Who Were the Magi and Why Do They Matter?
This is part four of an ongoing “Youth Group at the Holidays” series. We will do our best to publish these articles a few weeks prior to the holidays to give you time to prepare. Part one helped you prepare students for Thanksgiving. We published two articles about how you can structure different kinds of Christmas/Advent teaching series: Five Ways to Observe Christmas Afresh & Building an Advent/Christmas Series for Youth Group with Simplicity and Depth. Don’t miss YPT’s other Christmas articles about Where was Jesus Born (a barn, cave, or house)? and Why is Christmas on December 25th?
If you grew up in church like I did, you may have been involved in a Christmas reenactment depicting the Nativity story. My church held an annual outdoor “Living Nativity” complete with animals, people portraying the different biblical characters, a live orchestra, narrators, and a choir that would sing songs between each act.
Each year, my dad, without question, would be asked to play one of the wise men or “Magi,” while my brother and I would be cast as either Joseph or shepherds. My little sister was eventually old enough to share in the fun as an angel.
While I cherish these memories, they laid a somewhat flawed understanding of the Magi’s role in the first advent of Christ. Here is what we know about the Magi, and why they are so significant their arrival was included in Matthew’s gospel.
What the Bible Tell Us About the Magi
Matthew 2:1-12 is the only gospel text that mentions the Magi. Over time, Christian tradition added bits and pieces to the account, including certain details about who the wise men may have been. These bits of speculation have been passed down over time and are infused in many popular retellings of the Christmas story. However, these details about the Magi are not based on the biblical account.
What does the Bible says about them?
They were called Magi, which means “wise men” in Greek (Matthew 2:1). Extrapolating from the text, these men were probably astrologers as their study of the sky led them toward Jesus (Numbers 24:17, Matthew 2:9).
They told King Herod they were seeking the new “king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). It’s assumed in the story that they did not realize what type of king Jesus would be.
The Magi came from the East when they sought Jesus during the time of Herod, which means they likely came from somewhere in modern-day Iraq, Iran, or Saudi Arabia.
They arrived during Herod’s reign, which helps to place this within the narrative of world history. He reigned from approximately 37 BC – 4 BC.
They brought gifts fit for an earthly king and came to pay homage to him (Matthew 2:2,10-11).
What the Bible Does NOT Say About the Magi
Misconceptions and half-truths surround our cultural misunderstanding of the wise men and their part in the Nativity account as recorded in the Bible. Over centuries, tradition has added details to the story, very few of which can be confirmed, and the biblical account confirms none.
Here are some popular misconceptions:
They were present the night Jesus was born. Contrary to our Christmas nativity decorations, the Magi were NOT there for the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Matthew 2:1 tells us they arrived in Jerusalem AFTER Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
There were three wise men. Matthew never records how many wise men came to honor Jesus. We know there was more than one because of the plural use of “men.” Most people assume there are three because of the three gifts they gave, as recorded in Matthew (gold, frankincense, and myrrh).
They were kings. Many people believe that the wise men were kings, which isn’t supported by what Matthew wrote. This idea is more related to the popular Christmas song We Three Kings than it is to the biblical account.
We know their names. Traditionally, they have been named Balthasar, Caspar, and Melchior. In some cases, entire backstories have been told about them. Modern media hasn’t helped this misconception, as if it is a biblically established part of the Christmas story.
Why Do the Magi Matter for Youth Ministry?
Despite the layers of misconception added by tradition, there are valuable lessons these mysterious characters of the Nativity story can teach modern-day teenagers. Here are five of those lessons that come to mind.
They Sought a King That Didn’t Belong to Them
This group of foreign Gentiles set out on a considerable journey to meet and honor a king who was to be born. They were probably astrologers who served in the Zoroastrian temples of Persia, searching the stars for prophecies and omens. In this regard, it is noteworthy that these very men who sought to worship Jesus were of the same category who were denounced multiple times in passages like Isaiah 47:13-15. Their theology was idolatrous, and yet, by the mercy and providence of God, they sought Jesus anyway. This is the story of many Christians, who accidentally stumble their way to Jesus.
They Bowed and Worshipped
The Christmas story provides profound and inclusive accounts of worship. Jesus was worshipped by the lowly (shepherds) and the prominent (Magi). Both came to celebrate and honor the newborn king. The Magi recognized the differences between Godly kingship (Jesus) and worldly kingship (Herod), which is why did not honor Herod’s instructions to tell him the exact birthplace of the child they sought. Additionally, the arrival of these learned, foreign men who chose to travel a great distance to worship Jesus gives us a glimpse into God’s heart to draw Gentiles and graft them into the family of God (Romans 11:11-31). God’s house is a house of prayer for all nations (Mark 11:17). Like the wisemen, Jesus calls people from all nations and tongues to bow down and worship him. He calls teenagers today, from all walks and backgrounds to bow and worship.
They Gave Generously
They brought the rare and expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts for Jesus. They chose to visit a king they did not know or owe their allegiance, a journey that likely took months. As the Magi discovered, giving their time and possessions caused great joy to spring from their hearts (Matthew 2:10). God calls us to give to him cheerfully and joyfully from our hearts, not with reluctance or obligation. I pray that teenagers would approach Jesus the way the Magi did: generously, joyfully, and expectantly.
They Were Obedient
Most Bible scholars believed these men had access to ancient Jewish scrolls because of the Jewish diaspora during the time of Israel’s exile to Babylon. These scrolls tell of the Messiah's coming, through whom God would deliver His people. These foreigners, who had their own king, obediently followed what they knew of the Torah and came to see the new king. Their obedience did not end there. When an angel warned them to be cautious with what they learned of Jesus’s location, they returned home another route, bypassing Herod. Our students will eventually face a choice between honoring the Lord’s command and honor the world’s expectations. May this Christmas be a time for them to take their first steps toward Jesus.
Just Because a Message is Popular Does Not Mean it is Right
In many ways, the story of the magi told today is a blend of the truth found in the Bible and tradition added over the last 2000 years. The biblical story is more than sufficient to tell the greatest story ever told – why embellish the details? Teenagers are searching for truth and need to learn discernment to identify what is actually true from what seems true. We must rest in the truth found in the Bible and teach teenagers to identify biblical truth from tradition, popular opinion, and hearsay.
The Magi were among the first people to worship our Lord and Savior after he was born. Jesus is calling students to respond to his invitation so they would know him. I pray teenagers near and far from Jesus would react as the Magi did - in joy, worship, and obedience.