Mages from the East …

Mages of the East…

It is astonishing that due to an entry in only one Gospel – Matthew – today a feast is celebrated, which in its name does not refers to the Gospel message. I would not be surprised if the Feast was, for example, because of the baptism of Jesus and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Him in a public place, I would not be surprised that it would be a Feast because of saving the disciples from the storm, etc. However, this Feast is of little importance to us, maybe even We don’t understand him very much.

First, The Bible does not mention anything about kings but rather uses the word magos, which can only mean magicians, priests or sages . They came from the East, that is, from Babylon or the neighboring countries. At that time, these countries were economic powers, some say about the fabulous riches of the eastern rulers. At the courts of these rulers there were always people like today recognized by some groups of Christians as kings. They performed important functions, divine dreams, interpreting astronomical phenomena, and often practiced medicine. They were also priests of local deities. Such a well-known figure from the pages of the Bible is surely Daniel, a man of God who was abducted from Israel, who became famous for the gift of interpreting phenomena and dreams, as well as for his incredible wisdom and faithfulness to the God of Israel. As we know, he paid for it by throwing him into the lions’ den, but God saved him from oppression.

Second The Bible clearly indicates that these magicians came or came to Jesus’ home. When we often see performances where they still come to the stable, or the grotto that serves as the stable. We do not know what house they were in because they came from Galilee to Bethlehem to be included in the great census of the Roman Empire. Everyone was supposed to go to the city of their origin or the city they belonged to. As we know, Joseph was a descendant of the lineage of David (king) and therefore he was of the tribe of Judah. This tribe, together with the tribe of Benjamin, formed one land that included Jerusalem and our Bethlehem, which was a hamlet near Jerusalem, two hours’ walk from it. So they went to register for Bethlehem, and when Jesus’ birth came, some of their relatives probably invited them to stay at home, when those who had done well left, as did they.

Third, The Bible nowhere mentions the number of magicians, it lists three gifts that they placed at Jesus’ feet, let’s add a very precious one. Gold, incense and myrrh. They prophetically symbolized Jesus as God, king, and priest, and heralded His sacrificial death. These gifts, some believe, were of great help to them in the Egypt they went to, before the slaughter that Herod the Great was about to commit. So God’s gifts have their spiritual but also practical meaning, you can even say provisioning. Some believe that the magicians did not come alone, but that such powerful men had escorts, especially since they carried precious gifts with them. They were probably escorted by the military, which is why they made such a great impression on Herod, who decided to murder the children, he probably would not have done, had it not been for the belief that what happened was of great importance.

Sure the arrival of such distinguished guests was an unheard-of event, the wise men, who served the greatest rulers of the world with their wisdom and talents, came to little Israel to announce that a king was born there, and not just any, but one to whom all rulers will give back bow. Herod’s “magicians” remembered the words from the Scriptures about the prophecy of the birth of the Messiah in Judah, the more this jealous ruler wanted to eliminate competition, it is estimated that between 20-50 boys whom Herod had ordered to be killed were killed. And here again the symbolism, Rachel mourns for her children, as we know Rachel was the wife of Jacob, beloved wife, for whom he worked for his uncle fourteen years. Jacob, as we know, later Israel, became the progenitor of the nation of Israel, his twelve sons became patriarchs whose descendants inherited the promised land. Rachel symbolizes Judah’s mothers crying over their slain sons, for God it was not indifferent. It is a pity that so few biblical scholars and theologians are concerned with this matter. It seems that this tragedy was the result of the mages’ visit to Bethlehem, so the visit of the wise may not look that fairy-tale like, since it entailed such consequences.

As we read from Matthew’s account, it is the Spirit of God that keeps informing Joseph about what is happening and what to do, speaks to him once again, showing that he is to flee to Egypt in a hurry to take refuge there until the death of Herod the Great, which happened, they write historians in the 4th year of our era. Thus, God watches over the safety of the Son, and all prophecies concerning him are fulfilled, from Egypt I called my son Oz. 11.1. All these prophecies seem to me like a Lego jigsaw puzzle that rolls one block after another, pushing the next one, so in Christ everything written in the whole Bible was fulfilled in turn. The bricks are lying, the story is filling up and there is nothing left behind the bricks, they were about that one person. God can place other blocks, probably mine and yours, but Jesus is filled here on earth, the next ones are waiting for the Parousia.

As for the prophecies, it was impossible for the Son of God to be born in Nazareth, some of the house of Judah emigrated there, there were they were also despised there, because every Israelite knew the prophecies and knew that it was from this family, and in Bethlehem, that a king would be born who would free them, and they, as if they retreated, got scared, fled to lead a peaceful life. That is why Nathanael describes Jesus, “can anything good come from Nazareth?” John 1: 43-51, those who waited for the promise to be fulfilled were scandalized by the attitude of those in the house of Judah, it was as if they were fleeing from their calling. How many people do we know like this today? But as we can see, despite human efforts, God does His works in His own ways. And so in our life, we will not run away because of God, many have tried, but even in the sea a fish will look for you that will spit you out on the right land. Therefore, it is better not to kick against God, but to submit to His will and believe not in fairy tales, but in the Gospel.

Yours in the Lord in the new year 2016 – Kazik J.

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