So today we conclude our series on the witnesses of Christ’s birth. We have talked about some who witnessed to his coming before it happened – prophets and angels – and about the first who witnessed the event after it took place – the shepherds. Today? The Magi. Wise men from the East. And as I did when I talked about angels, I think I need to take a few minutes to give some background on who these people were, and who they were not, because, as with the angels, an awful lot of legend has grown up around them over the centuries. First, who were they? Magi were wise men and astrologers of the ancient world. They read the future in the stars and served as counselors to kings and emperors. At the time of Christ’s birth, they were probably associated with Zoroastrianism, the religion of ancient Persia. Magi appear a few times in the Book of Daniel, mostly as figures to ridicule. They were among the people who were unable to interpret the king’s dream or read the supernatural writing on the wall, setting up Daniel to prove his greater wisdom through the power of his God. But those stories aside, the magi were highly respected scholars and star-gazers, who were believed to have extraordinary insight into heavenly mysteries. Our word “magic” derives from the magi.
Sermon Notes