The Jews of the time expected a Messiah the whole world would submit to and honor. The appearance of only a few magi seems almost a caricature of those expectations. It is not known who these wise men were. Their names and dwelling-place are alike kept back from us. We are only told that they came "from the East. Matthew shows us that there may be true servants of God in places where we should not expect to find them.
The Lord Jesus has many "hidden ones" like these wise men. The grace of God is not tied to places and families. The Holy Spirit can lead souls to Christ without the help of many outward means. Men may be born in dark places of the earth, like these wise men, and yet like them be made "wise unto salvation. These verses teach us, that it is not always those who have most religious privileges, who give Christ most honor.
We might have thought that the Scribes and Pharisees would have been the first to hasten to Bethlehem, on the lightest rumor that the Savior was born. But it was not so. A few unknown strangers from a distant land were the first, except the shepherds mentioned by Luke, to rejoice at His birth.
These verses teach us, that there may be knowledge of Scripture in the head, while there is no grace in the heart. Notice how king Herod sends to inquire of the priests and elders "where the Christ would be born. But they never went to Bethlehem to seek for the coming Savior. The conduct of the wise men described in this chapter is a splendid example of spiritual diligence. What trouble it must have cost them to travel from their homes to the place where Jesus was born!
The happiest guess of all turned out to be the one made in the 4th century by the decorators of the Church of the Nativity in Palestine, whose golden entry mosaic featured the Magi dressed as Persians, also renowned stargazers. The Magi had a lively postbiblical career. As early as the 2nd century, they were promoted to kings, probably because frankincense is associated with royalty in one of the Psalms. Their number, which varied in different accounts from two to 12, eventually settled on three, most likely because of their three gifts.
By the s they had achieved their current names—Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar—and multiculti composition. Melchior on Jan. Balthasar on Jan. Gaspar on Jan. Medieval art played a key role in how many current Christmas traditions visualize these men. The Magi as a multiracial set of three figurines, made sometime before , reflects the increased trade between Europe and Africa during the Medieval Period more than anything that was happening when the Gospel of Matthew was written, according to the art historians at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Paintings by artists like Botticelli, Peter Paul Rubens and Hieronymus Bosch featured above helped cement the image of the Magi as a diverse group of men in popular imagination. As Budda said! I could talk all day, finding someone to listen is a problem, finding someone who understands is a bigger problem. I trust you get my drift with all this, and I might add! Dan Brown got a lot right sort of!
In his movie, the Divinci code, Robert Landon Tom Hanks said whilst addressing a class, at the beginning of the move! We must search for basic truth, well once again the way we talk has clues of its own, like the truths out there, the truth as it stands, etc.
The best place to hide something is right under your nose! I am sorry this is all over the place! But it all can be explained notice churches, especially European! Hope you understand this! The grail is the star of David and it can be explained! One of these magi was appeared as a cartoon caracter in the form of a little witch, very prominent with the sharp pointed witches black hat. She was bowing up and down at an incredable fast speed before this Being Christ on His throne.
The other person was a big potbelly eastern man with a very lush black beard. I had the idea that they came from a religion other than mine reborn christian and up till now I am still puzzled by this. Was God showing me there is a plce for everybody irrespective of religion.
I sincerely believe so. However, the popularity of the ritual won, and the Church looked to the gifts of the Magi for […]. Your email address will not be published. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy.
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