Hope Awakening: Special Visitors
“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land in Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.'”
Matthew 2:1-8
How many of you put the wisemen up in the same place as your nativity at Christmastime? I do, and only in recent years learned this is historically inaccurate. I’ve read that some people place the wisemen in a different spot than the nativity (to signify their travels) and some don’t put them up at all. Even if it’s historically inaccurate that they were with baby Jesus shortly after his birth, they do play an important role in God’s redemption story.
We are told the wise men, called magi in Matthew’s Gospel, traveled from the east. Research led me to discover it’s believed the magi traveled from Persia, which is modern-day Iran. The trip would’ve been 800-900 miles and, assuming they walked 20 miles a day, would’ve taken them about a month and a half to reach Jerusalem.
The magi are thought to be astronomers, given their recognition of the star in the sky they believed to indicate a ruler’s birth (New American Bible Revised Edition, notes, p. 1338). The Greek word used in Matthew’s Gospel, magoi, is also translated as sorcerer or magician. These men were not Jewish, but Gentile. Nonetheless, at the sight of this new star and understanding its significance, these men packed up their camels with gifts and began a long journey. They did not know exactly where they were heading; they simply followed the star. (This reminds me of Abraham, who also set off on a journey to the unknown led only by God!)
The men arrive in Jerusalem and start asking for the location of the newborn king. What they discover must have confused them: the people weren’t even aware a new king was born, and this news troubled the people of Jerusalem. This highly anticipated answer to a centuries-long prayer, the Messiah, wasn’t noticed. Remember, the shepherds and Anna all proclaimed the good news to people they encountered. Over the passage of time, though, we see that the people truly didn’t get it.
Word gets to King Herod that foreign men are searching for the new King of the Jews (interesting the magi correctly identify him, yet later Pontius Pilate will use these words on the Cross as a mockery of Jesus). King Herod is clearly troubled because he doesn’t want to give up power, or be challenged. He quickly assembled the religious elite to ascertain more information about where a Messiah was to be born. They told Herod of Micah’s prophecy that the Savior would be born in the small town of Bethlehem (5:2). King Herod shared this with the magi and sent them on their way to find the baby, requesting they return to him with the child’s location so he can also pay the new king homage.
Isn’t it wild that Gentiles – people who did not believe in God – were the ones seeking Jesus? Gentile magi traveled a great distance to celebrate a Jewish king, yet those in Bethlehem had no clue the significance of what happened. Hope had arrived, and people were missing it.
Sometimes the most extraordinary things come in ordinary packages.
All praise and glory be to God, forever and ever!
Reflection: The magi were watchful and attentive to the night sky, so much that when a new star arose, they recognized it immediately. We know Jesus is coming again. How watchful and attentive are we? Are we paying attention to what’s happening around us, looking for the signs that the time is near? May this upcoming year be one where we adopt the habit of the magi: being attentive to the happenings around us.