THE account of the visit of the wise men or Magi to Jesus is perhaps one of the most well known parts of the bible. Even so it is treated more as a folk story than real history, and many misconceptions about their visit are held. For instance we do not known how many Magi there were who visited Jesus. Three is assumed because of the three gifts but that is not conclusive. The story is read at Christmas as if it happened at the the birth of Jesus, but in truth their visit must have been when Jesus was between one and two years old. We can deduce this simply from the fact that Herod, having been told the details by the Magi, worked out that Jesus must have been up to two years old, and for this reason ordered the killing of all baby boys in the region of Nazareth up to two years old in his efforts to kill Jesus. The Magi were no doubt gentiles, and so the season of Epiphany is a more appropriate time for the celebration of their visit rather than Christmas. Having said all this there are important lessons to learn from this history.

We see first the desperate ungodliness of the Jewish nation as represented by their leadership - Herod and his court, and no doubt the Scribes and Pharisees. When the Magi asked for direction Herod and his leaders were in no doubt who Jesus was, because they called him the Christ. However they were not thrilled by this revelation, but only felt threatened. They had great knowledge. They knew the prophecy from Micah 5:2 which tells us that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but they were not pleased. In the first place they were threatened simply because their conception of the Messiah was of an earthly king who would lead the Jews to victory over all their earthly enemies. Because of this Herod only saw someone who threatened his kingly position and privilege, and only wanted to get rid of him. The Jewish leaders also felt and probably understood that they would receive short shrift from such a king as they imagined Jesus to be. They knew they were ungodly, but they did not repent nor did they want to change. Such is the evil in the human heart that people can be like this and not wish to change or believe they ought to change. From their knowledge of the bible we can see that Herod and his court held on to the Jewish practices in religion still, and wanted the outward glory of such adherence, but in their hearts they were worldly and selfish.

Then we can see that head knowledge alone concerning the content of the bible is not enough. These Jews had great knowledge, but they did not know the meaning of what they read, and because their hearts were worldly, they could not see that the Christ who was promised was not setting up an earthly kingdom but a spiritual one, and as such had no designs on earthly position or glory. But there is something further here that should give cause for thought. Having the knowledge they had and the privileges of possessing such knowledge, the Jews only increased their guilt when they rejected their Messiah as they did.

On the other hand we see great grace and faith in the Magi. They had little knowledge but what they had they made good use of, believed it and laid their lives in trust upon that revelation, and worshipped Christ as their king. Such was the faith they had, and their eagerness to honour him as their king, that they counted no trouble too great to find him, and honour him, and seek to be his subjects. We do not know anything about the Magi except that they came from the east, but we have every right to suppose that they had a long way to go in order to come to visit the new born baby. The fact that Herod deduced that Jesus must have been over a year old suggests that the journey to Jesus was a very serious undertaking and a journey that lasted over a year. What dangers and privations they had to endure we can only imagine. But such was the faith and love these Magi had for the king they had had revealed to them, that they accepted all this cost to get to him, and bring him gifts.

Their knowledge with all their wisdom must necessarily have been small, but they did believe and did worship Jesus and give him trust and honour as Lord and Saviour, and so we can be sure that they were saved people, and inheritors of eternal life. Faith in Jesus in such commitment is all that is needed to benefit from his saving work for us. It is good to understand as much as we can, and our faith will be stronger by such understanding, but it is not necessary for salvation. These Magi had the one thing needed which is faith in Jesus as God and Saviour, and they are now rejoicing in his presence in heaven.

The gifts these Magi brought to Jesus are given a traditional meaning which I believe is just. By the gold they honoured Jesus as their king. By the frankincense they honoured and trusted Jesus as their priest before God. By the myrrh they showed that they had an understanding that Jesus would saved them through death and suffering, myrrh being for embalming the dead. Here we have the great offices of Jesus. He is our priest to mediate before God for us, and by his sacrifice and his heavenly intercession win our acceptance with God. By his kingship he rules over us and protects us and prepares for us a kingdom which is eternal. By his suffering and death he atones for our sins, and wins our forgiveness.

Lastly we see how God protected Jesus from harm and death. The Magi were warned by God not to return to Herod. They were true believers and they accepted the guidance of God, and acted upon it, and by this Herod was kept at bay until God had evacuated Jesus with Joseph and Mary from the jurisdiction of Herod. So God continued to protect his saving plan from ruin and to make sure Christ would at the right time make atonement for our sins. Satan could not and cannot overthrow the kingdom of Christ.