The Bible is full of
mysterious goings-on. In an attempt to
make sense of these mysteries, by-gone generations of believers have attempted
to explain them in terms relevant to their times. Unfortunately, those of us following Christ
in the 21st century have not done as well communicating the truths
of God’s mysteries to our contemporaries in meaningful ways. We read the ancient stories and because we
cannot begin to fathom the world in which the Patriarchs and David and Jesus lived,
we rely on essentially Western European medieval traditions. Why those?
Because those are about the oldest things that have survived in our Western traditions. When the Bible says there was no room for
Joseph and Mary in the inn, most people think of a wooden structure with smoke
curling out the chimney and a little wooden lean-to out back for some animals.
Tradition even gives us the nasty innkeeper who doesn't appear anywhere in
Scripture. Cattle are lowing and sheep
baa-ing – but it’s all a figment of someone’s imagination trying to make the
scene relevant to people who kept cows and sheep and lived in chimney structures.
Nowhere in the Christmas
story do we find more wonder and more misinformation than in the story of a
group of mysterious travelers from the East who come to worship the baby Jesus. Tradition numbers them as three, but there
may have been two or five or ten. They
brought three gifts, but that doesn't mean there were three travelers. The Constantinian Church of the 4th century transformed them into kings and even made up names for them: Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior. Pure
imaginative fancy. Some think the Magi
were astrologers or magicians. What are magi anyway? Matthew simply
transliterated the Persian word into Greek because he didn’t have a clue as to
who they were. And what about that star! Recently planetariums have begun to market
the idea that the Bethlehem star was an alignment of planets or stars that
appeared in either 6 or 4 BC. Really? Is that what led the mysterious Magi? How do we cut through all the cultural claptrap to make sense of the mystery of
Epiphany so that maybe, just maybe we can hear what God is actually trying to reveal to us in these sacred
texts?
That word, Epiphany,
means shining forth, or manifestation.
The idea seems to be that something mysterious is being revealed. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of
Christmas, the truest theophany of all.
The New Testament Church knew nothing of Christmas. Easter was the weekly celebration of the
first believers. Epiphany is never
mentioned until the last half of the 4th century when it was a
celebration of the Savior’s birth.
But what does the text actually say? Matthew 2 begins:
After Jesus was born in
Bethlehem, Judah, during the reign of King Herod, a group of magi (plural for
magus) arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where is new-born
King of the Jews. We saw his star arise, and we have come to worship him
Matthew dates the historicity of the events to a time when Herod is still King. So Jesus had to be born before 4 BC, the date history confirms that Herod died. Herod asked the wise men when the star appeared and they must have said two years ago. I presume that based on the fact that Herod orders all the children two years and younger slain. So, Jesus was born sometime between 6 and 4 BC.
(I know it sounds strange to say Jesus was born some years “Before Christ,”
but the guy who did the first Christian calendar screwed up the dates. Again, he probably meant well, but …)
So what are magi? Here’s one definition:
Magi (/ˈmeɪdʒaɪ/; Latin plural of magus; Ancient Greek: μάγος magos; Old Persian: maguš, Persian: مُغ mogh; Englishsingular magian, mage, magus, magusian, magusaean) is a term, used since at least the 4th century BC, to denote followers of Zoroaster, or rather, followers of what the Hellenistic world associated Zoroaster with, which was – in the main – the ability to read the stars, and manipulate the fate that the stars foretold. The meaning prior to the Hellenistic period is uncertain.
Pervasive throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia until late antiquity and beyond, Greek mágos, "Magian" or "magician," was influenced by (and eventually displaced) Greek goēs(γόης), the older word for a practitioner of magic, to include astrology, alchemy and
other forms of esoteric knowledge.
So, the Magi were
Zoroastrians from what is today called Iran, then called The Empire of Medes
and Persians. They were not magicians,
astrologers, or alchemists. How do we know? God's word is clear on the subject. God hates
those who practice these arts. It is inconceivable that God would call
astrologers and magicians to come and worship His Christ. Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6 specifically outlawed
the practice among God’s people. On the
basis of God’s clear law, Isaiah prophesies the destruction of Judah for its
astrology (47:13-14).
The origins of
Zoroastrianism have long been lost to history.
But these wise men were not kings, but more likely priests. How do we know? What does the Scripture say was their expressed reason
for coming? They came west to find the
Jewish Messiah for the express purpose of worship. Alchemists and astrologers don't worship. Kings don't worship. Priests worship. In its earliest form Zoroastrianism was a
religion with remarkable similarities to Judaism. They taught that the Creator God is all
good. Through messengers, called
Yazatas, God’s work was made evident to humanity. Almost all of the original Zoroastrian texts have
been lost except a few liturgies. By the time of the wise men, most Zoroastrians were probably dabbling in the dark arts. But there were a few who remained loyal to the ancient teachings. No one knows
how the religion started, but it originated some time before the fourth century
BC, a time that closely coincides with the time of the prophet, Daniel. In the 2nd chapter of Daniel, the
prophet earns a high position in the Babylonian government. In fact, King
Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel and gave him many wonderful gifts.
The
King made Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in
charge of all its wise men (the word translated with the Latin, magi).
(Daniel
2:48)
These magi may have been God-fearing descendants of exiled Israel. How do we know? Many Jews
stayed in that part of the world even after the exile was over. Not all returned with Ezra and Nehemiah. These Persian Jews knew only the Hebrew Torah. It must have been preserved because we know the wise men knew of a Jewish king heralded by the appearance of a star. Where does it appear in Torah? Interestingly in a prophecy made by one of their own countrymen, Balaam the son of Beor.
The oracle of Balaam the son of
Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is
opened,
The oracle of him who hears the words of God,
And knows the knowledge of the Most High,
Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered.
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
A scepter shall rise from Israel,
And shall crush through the forehead of Moab,
And tear down all the sons of Sheth.
(Numbers
24:15-17)
Here was a prophecy of a future
Deliverer from God heralded by the appearance of a star. These Persian wise men
knew the star they saw no ordinary star. Stars may guide travelers, but not by moving
ahead of them and stopping over a hovel in a sheep town. They called it a star because any light in
the sky had to be a star. Also, Moses called it a star in the prophecy. But this wasn't any ordinary sun. This was the same radiant glory that guided
Israel during its Exodus and filled the Holy of Holies of the Temple. It was the shekhinah, the divine presence of
God the Father himself, guiding his faithful servants to the house. Remember, ancient Israelis believed the
lights in the heavens were angels, not planetary bodies such as we might think.
I would like to suggest that these wise men represent the faithful
remnant that God preserves (Romans 11:5, et. al.). The nation
of Israel in the time of Jesus is a monstrous monolith of multiplied faithlessness. Judaism’s leaders are in league
with the Romans. They despise the poor. They refuse to believe the Word of God
as spoken by the prophets. Some look for
the coming King but have completely politicized the vision. Jesus rejects the
Judaism of his time. He pronounces woes
upon the leaders of Temple Judaism (Matthew 23). He knows they will kill him. Here
is the great mystery of Epiphany -- the wise men represent the true worshipers the Father is seeking (John 4:24). They search the Word. They await the Messiah. They obey The Spirit’s leading and, like
Abraham, their ancient ancestor, set out on a pilgrimage of faith. True worshipers, Jesus said, worship in
spirit and truth. The Magi follow the
Holy Spirit (the “star”) after taking God at his word (truth).
Some people think the reference
to the Magi coming to “the house” indicates a great period of time has
passed. That’s not necessarily
true. These events must take place before
Herod dies which isn’t far off. The
place where Jesus was born was a grotto, an overhang of limestone. Go to Israel today and you will see these in
all the excavations. Sometimes a simple
wooden or stone structure extended from the entrance and was called the
house. Mary and Joseph were probably given the
warmest and most private place available that holy night. Jerusalem was packed for Passover. But in a few weeks, the crowds would be gone,
and Joseph and Mary and Jesus could come inside the simple house.
So, it seems reasonable to
conclude that these priests were people familiar with the Torah. They knew God would send a King and show a
star in Jacob, the nation Israel. They
came to Jerusalem because they assumed the Jewish King would be born in the
capitol city. But they didn’t have the
whole story.
King Herod was deeply disturbed when he
heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading
priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed
to be born?”
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said,
“for this is what the prophet wrote:
‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of
Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities
of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people
Israel.’”
Then Herod called for a private meeting
with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first
appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the
child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and
worship him, too!”
After this interview the wise men went
their way. And the star they had seen (when they were) in the east guided them
to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child
was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house
and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.
Herod, hearing about the
possibility of a rival King, is upset and paranoid. Herod was not a Jew, but an Edomite. He didn't know much about the particulars of
Jewish prophecy, but he knows that every Jew in his domain is looking for the
arrival of Israel’s Messiah and rightful King.
Herod tried to appease the Jews.
He refused to eat pork. But he
was so ruthless he had two of his sons murdered. There was a saying in Rome that it was better
to be Herod’s pig than his son.
Herod calls the Jewish scholars together and
asks where the Messiah is to be born.
And the amazing thing is they know exactly where. The Prophet Micah (5:2) foretold it. Herod tells the wise men to go to Bethlehem
and search for the child (he’s probably too sick at this point to do it himself).
Another clear meaning of the
mystery of Epiphany is the complete reliability
of God’s Word for the journey. By it
he guides and assures and speaks to those who reverence him and seek to know
his will. God seldom talks to
atheists. I sometimes wished He did more
often. But God has given unbelievers
everything they need. His providence
provides for their happiness and health and prosperity. But his special grace and covenant mercies
are reserved for a specific people, known only to him, in all nations and among
all kinds of religious practices, a people for His own possession (1 Peter
2:9).
Another Epiphany mystery: the
gifts the Magi brought. Why those gifts
of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? These
were unusual gifts for a baby. You can
read all kinds of symbolism into the meaning of these gifts, get all carried
away with subjective, esoteric spiritual meanings. But the plain fact behind this mystery is
that this little family is going to need money.
What happens immediately after the magi return home by a different
route? That very night, Joseph is warned
in a dream to flee for their lives to Egypt.
That costs money, a lot of money.
These people aren't wealthy; we know Joseph and Mary were poor from the offerings
they make when returning to the Temple (Luke 2:24).
So here is another meaning of
the mystery of the Epiphany: God will
provide for anything and everything He calls you to do. It was true for the Magi who were protected
from the cunning schemes of an evil king.
It was true for Mary and Joseph who had everything they needed just in
time. When God is in a thing, miracles
of providence multiply. If you are short
of money, get on your knees and repent; ask God where he can use you. Don’t do it to get the money; do it to obey
the King and you will be given everything you need.
Life is a great journey that
leads some to wealth, power, and corruption, and leads others to humble
service, worship, and faithfulness. The
mystery of Epiphany is that God guides some by his Word, provides all that we
need to obey Him, and intends to rescue from this world a faithful remnant of grace-redeemed
people.
