The Magi – Travellers From The East
The 3 wise men or Magi as they are known, left their homes in the east and guided by a star, made their way to Bethlehem to find Him that was born King of the Jews. They travelled by night and slept by day, counting only upon the moving star to lead them unerringly to their goal. This had become their greatest quest and the buzz of finding this fabulous Person spurred them on. Their wish for information was to guide them to the source of all wisdom and an experience they would never forget. What inspired them to begin their search remains a puzzle but their journey and the dazzling discovery they made in Bethlehem has been made known to generations.
Thousands of Christmas cards have featured the Magi as they made that classic journey to the lowly home where the Saviour was discovered.
We're not told their names, nor are we informed of the explicit country or city they left but we are told of the costly gifts they brought to the King of kings: gold, frankincense and myrrh; all with their peculiar importance associated with the person and sufferings of the Lord Jesus. Also we are told of their encounter with Herod who demanded information regarding the whereabouts of this One who dared to be called "the King of the Jews". Having found Jesus they returned an alternate way and escaped Herod's clutches but by so doing, they made Herod so irritated that he decreed that all male kids under 2 years of age, in Bethlehem and the encompassing area, should be slain.
God seemed to Joseph in a dream and suggested him to take Mary and the young kid Jesus to Egypt and remain there till the demise of Herod. This was to fulfil a prediction manufactured by the prophet Hosea, "Out of Egypt have I called My Son". The journey to Bethlehem, fraught as it was by problems and risks, was definitely worth the taking and left them with extraordinary memories of the young child Who was none less than the Powerful God, the Father of Eternity, the Creator of all things. Their privilege was great indeed; with their very own eyes they beheld the best Dignitary ever to have visited Planet Earth; God manifest in flesh, incarnate Deity. To Him they presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and in doing so were recognising that He was verily King of kings; not here to claim His kingdom but to suffer for our sins, as represented in the myrrh.
It is fantastic that tiny is announced of their journey; it was their goal that was crucial. The Lord Jesus will still be found of those people that sincerely and really seek Him and He's worth finding as all who have done so , will corroborate. What stories they needed to tell on returning to their own country and what impressions the young child had left on them and their lives; indelible and extraordinary. Those who are actually sensible, still search for a more intimate understanding of this unmatchable Person, the Lord Jesus.
The scene of the three wise men from the East is among favorite Yuletide plays. Visit Eikon Bible Art for all your school resources, Church supplies and Sunday school lessons.
