Wise Men Revisited

Normally when I finish and post a lesson, I can leave it behind. But the thoughts on the Wise Men have continued to dog me all week. For one, thing, I heard a guy on the radio presenting the “beliefs of the Magi,” that was pretty outrageous. Plus, the message has gotten a grip on me, and keeps ringing in my soul. As a kid, I recall one night of sleep where I seemingly laid down, closed my eyes, and it was morning. I prayed every night for a long time for a night of sleep like that again. The Magi keep coming back, not to haunt me, but to comfort and encourage me.

With your permission I will revisit and augment the previous study. (Your permission is implied because, without it you would be reading something else. But I digress.) A quick review is appropriate for those who may have missed the earlier discussion and to refresh our thoughts for those who have been here before.

Why would three or more Magi, Wise Men from Babylon or Persia, be interested in the king of Israel? And furthermore, why and how would they know to identify a “star” in the skies with the birth of this baby? Realize initially that they were between 500 and 1000 miles away. Their last known contact with the minute, now invisible strip of land known as Israel was 400 to 450 years ago.

It is like our looking out at the sky tonight and seeing something and identifying it as the star of the new king of Nepal and jump on our “Camel” leer jets and head for Kathmandu. There must be a rational, reasonable motivation for undertaking such a trip. And, we may have uncovered that reason for the Magi to travel to Jerusalem.

It was probably 500 or so years before that at teenager had been deported to Babylon as a slave, and rose to the rank of the highest advisor in the kingdom. Then he survived, not only a regime change, but the complete destruction of the government and its replacement by a hostile, conquering power. He was a highly placed advisor in the successor governments as well.

This Daniel had not been back to Israel for at least 70 years, but was given dreams and visions about the future of this land. One of them related to the finalization of activities related to his people, the Jews. His vision recounted that 483 years would expire before the long awaited Messiah would be “cut off,” and have nothing. This was not an auspicious end. But a 7 year epilogue would follow after certain specific events had occurred, yielding a 490 year outline. And the grande finale would be “worth the wait.”

The initiation point of the 490 years was a decree for the Jews to return to their land, rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and rebuild the temple. Counting backwards from 483 to account for the growth and maturation of the Messiah, we arrive at the approximate date of the Messiah’s birth, or 450 years after the decree. The “450" years had nearly expired when the Magi saw the star.

A little background here: The Magi were star watchers, and based on their movements, made prognostications concerning future events. Daniel had been trained in that art, and seemingly excelled at it. But his ability was not a natural understanding of star patterns, it was supernatural. He interpreted two specific dreams for Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, and was highly respected by Darius, the Median king. We can assume that Cyrus, the succeeding Persian king inherited Daniel from his predecessor and was guided by him also.

It also seems not to be a stretch to surmise that Daniel taught other Magi about Israel, and about his prophesies. Couple that with Numbers 24:17, and we have a perfect explanation for why these men, remote in time and space, would be interested in the King of Israel.
A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel.
Moreover, Daniel would have told them of the “seed” in Genesis 3:15 which would crush the head of Satan and redeem the world.

Ironically, they were better “believers” than many of the Jewish people themselves. We know Simeon and Anna, the believers who met the baby Jesus in the Temple were believers. (Luke 2:25-38) The account also reports that others shared their anticipation of the “redemption of Jerusalem.” But they were in the minority.

Now to continue the thought. As I mentioned, a follower of “the Magi” reported on the radio that their beliefs did not include Jesus as God. He was merely a great teacher. I googled them on the internet and uncovered a site detailing some of their beliefs. At the heart of their presentation was a circle composed of all the religions of the world with their version of the golden rule. (Do unto others as you would have them do to you.) Based on this similar, “fundamental statement of beliefs” they assert that all religions are equivalent and equally efficacious. (Efficacious for what is not necessarily defined. Just to get along with each other, I guess.)

They are right...about getting along. But if religion is only to help us get along with others, it is pretty worthless. Paul said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 15:19
If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone. 
We are like pigs drowning in a mud hole. We may “get along” well in here, but if we do not get out, we will all end up dead.

As I mentioned these beliefs to my wife, including the belief that Jesus was only a great teacher, she blurted out, “But how could they know He was only a great teacher? He was only a baby.” Well, I was planning some elevated theological rebuttal and she made it totally unnecessary. I will complete it, just in case you encounter someone who is a little dense and needs erudite explanations of easily evident information.

So they evaluated the potential of a 1 to 2 year old child and elevated Him to sainthood, but not Deity. Pretty astute boys, weren’t they?

Second, how did they know about Him in the first place? Did they get advance notification of the birth of Mohammad, Gandhi, Confucius, Buddha, et al? The notice was specific enough to tell them where, Jerusalem, and who, the king of Israel, was to be born. The third question is why travel so far just to say “Hi” to a good teacher? Surely they had innate knowledge of the “good teaching” that He would present. No need to bother with the arduous trip of up to 1000 miles to the Mediterranean Sea.

The answer, and dagger to the heart of the arguments, is what they did when they got there. Matthew 2:11
Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him.

No offense to these “Magi followers,” but if they are truly “followers” they will follow in worship. Otherwise they are exposed as poseurs, pretending to follow and believe, but not being convinced. Another word is faker and hypocrite.

Back to Paul. If Jesus is not the Lord of the universe, and indeed raised from the dead, we all are doomed to death in the “mud hole.” A quick look at the circle of religions (see link) will convince us that there is no other way. No other teachings will overcome the problems of our world. And they certainly cannot combine to guide us to the one shining path anywhere.

Christ is our only hope in all the world, and the Magi, of all people, knew it. Christmas is our time to celebrate and, more critically, circulate the message. There is a way out. It is Jesus, the One born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. The Magi traveled 1000 miles to see and worship Him. We look back 2000 years, but need not go back. He is here now. What a Gift to the world.

Gloria in excelsus Deo. Follow the real Magi. Merry Christmas.