19 - Advent
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Christmas–Advent 2023
Day 19 | THE MAGI
Christmas–Advent 2023
Day 19 | THE MAGI
THE MAGI
Matthew 2:1-2
“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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’”
Matthew actually tells us very little about the birth of Jesus (which we read in detail in Luke 2), but he does tell us about what happened AFTER Jesus was born.
The magi (or wise men) were not kings and there were likely more than three of them. (The belief that there were three comes from the three gifts they brought – and the song – but most likely there were many magi.)
These magi, being from the east, were most likely astronomers, philosophers and likely had some Jewish lineage, thus they knew the promise of the coming Messiah and may have been waiting – as most Jews were – for the “consolation” (or redemption) of Israel.
The word “saying” makes It clear that they were eagerly seeking anyone with information about this amazing, prophecy fulfilling birth of the King of the Jews. They had left their homes to make this long trip to see this newborn King.
Though there is debate among Biblical scholars as to how LONG it took these men to arrive to see the young Jesus, it is clear that He was NOT still in the manger when they arrived, despite the nativity scenes we have.
Verse 11 tells us, “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshiped Him.”
What I take away from this familiar telling of the part the wise men played in our Christmas story, is that they were highly-motivated, perhaps even desperate, to see Jesus… the Promised One. May we have some of that zeal as well.
Prayer: Lord, may I still experience that sense of awe and worship that the magi had when they first saw Jesus. May I never take Your Son for granted. Amen.
Matthew 2:1-2
“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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’”
Matthew actually tells us very little about the birth of Jesus (which we read in detail in Luke 2), but he does tell us about what happened AFTER Jesus was born.
The magi (or wise men) were not kings and there were likely more than three of them. (The belief that there were three comes from the three gifts they brought – and the song – but most likely there were many magi.)
These magi, being from the east, were most likely astronomers, philosophers and likely had some Jewish lineage, thus they knew the promise of the coming Messiah and may have been waiting – as most Jews were – for the “consolation” (or redemption) of Israel.
The word “saying” makes It clear that they were eagerly seeking anyone with information about this amazing, prophecy fulfilling birth of the King of the Jews. They had left their homes to make this long trip to see this newborn King.
Though there is debate among Biblical scholars as to how LONG it took these men to arrive to see the young Jesus, it is clear that He was NOT still in the manger when they arrived, despite the nativity scenes we have.
Verse 11 tells us, “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshiped Him.”
What I take away from this familiar telling of the part the wise men played in our Christmas story, is that they were highly-motivated, perhaps even desperate, to see Jesus… the Promised One. May we have some of that zeal as well.
Prayer: Lord, may I still experience that sense of awe and worship that the magi had when they first saw Jesus. May I never take Your Son for granted. Amen.