How Things Work: A Brief History of Reality
BOOK II: The Power of Three (Science & Religion) – Consideration #102. "The Three Wise Men"
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Tuesday September 26, 2023
“The men of whom Matthew speaks were not just astronomers. They were ‘wise.’ They represent the inner dynamic of religion towards self-transcendence, which involves a search for truth, a search for the true God and hence ‘philosophy’ in the original sense of the word... ”
– Pope Benedict XVI
PREFACE
Welcome Everybody!
The story that has come to be known as the “Christmas Story” is really a combination of narrative and influence. The Christmas Story is a narrative combination of the gospels Matthew and Luke, each adding their own unique metaphor and revelation to the miracle. However, the theological influence of Mark’s focus on redemption, and John’s focus on divine intervention, are also inherently embedded throughout the narrative.
“This story is very reminiscent of the Old Testament story about Moses and the Pharaoh of Egypt.”
This week we consider Matthew’s depiction of a meeting between three kings, or wise men from the east, and the King of Israel, Herod the Great. This story is very reminiscent of the Old Testament story about Moses and the Pharaoh of Egypt. The first of many connections Matthew makes between Moses and Jesus.
CONSIDERATION #102 – The Three Wise Men
The story of the three Magi is Matthew’s main contribution to the Christmas Story. It is also very reminiscent of some Old Testament stories we have previously considered. Matthew’s story about the “baby Jesus” actually starts long after his birth, by approximately two years. Let’s consider what Matthew adds to the birth narrative of the Jewish Messiah.
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’”
Matthew 2:1-2
In Matthew’s gospel, each of the bolded words in this verse represent a specific sign or prophecy fulfilled by this story.
Much like Pharaoh in Exodus, King Herod is a cruel tyrant. However, the Magi from the east are wise men. Part of their wisdom includes astrology and the ability to recognize and interpret the stars. Recognizing the cosmic proclamation of a new king in the sign of a new rising star, they have come to honor him with gifts and respect. The stature of the Magi, in addition to their humbleness toward the new king, demonstrates the magnitude of this event. So, Jesus is already born, and wise men have traveled a long distance following the new king’s star for approximately two years trying to find him.
“King Herod is a corrupt and cruel leader who seeks to use the wisdom of wise men for his own personal gain.”
Thinking an event of this enormity would be recognized by other wise men and leaders as well, they go to the Jewish capital of Jerusalem to engage with King Herod, expecting that he also would have recognized the signs and want to honor the new king. However, King Herod is a corrupt and cruel leader who seeks to use the wisdom of wise men for his own personal gain. King Herod’s corruption symbolizes the corruption of the entire Jewish hierarchy and leadership at the time.
“Herod calls his priests and scholars together in order to ‘help’ the Magi find the new king; seeking the entire time only to deceive them…”
Seeking only personal power and influence, Herod, the “real” King of Israel, is against Jesus from the very beginning. Herod calls his priests and scholars together in order to “help” the Magi find the new king; seeking the entire time only to deceive them into helping him find the new king – so that he could be murdered. Asking the chief priests what the scriptures prophesied as to where the new king was to be born, they responded:
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:"
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
– Matthew 2:5-6
King Herod verifies with the Magi that they have been following the star for two years, then encourages them to go and find the new king, so that he may also worship him.
“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
– Matthew 2:7-8
So, the Magi continue their journey following the star, which leads them to a house, not a manger, where they find Jesus with his mother. After bowing, worshiping, and honoring the young king they present him with three gifts. Gold, the most precious metal, frankincense, a holy perfumed incense, and myrrh, an expensive anointing oil, which all would have been considered appropriate gifts for a king at that time.
Symbolically, gold is valuable, beautiful, pure and eternal, representing royalty. Frankincense was the incense used in temple ceremonies, signifying Jesus’ priesthood. Myrrh is a bittersweet herb used in burial and embalming rituals, alluding to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Having been warned in a dream not to give King Herod the location of Jesus, the Magi return directly home by a different road. The next part of the story seems to be an allegory of Old Testament tradition. Matthew 2:13-18 casts shadows of Exodus when the “angel of the Lord” appears again to Joseph in a dream, telling him that King Herod is going to kill the child. Ironically, they are told to flee to Egypt until King Herod dies.
This fulfills yet another prophecy related to the Messiah:
“And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
– Matthew 2:15
Angry that he had been outwitted by the Magi, King Herod is furious and orders the death of every male child two years old or younger in Bethlehem. However, Jesus’ escape from the slaughter of a ruthless tyrant, who puts to death all male children two-years old and under in Bethlehem, is more than just an analogy of the Moses story; it fulfills yet another Messianic prophecy.
“Ramah” is approximately six miles north of Jerusalem and five miles from Bethlehem; reflecting the incredible distance that Rachel’s weeping and wailing could be heard after the “slaughter of the innocents.”
… for this is what the prophet has written:
A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.
– Matthew 2:5-6
Like the Pharaoh who wanted to kill Moses, the King who wanted to kill Jesus eventually dies. Once again “the angel of the Lord” appears to Joseph in a dream telling him to leave Egypt and return home to the Promised Land of Israel. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus settle in a district known as Galilee in a town called Nazareth.
So ends the childhood narrative of Jesus in Matthew.
POSTSCRIPT
There is very little known about the childhood of Jesus. Only two gospels contain birth narratives, and they are relatively short. In the most theological gospel, John, there is no birth narrative at all. However, all four gospels agree that the official public ministry of Jesus began after his baptism by John the Baptist.
The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist marks the beginning of his public ministry and teaching – except for a slight caveat, of course, in the gospel of John, where his mother pressures him into performing his first public miracle; changing water into wine.
Next week we will consider the character who lived in the wilderness on locusts and wild honey who Jesus proclaimed as the final prophet in the line of Biblical prophets, John the Baptist…
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