The Magi and Return To
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Matthew 2:10
NIV: When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
NKJV: When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
NRSV: When they saw the star had stopped,
they were overwhelmed with joy.
Matthew 2:1-12 tells us of the 800+ mile, 40+ day journey of the Magi. It is no small event of the Christmas story as it shows careful preparations based on hope, faith, irony, joy, and expectations.
There is irony in the very fact that rich, Gentile, foreign priests of high honor desired to seek the baby Jesus. In the days of Jesus, travel was precarious in its danger and was usually done with great preparation and often accomplished in caravans. Just as Mary and Joseph probably went to Bethlehem with a caravan so to the Magi. It required preparation for the Magi. They had to plan provisions, how far to travel each day, determine how many days it would require, how many people/servants to take with them, and on and on and on. This was no small task. All this would be done just to find the baby King of the Jews. The question is why would they care?
The Magi prepared with the hope and faith that they would find the 'King of the Jews' and it is not difficult to understand why they cared in finding a baby that would be King. Archaeology and in secular writings of the time reveal that among the vast array of Arabs in 'the east' where the Magi originated there were cells of Jewish people that knew their rich Jewish history. These people were the descendants of the Jews of Israel and Judah that were conquered, taken, and pushed out of Palestine beginning in 721 BC. From Israel (northern kingdom) Jews were dispersed to the west in Mesopotamia, some were taken east to Persia/Media (present day Iran), and from Judah in 586, many were taken to Babylon, possibly up to 50,000 of the Judean population of about 120,000 (*1). But the significance, is perhaps only as few as 10% possibly up to 50% percent returned from Babylon beginning around 520 BC and the ensuing 100+ years (*2).
For over 500 years stories of Jewish expectations of a Savior were passed down in these Jewish communities of the East. At the same time in many segments of the Persian and Babylon Jewish communities, the mixing of the different faiths was common in those 500 years leading up to Jesus' birth. Within this, Savior expectation stories could have easily been passed to the eastern Magi. In Matthew's Magi passage, he shows us a few caring Magi, caring because they listened, and in their understanding they found a ring of truth in the Jewish hopes and faith that were stored in those Jewish expectations.
So, these Magi that traveled so very far were likely fully confident in their task, were wealthy and important Eastern priests that set out on their Journey in hope and faith with great expectations. How ironic it is that they travel seeking the Savior Christ child who is born in their belief "King of the Jews". How ironic that Arab priests go to the center of power of the Jewish nation asking "Where is the one born king of the Jews?" when a Jewish related King Herod of Palestine sits on the throne in Jerusalem. How ironic that this King Herod is so shaken he does not think to send spies to find the destination of the Magi. How ironic Gentile priests seek to submit themselves in worship to a baby Jew and the Jewish priests are overwhelmingly troubled, disturbed, and frightened in their taking no time to find the baby.
And, in their finding the baby Jesus, it is recorded the Magi are filled with Joy. Note, it is not recorded that they are happy, rather, that they are overwhelmed with joy, exceedingly! They come in Joy, falling down, kneeling, and with bowed heads submitting themselves in worship to their new found King, the baby Jesus. In their gifts, they show not their worth, rather, they demonstrate this child is worthy of their worship. In their meeting and leaving the baby Jesus, they return home not only a different route, but most notably they return home as different men.
This story connects with us in the 21st Century. First, there is no information published at the time of Jesus that would in anyway cause us to question the truth of this event or any other of the events recorded about Jesus. But, well beyond that fact is our connection to the Magi is the same yearning in our hearts as the Magi had in their hearts, to have faith in someone greater than ourselves. Someone we can believe in, someone who will never fail us in our needful times, someone who will always be there for us. When we come face to face with that 'someone' and understand what Jesus brings to us in Salvation, as it was with the Magi, we too are changed people.
What are your expectations as you prepare for the Christmas season? Seek to find your Overwhelming Joy as the Magi did by submitting yourselves to Jesus. The Magi knew with Joy they found the One Savior! But, we know Jesus is the One Savior not just because of a Star over Bethlehem but, because of the Joy of eye witnesses to an Easter empty tomb.
In preparation, we celebrate Christmas around the birth of the Christ, born king of the Jews but destined for sacrifice as our redeeming Savior. In our celebration we show we care and we live in the Joy of Overwhelming Expectations and in the Christian knowledge of a Risen Lord. In a manner similar to the Magi, we too in Joy understand the 'The Ring of Truth' found in Christ, and in that 'Ring of Truth' feel compelled to fall down, kneel, and with bowed heads submit ourselves in humble worship to our Savior King and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.
How Magnificent is our God,
Thanks be to God.
lonnie (c)
================*1 http://www.
*2 https://www.
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The number of Jews that returned to Judah is not really known. The Judean Jews were in exile about 60 to 70 years and multiplied while in Babylon perhaps doubling their population. Having settled in Babylon, flourishing in business it is safe to say quite a significant number of Jews and Jewish communities remained behind, perhaps as many as 50,000+. It is well known from records and archaeology that those returning to Judah had very difficult times. For many Jews, it was a question of returning to the difficulties of a homeland that many did not know, or continuing their business enterprises in Babylon that were flourishing.
© lonnie coggins
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lonnie
Publication 0083
Merry Christmas to every who read this story and God bless you all
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