Maybelle Crabtree here. It was just another Sunday before Christmas so many moons ago. We were driving home from church; Matthew and Laurel were buckled into their booster seats and Holly in her infant seat. Silence filled the air except for the sound of Christmas songs from the radio. Suddenly, Matthew grumbles, “Boy, am I sure glad I’m not Baby Jesus.”
Tom and I quickly glanced at each other in the front of the minivan. Questioning looks filled our faces.
“Why is that, Matt?” Tom asked, looking in the rear view mirror at our son who sat behind him.
“Because look at those gifts he got when he was born. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. What can a baby do with those? Where were the toys? Those wise men don’t seem too bright to me. He didn’t even get a ball to play with.”
“He was a king, Matthew,” I reasoned to him. “Those are presents you give to a king.”
“I’d rather have toys than be a king anyway!” he stated, folding his arms in front of his chest.
I haven’t forgotten that moment. It crosses my mind again every Christmas. And it gets me thinking. I just never really thought about the wise men’s gift before. Just took it at face value. Never thought about “why” those gifts were given. And really who were the wise men? The Christmas song claims they are from the Orient. But where is the Orient? I always thought of China as the Orient. But is it a bigger region?
So I researched some info this year. It won’t matter to Matthew anymore. But here’s what I found out.
The Magi
First, let’s talk about the wise men, or Magi, which is a more common name for them. The term, Magi, refers to a specific class of scholar-priests who were originally from the ancient land of Media (Medes) which is now a part of Iran. They were found throughout Persia and other Near Eastern countries in biblical times.
The word “Magi” means magician. But it also refers to priests and astronomers. Astronomers served in the royal courts throughout the ancient Near Eastern world. They were regarded as valuable advisors due to their knowledge of science, agriculture, and sorcery according to crosswalk.com. Hence, they were wise men. And, as astronomers, they would be looking for a special star, the Star of Bethlehem for example, which indicated the birth of the Messiah.
Also, the Magi were known by many names such as the Wise Men of the East, the Three Wise Men, the Three Kings, and the Three Kings of Cologne. Even though they are only mentioned once in the Bible in the Gospel of Matthew, tradition has given each one of the Magi a name: Melchior, Gaspar (or Caspar), and Balthasar.
Melchior
Scholars believe that Melchior was Arabian. Melchior is often featured as an old man with white hair and a long, white beard. He is, obviously elderly, light-complexioned, and wears a gold cloak. He brings the gift of gold, a precious metal, which represents Jesus’ kingship.
Gaspar (or Caspar)
Frankincense, a perfume or incense which represents the priestly role of Jesus, is given by Gaspar. He is a beardless, ruddy-complexioned man, and resides in Tarsus which is located in southern Turkey. He is the youngest of the three Magi with brown hair and wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels on it.
Balthasar
Balthasar, a middle-aged African, brings the myrrh, an anointing oil which foretells the death and embalming of Jesus. He is heavily-bearded and wears a purple cloak. Most scholars believe he came from the country of Ethiopia.
The Magi’s Journey
In addition, many biblical commentators believe the Magi’s journey may have taken up to two years to reach their destination. Mainly because Matthew’s account mentions a house instead of a stable and they encounter just Mary and Jesus. I didn’t even think about that. I just thought it was a few days or, maybe, weeks. But two years? Never even entered my mind. Moreover, with just a star as your guide to where you need to be? I get lost with Google Maps. I can’t imagine following just a star.
But then I thought about it some more. Sometimes the Bible saying one thing that means something else. For instance, let’s say the Magi’s journey is an allegory for our own journey as we search for Jesus. That it is in fact about the universal search for God. The Magi’s journey demonstrates active faith. The Magi acted on the inspiration and understanding they have while other scientists and scholars did nothing. That’s what we, as Christians, do. We are constantly seeking God so we can do His will in our lives.
What the Magi’s Journey Means to Us
Furthermore, it’s just not the Magi’s journey that is allegorical; it’s the Magi themselves also. For example, the Magi are non-Jewish and are the first people inspired to worship Jesus. They, therefore, represent seekers of all ethnic and religious backgrounds who are drawn to Jesus. St Bede (c 672-735) believed the Magi represented the three known continents of that time: Europe, Africa, and Asia. He also speculated that the Magi descended from Noah’s sons – Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Finally, the Magi represent the three ages of man: youth, middle-aged, and old age.
Overall, the Magi are representatives that Jesus’ teachings would spread to all nations around the world. After all, wise men still seek Him today.
So there you have it folks; my opinion. And Matthew, I hope you’re reading this. It may be a long time in coming, but I hope you understand now why those “not too bright” wise men gave Jesus the gifts they did and not toys.
So what do you think? Leave me a comment down below and let’s discuss. Maybelle Crabtree signing off.
Thank you for your research and explanation. Some I already was aware of, like the two years to reach Jesus. Main reason why Herod killed all boys 2 years old and under to cover any possibility of a take over. Other thought s too, but won’t write. You are such a blessing to me.