the Magi presented to the Christ-child in that Bethlehem stable bear examination. They presented Him with three costly gifts. Gold – Frankincense – Myrrh: The early church fathers said that gold represented the wealth and power of a King. Frankincense was used in the temple worship of the Lord. It represents his deity. He is truly God born in human flesh. Then there is myrrh, a kind of perfume made from the leaves of the cistus rose. It was used in beauty treatments, but when mixed with vinegar it became an anesthetic. After a person died, myrrh was used to anoint the body and prepare it for burial. John 19:39 tells us that Jesus’ body was bound in linen wrappings along with 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. So the gift of myrrh pictures his suffering and death.
In summary:
Gold pointing to his majesty…for he is king.
Frankincense pointing to his deity…for he is God.
Myrrh pointing to his humanity…for he is destined to die.
Do you think that the Magi were disappointed at all when they met the Christ-child? They likely spent up to two years with their journey only to discover the Messiah in the humble home of Mary and Joseph; not exactly a residence fit for a King. Somehow however, I bet the Magi saw beyond the present, and into the future prophecies and in deep faith, they presented their gifts and worshipped him. They saw that this child would one day rule the world and they were not ashamed to fall on their faces before him.
