The Wise Men

Within the liturgical calendar, the season of Advent is widely accepted as one of hope, love, joy, peace, and light. It is in this season that perhaps one of the most regarded moments within the Bible – the narrative of the birth of Jesus Christ – is told as people around the globe prepare for His coming. This time of great expectancy, denoted by the birth of a long-awaited Savior, brings with it life and the fulfillment of an age-old prophecy of the Messiah coming to save a fallen world. While the story of Jesus’ birth is one of thanksgiving, adventure, and, yes, even hardship, the reader cannot help but simultaneously take note of the enigma and wonderment within the Christmas account, known most commonly as the Wise Men.

The Wise Men, or the Magi (from the Greek “magoi”), is a mystery in many ways. While it is known that they would have been modern-day astrologers of the time, of the four Gospels, Matthew is the only one to have recorded any documentation of these men as they encountered Herod and journeyed underneath the stars in order to see Jesus. Adding to the rising questions about just who the Wise Men are, exactly, in the second chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, it is made apparent beginning in the first verse that after the birth of Jesus, “wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,” in order to seek the infant Jesus so that they might “pay him homage.” This description of “the East” being their starting point is rather vague, and scholars tend to disagree on where exactly the Wise Men originated from. Some speculate the origin of the Wise Men coming from Babylon due to Babylon’s history of astrology. Babylon is also speculated to be the place that produced the Wise Men due to the Old Testament book of Daniel’s record that King Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel(2:48) and “…made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.”Other scholars argue that the Wise Men may have been from Arabia and some Persia. Though there has historically been much discussion regarding where exactly in the East the Wise Men traveled from, scholars have yet to reach a consensus.

Outside of where these men hail from, Matthew’s Gospel also does not indicate there ever having been three Wise Men, exactly. The wider assumption is that there were three Wise Men because three gifts were presented to Jesus after his birth. We certainly know that there were at least two but have no proof of how many additional men there may have been if there were any more than two. Building on the unknown known regarding the history of the Magi is that nowhere in Matthew, nor the entirety of the Bible, were names ever listed for the Wise Men. They are simply referred to (depending upon the translation) as the Magi or the Wise Men. Even still, tradition holds that by the conclusion of the sixth century, the Wise Men had been named Melchior, Balthasar, and Gaspar; each one was known for having presented one of the precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Messiah. It is expected that people also believe that the Magi were kings due to the wording laid out in both the 60th chapter of Isaiah and Psalm 72:11, which specifically states, “May all kings fall down before him...”

Regardless of the speculation around the lack of hard facts regarding who the Wise Men were and unwritten evidence of their existence in the Gospels outside of Matthew, it is certain that the Wise Men are a staple in the Christian tradition. Their portrayal in Christmas plays every year, appearance on various stained glass art and paintings, and remembrance through song, as the hymn, “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” is lifted in unison during the holiday season, are a testament to the strength and significance of the role that they play in the Christ narrative. Additionally, the Wise Men hold a special place in Epiphany on January 6th, also known as “Three Kings’ Day,” which commemorates both the visit of the Wise Men and the Baptism of Jesus.

The Wise Men are perhaps most significant to the story of the Savior’s birth because they represent and offer an initial example with respect to honoring the King. It is in Matthew 2:2 that the Magi ask Herod, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.” We learn of the plan and willingness of the Wise Men to travel from a distance to worship the baby Jesus, even before they have laid eyes on him. They have seen what they believed in their hearts to be his star and prepared for his coming. The Wise Men worshipped Jesus and presented him with the finest gifts that they could offer. They did it without grumbling about the length of the journey, the time of the evening, the temperature of the time, or any other distraction that would have kept them from focusing on pressing their way to see Jesus. Not only did they not complain, Matthew 2:10 states, “Whey they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Perhaps what is most significant about the story of the Wise Men is that they aided in sparing the life of the Savior by listening to God and not returning to Herod to give him the location of Jesus but by going home another way. In this season, may we each be as determined as the Wise Men – to seek the Savior relentlessly and unashamedly as we worship and adore Him.