[Vision2020] Christmas

[Pat Kraut]

So many ideas about the who and what of Christmas! This is from the Koinonia
House web site in north Idaho.

WHO WERE THE MAGI? - (Print)


Each year as we approach the holiday season, our preparations for Christmas
include revisiting the events surrounding the birth of Our Lord. Bethlehem,
the shepherds, and the angels are all familiar to us. But not much is
generally known about the mysterious Magi who came to worship the infant
Jesus.

Most of what we associate with the Magi is from early church traditions.
They are called "Magi" from the Latinized form of the Greek word magoi,
transliterated from the Persian for a select sect of priests. (Our word
"magic" comes from the same root.) Most have assumed that there were three
Magi. However the Bible mentions only that there were three gifts, it does
not say how many men came to worship Jesus.

As the years passed, traditions became increasingly embellished. By the
third century, they were viewed as kings. By the sixth century they had
names: Bithisarea, Melichior, and Gathaspa. Some even associated them with
Shem, Ham and Japheth, the three sons of Noah, and thus with Asia, Africa,
and Europe. A fourteenth century Armenian tradition identifies them as
Balthasar, King of Arabia; Melchior, King of Persia; and Gasper, King of
India.

The Priesthood of the Medes

The ancient Magi were a hereditary priesthood of the Medes credited with
profound and extraordinary religious knowledge. After some Magi, who had
been attached to the Median court, proved to be expert in the interpretation
of dreams, Darius the Great established them over the state religion of
Persia.

It was in this dual capacity whereby civil and political counsel was
invested with religious authority, that the Magi became the supreme priestly
caste of the Persian Empire, and continued to be prominent during the
subsequent Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian periods.

The Role of Daniel

One of the titles given to Daniel was Rab-mag, the Chief of the Magi. His
unusual career included being a principal administrator in two world
empires: the Babylonian and the subsequent Persian Empire. When Darius
appointed him, a Jew, over the previously hereditary Median priesthood, the
resulting repercussions resulted in the plots leading to the lion's den.

Living six centuries before the birth of Christ, Daniel was given an
incredible number of Messianic prophecies. In addition to several overviews
of Gentile world history, the Angel Gabriel told him the precise day that
Jesus would present Himself as King to Jerusalem. Daniel apparently
entrusted the Magi with a messianic vision (to be announced in due time by
the appearance of a star).

The Entourage to Jerusalem

The sudden appearance of the Magi certainly alarmed Herod and the populace
of Jerusalem. They were probably traveling in force, with every imaginable
oriental pomp, and accompanied by adequate cavalry escort to insure their
safe penetration of Roman territory. It would seem to Herod as if these Magi
were attempting to perpetrate a border incident, which could bring swift
reprisal from Parthian armies. Their request of Herod regarding the one "who
has been born King of the Jews" was a calculated insult to him, a non-Jew
who had contrived and bribed his way into that office. Consulting his
scribes, Herod discovered from the prophecies in the Tanach (the Old
Testament) that the Promised One, the Messiah, would be born in Bethlehem.
Hiding his concern and expressing sincere interest, Herod requested them to
keep him informed. After finding the babe and presenting their prophetic
gifts, the Magi "being warned in a dream" departed to their own country,
ignoring Herod's request.

The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were also prophetic, speaking of
our Lord's offices of king, priest, and savior. Gold speaks of His kingship;
frankincense was a spice used in the priestly duties; and myrrh was an
embalming ointment signifying His death. In the millennium, He will also
receive the gifts of gold and frankincense; but no myrrh. His death was once
and for all.