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Magi
12.24.2007 by Tim Reed
This will probably be my only post on Christmas, so Merry Christmas.
I’m fascinated by the magi in the Christmas story. Its probably got a lot to do with the ambiguity surrounding them. Who were they? Where, exactly, did they come from? Why did they give the gifts they gave? Their story has so many gaps in it. We’re told almost nothing of their perspective. They just sort of zip into the life of Christ for a few minutes and then take off.
There must have been some excitement when they discovered the star that would eventually bring them to Bethlehem. I imagine them quickly preparing for their journey in the night, rounding up their entourage, packing, and leaving for parts unknown. The expectation of what waited for them wherever this mysterious and purposeful star must have been incredible.
And then after all this travel, preparation, and hardship the star stops over a baby. These pagan sorcerers worship him, and then leave. Did they know who and what they worshiped? Did it change them?
We don’t know.
December 24th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Dude! Ingrid gave you a shout out!
December 24th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
The magi were Calvinists from the east. They had been chosen to follow the star!
Have a great “holiday” Tim, even if Jesus was born in September when school begins!
December 24th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
BTW Tim, I may not agree with some of your terminology, but Ingrid’s “their not the bride of Christ” about the Mars Hill crowd trumps all your epithets.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:14 am
In regards to “Did it change them?”
It has been my experience that worship always affects change in the individual participating in it. Whether it was a life-long change is a diffrent story. But one has to think that the encounter with God in a dream and the immediate change of behavior (going home via another route) boads well for a life-changing experience…
January 14th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
The magi likely were from Babylon and knew of the prophecies of former Babylon resident Daniel (e.g. 9:24-27) who declared the time to look for the Messiah and of Babylonian Balaak in Numbers (e.g. 24:17) who prophecied about the Messiah - a Star coming from Jacob. But they probably never heard the prophecies of Micah 5:2 declaring the Messiah would be from Bethlehem.