Witnesses teach the Magi are astrologers from the East that came to help Herod kill Jesus. They teach the Magi were Priests of the Zoroastrian religion who practiced “astrology, interpretation of dreams and casting of spells.” From The Watchtower Magazine article, ‘Who Inhabit the Spirit World,’ ‘Did You Know’ , Dec. 2010. While this may be true, they fail to mention two important biblical facts associated with them that could change their perception of the Magi entirely.
The book of Daniel tells more about the Magi than Matthew. It tells us the link between Jesus, King of the Jews, and the ancient Babylonian Zoroastrian Priests. The Israelites were defeated by the Babylonians in 597b.c under King Nebuchadnezzar 2. The King asked for four Israelite children who were “..well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the King’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” Daniel 1:4. The children chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They were given these Babylonian names: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to impart his knowledge on these children. But, as Daniel 1:17 says, “God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” KJV. When the king dreamed something that disturbed him and nobody could interpret it except Daniel, he was so indebted to him that he rewarded Daniel, making him “ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon”. Daniel 2:48.
Why is this so important? Because Daniel, impressed the king with his God given knowledge that he made him chief of the wise men. Daniel was schooled in the ways of the Babylonians from his youth. But he was schooled as an Israelite from birth. Now, with his position of power, Daniel had leverage to teach the Babylonians under him about his God and the prophesied messiah. Daniel was chief of the Magi spanning the rule of four kingships: that of Nebuchadnezzar, his son, Belshazzar, Darius the Median and Cyrus the Persian. (Daniel 6:28).
When Daniel was delivered from the lion’s den, Darius the Median made a decree: “In every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.” Daniel 6:26. Other religious leaders had tried to have Daniel killed but God protected him. Daniel’s fame would have increased through the lands and his powerful faith would have been shared among the Magi. King Darius greatly feared the God of Daniel.
As language, ideas and philosophy was commonly shared among the learned Babylonians, stories of the coming Messiah of the Jews was taught to the Magi. These teachings were perpetuated for centuries as they waited for the Messiah themselves so in time these particular Magi could come and worship the son of the Great God of Daniel. These Magi had waited patiently for the Messiah and knew the importance of his birth. They travelled far from the east (Babylon, today Iran) following the star that was prophesied, the star they were waiting for as a people for centuries.
The gifts they brought to Jesus were purposed for Christ’s life on earth, meaning they knew what to bring him in advance: they were instructed what to bring. Gold: represented his Kingship. Frankincense: represented his spiritual priesthood, burning frankincense is thought to carry prayers to heaven. Myrrh: represented his bitter life on earth and was used for burial.
Upon his birth, the Magi regarded Jesus as a King, in contrast he was born the lowest of the Jews. At the night of census, Jesus family lodged in a barn and that is where he was born. The Jewish people did not recognise the Messiah, even with the signs and the prophets writings pointing to it (John 1:11). Jesus’ birth shows the parallel between the Magi and the Jews. The Magi represent the Gentiles: sinners that recognise their need for a saviour. He is only recognised by his people who know his voice (John 10:27) and up until today, Christ accepts all who repent and come to him. The Jews of Jesus’ time until today do not accept Him as their saviour. They still wait for their messiah to reconcile them to God. And although witnesses claim to be followers of Christ, they do not accept him as their messiah, by their refusal to partake of the body and blood of Christ at the ‘Memorial’ or, Last Supper.
It is written these Magi were baptised by the Apostle Thomas in 40A.D (catholicexchange.com/st-thomas-the-apostle). It would be no surprise that the culmination of hundreds of years of prophesy came down through the Magi from Daniel and resulted in their conversion to Christianity and their eventual martyrdom for Christ.
The Magi were taught by the prophet Daniel of the coming Messiah and the prophesy was handed down from generation to generation until Christ’s star arrived in the sky. The wise men followed it to Bethlehem where they presented gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to the child in preparation for his life on earth. The wise men avoided Herod and obeyed God when they did not give away the whereabouts of the Christ child. They trekked back toward their home where they were found by the apostle Thomas who baptised them into the Christian faith.
The wise men were wise because they seeked the Lord and found Him. They did not let doubt or distance get in their way. They found the Lord, as all people need to find the Lord ( Luke 11:9).
Thinking about Jesus’ personality as evidenced in the gospels, it is not hard to understand why the Magi would arrive at his birth. He really loved sinners and wanted them all to turn to him for forgiveness (Matthew 9:6). There are many times in the bible that Jesus spoke to sinners, his message to them was ‘Go and sin no more’ (John 8:11). Time and again he forgave sin, he had compassion for the people and knew the human condition more deeply than anybody else. He could accept the Magi’s gifts because he came to earth for people like them: sinners. And for the express reason to reunite sinners with God without shame, without blemish: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18).
This is what we can learn from the Magi: Jesus loved sinners and came to save even the worst that will truly repent and come to him. We need to recognise Christ as the saviour like the Magi did because “..there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. KJV.
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