Magi

Matthew 2:1-12

This is one of those stories that is more full of what we don't know than what we do know. The mythologizers have filled in details that simply are not in the story. It doesn't say there are three wise men. It doesn't say they are kings or what their names are or even exactly where they come from. It doesn't say they meet Jesus at a stable, but in a house. It doesn't say what that "star" was or why those magi brought Jesus those particular gifts.

In short, this is a story that is more visual, more metaphoric, more full of poetry and art than it is fact. It's full of drama and tension, both darkness and light, joy and great fear. It has connections to themes from the past of the people of Israel (particularly Moses), but it also has connections to the lives of any people who live under unjust rulers (which would include a large portion of the current world population).

The images that stand out include that star, a cosmic sign there to be read by all people, not just the people among whom Jesus was born, a sign that this event had import far beyond Bethlehem or Israel. To try to make it Halley's comet (appeared in 12AD) or a regular convergence of several stars takes away the point, which was that this was an unusual event.

And why had Herod's advisers not seen this and wondered about it? Or had they, and were they afraid to tell him? This guy had already killed two of his own sons for fear of their ambition.

Here's what I am wondering about this today. Did those Magi ever hear the end of the story? They seem to leave their gifts and then hit the road. Why go at all? Were they disappointed that the one the star heralded was not in a palace? All the stories and art always make them so in awe (as per verse 11), but if they recognized Jesus for who he was, why did they leave? Did they come back to discover what might have happened when he grew up? How did this encounter change them? Was it as little as Christmas seems to change most people now? Shelly