"Many absurd traditions and guesses have been made in regards to these visitors coming to visit our Lord's cradle...and have found their way into popular belief and into Christian art..."
Biblical theologian Vincent
There is little doubt left in my own mind...the Magi were a rather mysterious group of men. Some historians trace their roots to Ur of the Chaldees, where Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation was called out of.
Others have spent countless hours tracing their roots to the great Persian and Babylonian Empires, and still others have found evidence of their presence as far away as the Far East..like in China.
I think the thing that strikes me is the Magi seemed to have a mixture of respect, of power (particularly in the political arenas), and were of world renown...for many centuries.
In various historical documents, including the Sacred Scriptures, one can find a noble type of Magi, and there were those Magi who were corrupted...such as Simon the magician who is written of in the Book of Acts, some indicating he too was a Magi.
It appears in the studies I have done thus far that the Magi did believe their was one God, and the earthly elements such as wind, water, soil, and particularly fire had much influence on their belief system.
There is some thought given the Magi to the Persian Empire is what the Levitical priesthood is to the Judean beliefs.
The Sacred Scriptures make mention of this group we call the Magi, like in Daniel 4 and in the book of Esther. Because of Israel's captivity to both the Babylonian and Persian empires, the Magi definitely had contact with the Torah and the belief system of the nation of Israel.
Astronomy (the science of the stars) and astrology ( the study of superstition) seemed to often blend in ancient times, yet the Magi were seemingly able to advance its studies through a respectful and educated process.
The gifts presented to the Christ-child by the Magi have a symbolic gesture to the sacred occasion. First, the choice of gifts were of the most valued in the lands from where they had journeyed. Second, an important observation is the entire group of the Magi were "as one" when they brought their gifts to Him. Third, the 3 distinct gifts seemed to have a "prophetic utterance" about them. Gold is the symbol of the purity of His Kingdom, Frankincense is a symbol of Christ being the True High Priest, and Myrrh, a symbol of how He came to die for us...to take our place in this world of sin.
In ancient Persian culture, when one approaches a king to offer homage, it was customary if not mandatory to have gifts in hand. The Sacred Scriptures have an example of this in the book of Genesis 43:11...it reads: " Jacob sent into Egypt the choicest and most esteemed products of their soil. "Take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry these to the man as a present; a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, and nuts and almonds."
The gifts the Magi brought before the Christ-child and His mother most likely sustained them...for now they were to escape the area of Bethlehem and go to Egypt. Herod was coming...and he brought no gifts for the King of the Jews, nor was his motive to pay respect to the Christ-child.
Soon there were horrific reports...coming from Ramah...Rachel is weeping for her children.
John Wesley, the great founder of the Methodist church wrote of the Magi in this matter: " The first fruits of the Gentiles...the Magi were Gentile philosophers, who, through Divine assistance, had improved their knowledge of nature as a means to seek and to know the one True God. It is not unreasonable to suppose God had favored these Magi with some extraordinary Revelations of Himself, just as He did to Melchizedek, Job, and several others who were not of the family of Abraham, of which God never initially intended in an absolute sense, to confirm His favors to only one particular people."
The Magi...remarkable men...at a remarkable point in history......
NOTE: One other final observation: I do think the Magi were definitely looking for a king. It is clear Freidus IV of the great Persian Empire had been disposed, and the Magi were in search for their new king. I think they were looking for a king that had the capacity not only to be a King of the Persian Empire, but one who perhaps could help conquer the Roman Empire.
By the time of Christ's birth, the Roman Empire had weakened, with numerous emperors in the last 50 years up to Christ's birth. Herod was an example of the lack of character, despicable moral standards, and the selfishness that now seemed to rule the Roman Empire.
What better king than one that is not only anointed by God, but has an understanding of the
Roman culture. I personally think that is why they came...to give a future for both the Roman and Persian empires.
Biblical theologian Vincent
There is little doubt left in my own mind...the Magi were a rather mysterious group of men. Some historians trace their roots to Ur of the Chaldees, where Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation was called out of.
Others have spent countless hours tracing their roots to the great Persian and Babylonian Empires, and still others have found evidence of their presence as far away as the Far East..like in China.
I think the thing that strikes me is the Magi seemed to have a mixture of respect, of power (particularly in the political arenas), and were of world renown...for many centuries. In various historical documents, including the Sacred Scriptures, one can find a noble type of Magi, and there were those Magi who were corrupted...such as Simon the magician who is written of in the Book of Acts, some indicating he too was a Magi.
It appears in the studies I have done thus far that the Magi did believe their was one God, and the earthly elements such as wind, water, soil, and particularly fire had much influence on their belief system.
There is some thought given the Magi to the Persian Empire is what the Levitical priesthood is to the Judean beliefs.
The Sacred Scriptures make mention of this group we call the Magi, like in Daniel 4 and in the book of Esther. Because of Israel's captivity to both the Babylonian and Persian empires, the Magi definitely had contact with the Torah and the belief system of the nation of Israel.
Astronomy (the science of the stars) and astrology ( the study of superstition) seemed to often blend in ancient times, yet the Magi were seemingly able to advance its studies through a respectful and educated process.
The gifts presented to the Christ-child by the Magi have a symbolic gesture to the sacred occasion. First, the choice of gifts were of the most valued in the lands from where they had journeyed. Second, an important observation is the entire group of the Magi were "as one" when they brought their gifts to Him. Third, the 3 distinct gifts seemed to have a "prophetic utterance" about them. Gold is the symbol of the purity of His Kingdom, Frankincense is a symbol of Christ being the True High Priest, and Myrrh, a symbol of how He came to die for us...to take our place in this world of sin.
The gifts the Magi brought before the Christ-child and His mother most likely sustained them...for now they were to escape the area of Bethlehem and go to Egypt. Herod was coming...and he brought no gifts for the King of the Jews, nor was his motive to pay respect to the Christ-child.
Soon there were horrific reports...coming from Ramah...Rachel is weeping for her children.
John Wesley, the great founder of the Methodist church wrote of the Magi in this matter: " The first fruits of the Gentiles...the Magi were Gentile philosophers, who, through Divine assistance, had improved their knowledge of nature as a means to seek and to know the one True God. It is not unreasonable to suppose God had favored these Magi with some extraordinary Revelations of Himself, just as He did to Melchizedek, Job, and several others who were not of the family of Abraham, of which God never initially intended in an absolute sense, to confirm His favors to only one particular people."
The Magi...remarkable men...at a remarkable point in history......
NOTE: One other final observation: I do think the Magi were definitely looking for a king. It is clear Freidus IV of the great Persian Empire had been disposed, and the Magi were in search for their new king. I think they were looking for a king that had the capacity not only to be a King of the Persian Empire, but one who perhaps could help conquer the Roman Empire.
By the time of Christ's birth, the Roman Empire had weakened, with numerous emperors in the last 50 years up to Christ's birth. Herod was an example of the lack of character, despicable moral standards, and the selfishness that now seemed to rule the Roman Empire.
What better king than one that is not only anointed by God, but has an understanding of the
Roman culture. I personally think that is why they came...to give a future for both the Roman and Persian empires.
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