Who was the Magi?

Who was the Magi?
Merry Christmas! My name is Danny and I was a Latter-day Saint for 60 years.
Once again, it’s that time of year when we remember and celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. It’s an opportunity for people to open their Bibles to Luke 2, and read the account of the birth of Jesus, who’s actual Hebrew name was -Yeshua.
That night 2000 years ago, angels appeared to the shepherds attending their flocks in the fields – announcing the birth of the promised Messiah. But there was another group of men, called Magi or wise men. Where do they fit into the Christmas narrative?
It is a common misconception that the Magi visited Yeshua at the stable on the night of His birth. So, we must turn to Matthew 2, to learn that the wise men came possibly years later. Let’s read this account found in Matthew 2:1-12 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, 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. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet (Micah 5:2) And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house (not a stable), they saw the young child (not a baby) with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”
Is that it? What more does the Bible say about these Magi? First, we just assume there were three wise men because of the three gifts that were given: gold (a symbol of divinity), frankincense (a symbol of holiness and righteousness), and myrrh (a spice used in embalming). However, the Bible does not say there were three wise men. There could have been two or three or more. Tradition says there were three and that their names were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. But we have no way of knowing whether that tradition is accurate.
There is another layer to this Christmas story I would like us to consider. Matthew states these mysterious Magi showed up from “the East.” Where did they come from and who were they, exactly?
Being Magi from “the East,” they most likely came from Persia, which is modern-day Iran or Iraq. This means they traveled nearly a thousand miles to see the Christ Child. Here is where I suggest that most likely these Magi were familiar with the teachings and writings of the prophet Daniel. And, why do I say that? Well, I had the absolute pleasure of re-reading the book of Daniel again this week. And here is what I discovered.
If we look back in the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures – we read that 600 years earlier before Yeshua was born, Babylon conquered Jerusalem and destroyed Solomon’s temple. They plundered all the gold from the city and the temple and brought it – along with the exiled Israelites – to Babylon to be under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar. The king was immediately impressed by one of the Jews, a young man named Daniel. His wisdom and understanding were greater than all the king’s magicians, astrologers and wise men. Here we get the term “Magi” from the word “magicians.”
It tells us in Daniel 2:48, that because of his intellectual and spiritual gifts – Daniel was made chief of the governors over all the magicians, astrologers, and wise men in Babylon. Then, in Daniel 9:24-27, there is a prophecy which gives a specific timeline for the birth of the Messiah. So, the Magi were anticipating its future fulfillment. The Magi may also have been aware of the interesting prophecy in Numbers 24:17, which specifically mentions a “Star coming out of Jacob.” – or Israel. Daniel prophecies about the coming of the Messiah and an everlasting kingdom being established. He spends the rest of his life teaching these Magi’s. Eventually, Daniel dies and we fast-forward centuries into the future to this encounter in Bethlehem. I suggest that these wise men in Matthew 2, are possibly the direct descendants of those Magi who Daniel taught. And these Magi were the recipients of those prophecies of Daniel that were handed down by previous generations of wise men.
So, when they heard the news of a King born in Bethlehem, they remembered what their forefathers and predecessors told them how this was going to happen. Knowing astronomy and recognizing a new star in the heavens – they followed that star which led them directly to the home of Mary and Joseph – where they “fell down” to worship Yeshua when He was approximately two years old. They brought the little boy three gifts – one of which was “gold.”
It is certain the Magi were inspired men sent on an errand to witness the presence of the Son of God on earth. They were able to see the star when others could not and they recognized its meaning. They were warned by God in a dream to return to their homeland east of Palestine by a safer route – to bear witness to their own people that the “King of the Jews” had indeed been born in the flesh, just as Daniel prophesied. These Magi were truly wise men!
But I can’t help but wonder if the “gold” they brought to Yeshua was a remnant of the same gold that was plundered from the temple centuries before. And they were bringing some of it back to honor and worship the Christ Child – who was going to be the promised Messiah prophesied in the book of Daniel. I see the Old and New Testaments beautifully tied together in telling the Christmas Story.
I hope this makes all of us appreciate the “written word of God” that teaches us about the “Living Word of God” – who is Yeshua or Jesus. And just like the Magi – one day we too will bow down before Him. For it is written in Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus (Yeshua) every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
He IS the reason for the Season!
Shalom and God Bless!