By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph.D.
Dean of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
JESUS WAS SOUGHT
Matthew 2:1–12
Merry Christmas! I always smile when we include the visit of the wise men in the Christmas story.
Through the centuries, the visitation has gotten more and more elaborate. The wise men became kings, they were named and they arrived in Bethlehem around the same time as the shepherds to find baby Jesus in a manger. Fanciful storytelling, creative hymn lyrics and a conflation of the Matthew and Luke infancy narratives have led to amazing details found in Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” but not in the Bible.
As students of the Word, please note that Luke 2 records some rites of passage related to Mary’s pregnancy and Jesus’ significant early events. Luke records the birth of Jesus, His naming and circumcision, His infancy visit to the temple, His adolescent visit to Jerusalem and transitional verses that fill in the blanks of Jesus’ life from birth to 30 years of age. Matthew provides other vital additions: angelic visitation to Joseph, visit of the wise men, flight to Egypt, slaughter of the innocents and return to Nazareth after Herod’s death. We’ll focus our attention on the magi.
The Arrival (1–3)
They were wise men from the east. Following customary protocols, they requested an audience with King Herod in Jerusalem, who had been granted the title “King of the Jews” by the Roman senate decades earlier. These magi had discerned a sign in the sky had appeared, so they came to worship the King of the Jews. Were they astrologers following an astronomical event? Or were they Mesopotamian magi who were affected by prophecies of Daniel?
Scholars have a variety of theories, but it is certain they had come to pay respect to the young king. Matthew indicates the boy may have been up to 2 years old.
The Direction (4–8)
Herod was unsettled by this inquiry, as was his political entourage. Early sources indicate Herod was suspicious of conspiracies against him, suspecting even his own sons of planning a coup. He was going to protect his throne against any perceived enemy.
The religious leaders knew Micah’s prophecy, and so they informed the king and international magi the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea (formerly Judah). Prior to their departure from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, however, Herod requested they return to him after their visit to the young king.
General revelation, through God’s creative order, provides enough information for us to know of God and His handiwork (Ps. 19:1–4; Rom. 1:19–20). Only special revelation, through His word, provides all that is necessary for us to come to saving faith. The sign in the sky brought them to Jerusalem, but Micah’s prophetic word regarding Bethlehem brought them to Jesus. Creation reveals enough to make us accountable to God. Salvation by grace through faith “comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
The Discovery (8–12)
The king dispatched them to Bethlehem with instructions to return to him and give him directions to the boy. When the wise men arrived, they went into the house — not a stable. They saw the child — not a newborn baby lying in a manger. And they brought expensive gifts in worship. Note Christian Standard Bible footnotes explaining “to worship Him” also may be interpreted as “to pay Him homage.”
Three gifts were mentioned as the wise men visited the boy, but the text does not indicate how many visitors offered those gifts. Common explanations of the significance of the gifts are as follows:
- Gold represents His royalty
- Frankincense represents His deity
- Myrrh represents His mortality.
Jesus the Anointed One is our King of kings, our High Priest and the Prophet promised in the Torah (Deut. 18:15).
Share with others: