Post by foxjj on Dec 11, 2021 7:55:14 GMT
The Visit Of The Magi
The Gospel of Matthew records a unique event which occurred some time after the birth of the Lord Jesus: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him." (Matthew 2:1-3)
Scripture dose not name these Magi, or Wisemen as they are more commonly known. Nor are we told where they actually came from, however, history records that Magi were a class of wise men of the Babylonian and Persion empire’s which lay to the east of Judea. They studied the wisdom of not only their own, but also the other nations consequently, the king and national leaders would consult them when important decisions were required. In the Old Testament book of Daniel, who was a Jewish exile in the Babylonian court, we can read concerning Magi. Daniel recorded prophecy’s from God concerning the rise and fall of mighty nation’s. His prophecy’s included his own nation, which may explain the visit of the Magi in Matthews Gospel because, his writings would have been part of the Persian records read and studied by later Magi.
Interestingly, no priests from the Temple came to greet the long awaited Messiah of Jewish prophecy when He was born in Bethlehem, which was to be the place of His birth as foretold in Micah 5:2. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” The only Jewish people who came to witness the birth of The Lord’s Anointed One were lowly shepherds from the fields. (Luke 2:8-17)
Did any prince of Judah seek out the One born to be the Jewish Messiah? Sadly, instead, Jesus became a political refugee because, after the visit of the Magi, King Herod attempted to have Him murdered: “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13)
The Old Testament (which also means Old Covenant) was being fulfilled in the coming of Messiah. Now God was inviting not only the Jewish people, but also the Gentiles, into a New Covenant with Him through His Son. The visit of the Magi with their precious gifts, was a foreshadowing of the future, when wise seekers of truth from all nations, will seek and worship Jesus as their Lord and their Savior accepting His gift of Redemption.
Today, let us praise our Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son.
John Joseph Fox.
The Gospel of Matthew records a unique event which occurred some time after the birth of the Lord Jesus: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him." (Matthew 2:1-3)
Scripture dose not name these Magi, or Wisemen as they are more commonly known. Nor are we told where they actually came from, however, history records that Magi were a class of wise men of the Babylonian and Persion empire’s which lay to the east of Judea. They studied the wisdom of not only their own, but also the other nations consequently, the king and national leaders would consult them when important decisions were required. In the Old Testament book of Daniel, who was a Jewish exile in the Babylonian court, we can read concerning Magi. Daniel recorded prophecy’s from God concerning the rise and fall of mighty nation’s. His prophecy’s included his own nation, which may explain the visit of the Magi in Matthews Gospel because, his writings would have been part of the Persian records read and studied by later Magi.
Interestingly, no priests from the Temple came to greet the long awaited Messiah of Jewish prophecy when He was born in Bethlehem, which was to be the place of His birth as foretold in Micah 5:2. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” The only Jewish people who came to witness the birth of The Lord’s Anointed One were lowly shepherds from the fields. (Luke 2:8-17)
Did any prince of Judah seek out the One born to be the Jewish Messiah? Sadly, instead, Jesus became a political refugee because, after the visit of the Magi, King Herod attempted to have Him murdered: “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13)
The Old Testament (which also means Old Covenant) was being fulfilled in the coming of Messiah. Now God was inviting not only the Jewish people, but also the Gentiles, into a New Covenant with Him through His Son. The visit of the Magi with their precious gifts, was a foreshadowing of the future, when wise seekers of truth from all nations, will seek and worship Jesus as their Lord and their Savior accepting His gift of Redemption.
Today, let us praise our Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son.
John Joseph Fox.