The Advent Series: The Three Wise Men

Matthew 2:12 _{New Living Translation}

“When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.”

                 The Wise Men or Magi as they were also called, came to the manger where Jesus lay to give him gifts and worship him.  Where did they come from? What were their names? We don’t know a whole lot about them, but I believe we know enough.  There’s no record from whence they came, but historic tradition tells us that their names were Gaspar, Balthasar, and Melchior.  Magi were typically highly educated men of noble birth who were wealthy and prestigious within their own sphere of influence.  They could have been philosophers or counselors of rulers, learned in the wisdom of the ancient East.  Magi were men of high integrity, so their visit to see the Christ child had the most upright of intentions.  There is speculation that others may have come to worship the infant King, based on Isaiah 60:3 which says, “All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.”

                 Like the Shepherds, the Magi saw a bright star in the sky the night of Jesus’ birth.  Believing it to be important, they turned to sacred scrolls they carried with them.  Their study of the scrolls led them to a determination to go in search of this infant King who would be Israel’s Messiah.  Like Abraham in the Old Testament, the three men had no idea where to go, but they followed the star which led them to where the child lay.

                 God had his hand in all of this in that he supplied the star as a guiding light and spoke to them in a dream warning them not to return to Herod.  God’s plans shall never be thwarted.  Nothing is impossible for the Lord, and nothing can impede his plans from coming to fruition.  He led the people he wanted to see the Christ child and kept those who would do him harm far from him.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: http://www.bibleinfo.com.