Divine Movement: The Mystery of the Magi
Focus: The story of the Magi prepares us to have faith in the mysteries of life in order to declare Christ’s Gospel through tragedy, joy, and all circumstances in between.
Setting the Scene: Mary and Joseph have traveled to Bethlehem, Mary has given birth to the baby Jesus, the shepherds have come to visit and worship him, and now our story picks up roughly 12-18 months later in a home in Bethlehem.
Matthew 2:1-15
“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 has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 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 by another way.
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Who were these Wise Men, these Magi from the East?
1. They were educated and religious pagans.
The term “Magi” or magoi in the ancient world refers to scholars, astronomers and astrologers, dream interpreters, and court advisors. They used a star to interpret divine signs, which was a pagan practice and not within the orthodoxy of Jewish customs.
2. They came from the East, likely from Persia or Babylon.
These areas had a form of astral religion, reading stars for divine messages.
Because of the Jewish exile they likely had some exposure to Jewish scriptures and were thus aware of a coming Messiah.
Zoroastrianism was a monotheistic religion in this are that they were likely familiar with, but by seeking out this star in connection with Messianic prophesies they were probably looking for the one, true monotheistic religion/God in the child. They were likely aware of this passage:
Isaiah 9:6
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
3. They belonged to the highest status of culture
Likely, their positions within their culture were either king-like or right hand to the royalty there as advisors. In terms of employment, this was an excellent position.
In contrast, the first visitors of Christ were Jewish Shepherds, of God’s chosen people (not pagan, like the Magi) but at the bottom rung of society.
Jesus’ Kingdom plan, the new covenant was initiated and formalized by people who were forgotten, overlooked, or even despised by the religious authorities of that time.
Both sets of people did the same thing when they saw Jesus: they believed and worshiped Him.
The Magi likely turned away from their pagan beliefs and instead turned to the one true God - to Jesus.
God revealed himself to them through the star (2:2)
They said they were looking for the King of the Jews to worship him
When they find Jesus, they fell down and worshiped him (2:11). The word for worship used in this passage is proskyneo, which is the same word used in most instances of people worshipping God. This was not a respectful salute or cultural bow, this was full-on worship reserved only for deity, for God Himself.
Finally, after this God warns them in a dream to not return to Herod (2:12), implying that they are now receiving direct divine guidance from God on a relational level.
There is no scenario, no type of person, that can be held back from worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth!
If you are in step with the Spirit, you can turn to and worship God.
If you are falling away or have become distant, you can turn to and worship God.
If you don’t know God or even if you feel like you are disqualified from knowing Him, you can turn to and worship God.
God remains sovereign amidst your displacement, disorientation, and disillusionment. You can turn to God and worship Him.
Every one of us must wrestle with the realities of who reigns supreme in our hearts. These Magi were no exception. Their particular set of skills and convictions came by reading the stars, a categorically pagan practice that the Bible itself warns against. Yet when they saw Jesus - God - they fell down and worshiped Him.
What idols do you have in your life? What is reigning supreme in your life? Perhaps it is the stars, perhaps it is something else like work, family, self, ambitions, image. Our encouragement to you is this: like the Magi, this Christmas season sit and gaze at the born Christ – abandon your idols and worship at His feet. He is the one true God.
The Magi declared certain things about Jesus when they arrived.
By gifting Gold, they declared that Jesus is King.
By gifting Frankincense, they declared that Jesus is God.
By gifting Myrrh, they declared that Jesus was to die as our Sacrificial Savior.
Many times when we arrive at the Advent season we focus solely on Jesus as a baby - small, vulnerable, with us, moving into our home (Earth) for our sake. But none of this matters if we do not consider the greatness that became small. The Magi declared that Jesus is King, God, and Savior. It is that Jesus who was always King of Kings, Almighty God, Savior and Mighty Defender of our souls that chose to come down and lower Himself to our level in order to rescue us.
The KING did that for us.
Kings RULE.
Kings CALL THE SHOTS.
Kings THREATEN other rulers with their reign.
When you are presented with this King, King Jesus, are you threatened? Are you defensive of the lordship you have over your life? Or, like the Magi, do you recognize Him as King and instead worship Him and offer your gifts to Him?
In the final elements of our passage we see Jesus and His family fleeing to Egypt from danger of Herod’s murderous crusade, seeking to destroy Jesus.
The Holy Family - Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - felt a great displacement, disorientation, and possibly disillusionment during this time. How could it be that Mary was called blessed and yet her journey into motherhood would start this way? The Scriptures note that Mary pondered the things that she experienced in her heart and throughout her life she experienced God’s sovereignty through it all:
The shepherds share that the angels declared Christ the Savior, and throughout her life she witnesses Jesus miracles, ministry, and ultimate sacrifice for all people.
The Magi present her with gifts declaring Jesus King, God, and Savior and she witnesses all this coming to pass.
Directly after the Magi leave, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus flee to Egypt due to the threat of Herod literally hunting Jesus to kill him. A horrible way to start the first few years of motherhood, yet the Magi’s gifts directly prepared them for this flight as their departure to Egypt and subsequent time spent there as refugees was likely funded by these gifts.
We see over and over again dire circumstances arise in Jesus and his family’s lives and we see over and over again God remaining sovereign.
Jesus Himself, from His birth to His death, experienced displacement. He was born into a place with no room for Him, He was hunted by Herod and set to flee to Egypt, and ultimately He was rejected by men and murdered at Calvary. Yet God remained sovereign and through this story provided a way for us all to come into the Kingdom and His purposes.
The same is true for your story.
Whatever you have gone through, whatever you are going through, whatever you will go through, God desires that you would dwell on stories like the Magi, like the story of Christmas, and hold fast in faith to his ultimate plan for you. That you would look to his divine movement and place your faith in the best that is yet to come.
So in this Advent Season, consider the Magi, who through faith abandoned their pagan religion, turned to the one true God, and helped prepare the Messiah for his ministry on earth by declaring that He is the King, He is the God, He is the Savior, and He is Sovereign through all the mysteries that we will endure.
Declare that today as we, in step with the Magi, fall down and worship The Lord Jesus Christ.