The Nativity: Wise Men

In recent years, as I’ve considered the story of the wise men, I have been struck by how well they knew the prophecies of Christ and the stars in the sky—so well, in fact, that when the sign did appear, they noticed it and were able to recognize it for what it was. And then, upon further study, I started to wonder… what prophecies or scripture had been their guide? I think it’s easy to assume that somewhere in the Old Testament there must be mention of the sign of the star at Christ’s birth. But actually, there isn’t (3). And though these men were very learned in spiritual things, they didn’t seem to have known about the scripture foretelling Bethlehem as Christ’s birth place (Matthew 2: 1-6). So what is their story?
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“The Brightest Star” by J Kirk Richards

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Magi from the East

According to Dr. Jason Combs, Bible Scholar/Historian, the Magi would have been priests outside of Judaism (1). A simple idea, and yet it speaks beautifully to how our interfaith beliefs in Jesus Christ can lead any earnest, seeking follower to Him. Whatever their religion, and though it was removed from establish Jewish tradition, they understood the significance of Christ’s birth and life. I especially loved learning about the possible deeper significance of the gifts they brought: Gold, a common gift for a King; Frankincense, an offering to heavenly Gods as a precious incense that rises up to the heavens; and Myrrh, a herb used in death and burial that speaks to an understanding of Christ’s mission from the beginning (2).

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Scattered Tribes of Israel

So who were the Magi? If they were priests outside of Judaism, what was their faith? While there is no way of knowing for certain, I enjoyed researching different schools of thought on this topic.
We have scriptural accounts of the scattered tribes of Israel, but not where they all ended up or how they may have continued to live their religion. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a student of the Book of Mormon, my faith is built in part on the idea of another testament of Jesus Christ, far from Jerusalem. It is part of my faith that God had more than one prophet on the earth at a time when geography divided His people (3). The Nephites of the Americas recorded their own prophetic witness of the coming of Christ. A prophet named Samuel prophesied that the people would know of Christ’s birth because a new star would appear, and that great lights would appear in the heavens, so that there would be no darkness in the night. “Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night” (Helaman 14:1-5). This scripture is part of my Christmas story- and with the scattering of Israel, it makes sense that other branches of God’s scattered people would likewise have been given signs of Christ’s birth (5).
One theory I came across harkens back to Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (2). Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem and upon returning to Babylon brings many elite Hebrew children with him, including Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These boys prove themselves and join a class of Magi, wisemen, in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. Daniel did not return from exile, and having faithfully followed his religion and dedicating his life to the people of Babylon, it seems likely that his faith could have grown roots and spread. Could these Magi from the East have been disciples of the remnant of Daniel’s theology?
The Bible Dictionary simply defines these men as “prophets on a divine errand” (4). They knew the signs and the mission and purpose of Christ’s life, and as such, they were guided to be witnesses of the presence of God on earth to their people and for all generations thereafter (5). Where they came from is less important than that they came. It’s further evidence to me that God does not abandon his scattered children, and that wherever we may be, we can find our way to Him.​​

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Wise men still seek him

Wise Men still seek Him. I’ve heard this expression many times before, but in light of these thoughts, this idea feels somehow more universal. We come to Christ in different ways, from different places, with different gifts to offer. In seeking Him, we find Him from different sources- obtainable sources suited to the time and place in which we live. And what’s most important to me is that any efforts we make to seek Him will bring us to Him. Because He came, because He has a prophet on the earth today, because of these testaments that have been preserved for our time which acquaint us with Him, because He left the Spirit to be with us, and because so many others just like us are on our paths to help us on our journeys toward Him.

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Resources

(1) The Christ Child: Behind the Scenes
​(2)”The Magi, How Did They Know?” By Diane Rudd
​(3) “How Did the Wise Men Know to Look for a Star?” By Brad Wilcox
(4) Bible Dictionary: “Wise Men of the East”
(5) Bible Dictionary: “Magi”