Dec 23.97: Light for The Day - "Wise Men of the East"

Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV):

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during
the time of King Herod, Magi (wise men) from the
east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the
one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw
his star in the east and have come to worship him." 
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9- After they had heard the king (Herod), they went
on their way, and the star they had seen in the east
went ahead of them until it stopped over the place
where the child was. When they saw the star, they
were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they
saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed
down and worshiped him. Then they opened their
treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and
of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned
in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to
their country by another route."
-- Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV)
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Life Application Bible Study Notes: 

- Only Matthew Gospel records the visit of the wise
men.

- Not much is known about these Magi (traditionally
called wise men). We don't know where they came
from or how many there were. Tradition says they
were men of high position from Parthia, near the
site of ancient Babylon. How did they know the star
represented the Messiah?
(1) - They could have been Jews who remained in
Babylon after the exile and knew the Old Testament
predictions of the Messiah' coming.
(2) - They may have been eastern astrologers who
studied ancient manuscripts from around the world.
Because of the Jewish exile centuries earlier, they
would have had copies of the Old Testament in
their land.
(3) - They may have had a special message from
God directing them to the Messiah. Some scholars
say these Magi were each from a different land,
representing the entire world bowing before Jesus.

These men from faraway lands recognized Jesus 
as the Messiah when most of God's chosen people
in Israel did not. Matthew pictures Jesus as King
over the whole world, not just Judea.

- The Magi traveled thousands of miles to see the
king of the Jews. When they finally found him, they
responded with joy, worship, and gifts. This is so
different from the approach people often take today. 
We expect God to come looking for us, to explain
Himself, prove who He is, and give us gifts. But
those who are wise still seek and worship Jesus
today, not for what they can get, but for who He is.

- The Magi said they saw Jesus' star. Balaam
referred to a coming "star ... of Jacob" (Numbers 24:17). 
Some say this star may have been a conjunction of
Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars in 6 B.C., and others offer
other explanations. But couldn't God, who created
the heavens, have a special star signal the arrival
of His Son? Whatever the nature of the star, these
Magi traveled thousands of miles searching for a
King, and they found Him.

- Jesus was probably one or two years old when the
Magi found Him (Herod gave orders to kill all the
boys who were two years old and under). By this
time, Mary and Joseph were married, living in a
house, and intending to stay in Bethlehem for a
while to fulfill the Law of the LORD (see Luke 2:39).

- The Magi gave these expensive gift because they
were worthy presents for a future King. Bible
students have seen in the gifts symbols of Christ's
identity and what He would accomplish:

Gold was a gift for a king;
Incense, a gift for deity;
Myrrh, a spice for a person who was going to die. 

These gifts may have provided the financial
resources for the trip to Egypt and back.

- The Magi brought gifts and worshiped Jesus for
who He was. This is the essence of true worship -
honoring Christ for who He is and being willing to
give Him what is valuable to you. Worship God
because He is the perfect, just, and almighty 
Creator of the universe, worthy of the best you
have to give.

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