FACTS ABOUT JESUS BIRTH AND THE WISE MEN VISIT

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Sometime after Jesus' birth, he was visited by Magi (magicians, or "wise-men"). We don't like the word magician so we soften it by interpreting it as "wise-men". Back then "Magi" were probably more highly educated and therefore wise. They probably studied many things including astronomy. That's why they paid attention to, and followed the "star". It may or may not have been a real star. It could have been a confluence of planets (most likely) or it could just as easily have been a miraculous event since God can do anything. Some think that the "star" could have been an angel. We just don't know.

The Magi came AFTER Jesus' birth AND after His presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:22-39). This happened 40 days that were required for Mary's purification. Therefore the Magi were not there on the night of his birth as manger scenes and Christmas cards, and many songs depict. "Little Drummer Boy" is just not Biblical.

When the Magi talked to Herod before going to find Jesus, Herod got the idea, from what the Magi told him about timing, that he would have to kill the babies 2 years old and under. So Jesus was not necessarily a baby. He could have been as old as 2 years old. He probably was somewhere between 40 days old and 2 years old. That's all we can surmise. A good guess would be that Jesus was around 1 year old, give or take 6 months.

Therefore Jesus was not in the manger when the Magi met him. Matthew 2:10-11 states that the Magi "came into the house" - not a manger.

Where did they meet Jesus? Matthew and Luke seem to disagree: Was it Nazareth or was it Bethlehem. But like many apparent contradictions there is not one here.

Matthew says that Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Matthew also states that AFTER Jesus was born, that Magi came to Jerusalem, to Herod and asked him "where is he that was born the King of the Jews." The priests Herod then consulted said that the prophecy indicated that Jesus would have been born in Bethlehem. Therefore Herod tells the Magi to go to Bethlehem to investigate. Notice, however, Matthew does not say that the Magi did what Herod told them. Instead they still followed the star until it was over the place where Jesus was. Then they entered a house (not a manger) and presented Jesus with gifts.

After this, the Magi again did not do what Herod said (being warned in a dream not to.)

Matthew doesn't mention Mary's purification of 40 days or the trip to Jerusalem to present the baby at the temple. But that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Matthew just skips directly to their flight to Egypt after the Magi depart.

So, Luke tells us, Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for the purification and then, when they left, they went to Nazareth, not back to Bethlehem (Luke 2:39). Luke doesn't mention the trip to Egypt that Matthew does.

How many Magi? At least 2. Maybe 3 (there were 3 gifts). Maybe more. (they didn't all have to bring a gift, the gifts were of special significance. 12 Magi would be what Orient customs would assume.

Never quote the Bible out of context.

This is all we can really know then:

1. The Magi (who knows how many) came to visit Jesus sometime AFTER His presentation in the Temple around 40 days after his birth.

2. Jesus was not still in a manger.

3. The Magi went to Nazareth. Matthew says they followed the "star" but he doesn't say they followed Herod's directions.

4. The Magi came to visit before Jesus was 2 years old. Matthew says that after the Magi left, Mary, Joseph took Jesus and fled to Egypt because Herod was out to kill him.

Someone might say they had to flee from Jerusalem because that's where Herod was going to kill all the children. Yes, Herod did that. But even so, when God warns Joseph in a dream, even though they are not in Bethlehem, Joseph obeys and flees Nazareth after the Magi visited them.

5. Therefore the Magi visited Jesus, in a house, in Nazareth, roughly around age One.

Source: BOB JOHNSON 

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