The Search Is Over: Enter The Magi

After the wrapping

It has only been less than a week since we gathered around our Christmas Tree and showered those around us with acts and gifts of generosity. It has been a truly wonderful time. I don’t know what your house was like but the boxes and wrapping paper no sooner hit the floor and whoosh it was sucked into the garbage bag! Gotta control the mess, you know. After the satiation of receiving was over it wasn’t long before the kids began to gravitate toward their favorite gifts and the rest lay on the floor. By the time the night was on us even those gifts had given way to boredom. Even these trivial and treasured do not satisfy us long. Why? Why is it we as humans move from moments of happiness to sustained times boredom? I think about Cindy Lou Who, asking the existential question “Where is Christmas?”

In the world today we have mistaken the giving and receiving to one another as the most pivotal activity of our time of celebration. Many of us spent hours looking for the perfect item or experience that communicated how much that person means to us and then in an instant it was over. It didn’t last. Maybe photos and some stories but time has judged it and moved forward. Then the search starts again.

We must be intentional and recognize that this world and everything in it is temporary. We consume grotesque amounts of goods and resources for a temporary high. This chasing, this searching constantly lets us down. But there is one gift that sustains and fulfills us that overflows out of us into everything we touch.

When you celebrate Christmas for yourself and for your entertainment you are not going to be happy long, you wont’ be fulfilled. It leaves you empty and then searching again.

We need worship to be the center of our Christmas as Christians.

Worship needs to be the center of our celebration.

The story of the Wise Men displays this wondrous direction of worship. These men made worship so central to their activity that it drove them into a journey.

The Magi came from the east. Likely Arabia or Persia. They saw "His Star" meaning what they were seeing was unique in its spectacle. There were learned men who watched the sky and compared prophecy for signs of Divine activity. 

These men studied the prophecies of old. We first read about the star prophecy from Numbers 24:17 and Balaam who, prophecies "a star will rise out of Jacob, a scepter out of Israel."

Isaiah 60:6 NRSV

A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

Psalm 72:10 “May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.”

The magi (Magus) bring us to epiphany. The celebration of the Christ’s presence, and in this case to the gentiles.

Historical Context

Magi have a rich and complicated heritage in the near eastern world. Daniel the prophet, was promoted under King Darius to be the head of this order of learned people who were called to be experts in knowledge. Even more so, the Nabetean people according to Dwight Longenecker in his book Mystery of the Magi, to the Abrahamic lineage mentioned in Genesis 28:9. Through Ishmael. Found in the Priestly city of Petra are ancient writings making this connection. These magi interpreted signs and advised kings. Known in the Persian Empire as Zorastrian Priests in the early period of Christianity. They were emissaries of a foreign power.

About two years after the birth of Jesus what may only be described as a parade of royalty beset upon the city of Jerusalem. These magi, these priests of a foreign nation arrive looking for the king of the Jews. We know it was around two years because upon learning of the time the star appeared in the sky and the arrival of the magi was the estimated age of the child because Herod would in the massacre of the innocence kill all children in Bethlehem up to 2 yrs of age.

What is even more interesting is the Herod is unsettled and the city of Jerusalem with him. Why? Because it is hard to believe that even in this time Rome was not the strongest empire during this period. In fact Rome had several clashes with Persian and Assyrian forces and lost. Herod had a reason to be nervous. Why were these people really here? Were they working to supplant him and raise a revolution from the Jews? What were they really searching for?

Herod calls for his leaders. The leaders who were well acquainted with the prophecy. It is here Herod and the magi learn that that Bethlehem was the town they were searching for. Herod, hatches a plan to appease the searching magi and secure his throne. “GO and search for the child, then come back and tell me so that I may go and worship him”

Why didn’t the Jewish leaders go with the magi? Why didn’t they see the star? What was Herod so afraid of?

The Magi came to Jesus and worshipped the King of Kings signifying His condescension and poverty into the world. They submitted themselves to his authority.

Here it is. The magi searching from a distant land to find the one sent to be the king of the Jews, sent to be the king of kings and they bowed before him. There in a small home in Bethlehem that worshipped Jesus as King of kings and LORD of Lords. They gave him gifts testifying to who Jesus is! Gold for royalty, frankincense anointing him prophet, and myrrh as high priest for all time.

These Gentile magi, these foreigners testify that Jesus brings all the world under his authority.

(Intentional detour) Matthew’s Gospel was written about the time when the church was solidfying its dogma. The key teaching, being a message from Peter baptizing a gentile household, and Paul going to the countries outside of Israel to share the gospel. Dwight Longenecker wrote “that the story of the magi is crucial for Matthew’s Gospel.” This Jewish audience has just heard Peter and the Jerusalem Council state that the Gospel of Jesus was for the Jews and the Gentiles. Matthew’s audience needed to understand that from the beginning Christ was bringing all people under his authority. From the lowly, unclean, untrustworthy shepherds, t the foreigner. Jesus makes all believers to the same level!

The arrival of Jesus and his impact is Jesus brought the world together in his birth. Tearing down the walls causing all people to look up to the God who blessed the world with his presence.

What are we looking for?

Are we looking to the people, opportunities, and things of this world that make us unable to look up?

A transcendent life requires looking higher.

God has invited everybody

Too many people are wandering without any direction in their lives. The Magi were looking up and focusing on the signs from God. Men and women wander the earth not looking up but perpetually  looking down from either dismal or discontented existence.

Let us look no further for what can satisfy. God has invited all people to receive and worship the Christ Child. Let us place him in authority over our lives. Let us offer the gift of our selves for all time so that we may point others to his throne. Christ is the ultimate authority let us look up and bow down.