THE WISE MEN OF THE EAST

     On the night Christ was born a new star appeared over Bethlehem. A beacon to all who would grasp, visible before everyone. An angel cries out, ‘Behold the star! Who will search out the meaning and understand?’ Tears well up. ‘Will no one on their own seek the coming of the promised Saviour?’ Then, suddenly, voices are astir in the east, hundreds of miles from the Promised Land. The question arises among the wise men of the east, ‘What manner of star is this that is new to the heavens? All of the other stars cross the sky while this one remains still.’ A meeting of minds begins: a collective effort to research the truth compels the wisest of men within view of the star of Bethlehem. None more learned to the north. None wiser to the south. None more teachable to the west. What constitutes wisdom? “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” The character of those who respond to the affectionate tugs of the Holy Spirit’s “still, small voice” are as trusting little children, building their understanding by giving equal attention to the things of true value.

     The “wise men of the east” were truly precious servants in the sight of GOD for they faithfully carried forward His work of salvation. The gross darkness covering the earth's population was no different then than today. Yet GOD ordained these men to disperse His Light. Who were these men? They were wealthy in modest fashion. They were philosophers who had a thirst for GOD'S gift of understanding. They were leaders, judging with equity among their people. They were astronomers, appreciating the points of light in the midst of a canopy of darkness. They were charitable, ever exerting to meet the needs of the poverty stricken.

     The Magi were not magicians by our definition of the word. Many words with beautiful meanings in their original usage become polluted, and eclipse the value of their origin. The term "yada-yada" that swept through the humor circles, becoming popular in the American vocabulary has its origin in the Hebrew language, whose original meaning of the word yada is endearing. The once precious word becomes insulting to its origin. Another popular term often used when anything distasteful is confronted is the word, Ish. Ish in Hebrew means Adam. The Premier Father of the human race is dishonored in the demeaning use of his name.

     These wise men of the east were masterful in their study of GOD’S lessons. They alone translated the occurrence of this new star of Bethlehem into its true meaning, which in turn persuaded their decision to act. Where did the wise men of the east discover their understanding? In the book of Isaiah the prophet it is written, “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD and read; no one of these shall fail.” These wise men of the east did seek and read from the book of the LORD, and they did not fail. The Magi read these words of the prophet Baalim found in the Book of Numbers, “He hath said, which heard the words of GOD, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” After the Magi’s prayerful study and subsequent conviction, GOD inspired them to seek “the great Prince.” In their persevering faith in GOD to open the treasures of truth before them, the strength of will that led them to explore also led them to the answer GOD desired for them.

     The Magi set out to honor “The King of the Jews.” Their mission was made known to all parts of their region. The witness of their faith in GOD to their people was the seed that would afterwards germinate to become a great harvest of saints, to live forever with Christ the LORD. Each of the wise men of the east proved themselves to be a worthy “fisher of men.”

     Night after night, following GOD'S appointed star of angelic congregation, the anticipation of how the Messiah would appear presented to their minds an overflowing appreciation of their privilege. An honor given to none other was given these assumed heathen. The egotistical pride of the rabbis against all nations might have closed the hearts of these learned men, as it has multitudes of others. But the Spirit of GOD dwelled in their hearts, and one of the many blessings of His presence is to never allow one to be thwarted from any beautiful objectives in godliness, no matter what the obstacle! We may be sure that there were efforts to discourage; whisperings in their ears to turn them back; but with every victory over these hurdles, their perseverance produced an unwavering faith.

     Satan is powerless against GOD’S Truth! All he does only emboldens it in the minds of those who seek it, for it is written, “And I will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve], and between thy seed [the unrepentant] and her seed” [the humble and suppliant before GOD]. In these magnificent words we also see how our Premier Mother Eve is the mother of the righteous, not of the unrighteous: this is how we know her salvation is sure and repentance complete. In all of Satan's attempts to slander GOD and decimate His Divine Image in Man, one day the truth "as the truth is in Jesus” will vindicate the superlative words, “God is love.”

     Traveling in a large caravan it is estimated that the duration of the Magi's journey was approximately thirty days covering an estimated four hundred miles. The land of “the east” in Christ's day signified the land of the Euphrates river, so we may safely infer that the wise men of the east came from the region of the Euphrates. The age of Jesus at the time of their pilgrimage was upwards of two years of age, for Herod “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.” So there was a span of time between the Magi's notice of the star and the time of their departure for Judea. They did not show up the night of Christ’s birth as is commonly taught. Jesus would have been walking and talking at the time the Magi brought their gifts of honor to place at His feet. But Jesus was very vulnerable to the outworking of Satan's schemes to murder the Very One who created all things including the Once-Lucifer himself. This goal of Satan to obliterate the very existence of his own Creator has shown the hosts of holy angels and unfallen worlds the deplorable character of Satan's authority and the fiendish nature by which he rules. And yet, every culture and religion of earth blindly follows the path marked out by this hidden deceiver, whose sole goal is to harden men in sin, and thus, bring them to the same condemnation as himself.

     Upon reaching the Mount of Olives the guiding star of angels’ glory is commanded by GOD to disperse. The Magi are left to inquire of the rulers in Judea: “Where is he who is born king of the Jews?” GOD hopes to begin a conversion among the people concerning the coming of the Messiah and the character of His mission. But once more His hopes are denied due to the popular teachings of the rabbis, eclipsing the reality of what momentous event had taken place among the Jews of Judea. The Magi wonder of the gross ignorance and even the cold indifference of the Jewish people to the wonderful revelation given them of the Child King. All throughout time men have held firm to the notion that their gut instinct is their superior judgment. ‘My feelings are my counselors and my guide’ is a declaration held by most in our society. This obedience to the impulse of instinct overrules GOD’S gift of the power of reason, the very means GOD uses to lead His children to the knowledge of salvation as it is written: “Come now and let us reason together saith the LORD.” Passions should always be subservient to reason, not the other way around. As a result, the number of men who will stand condemned in the end of time the Bible repeatedly affirms will be the vast majority of the human race. Even those whose names are on the church books the Apostle Peter stated would “scarcely be saved.” “Few,” the Savior said, would escape the condemnation of sin. While everyone will stand before GOD in the end of time, the greater condemnation will fall on the shepherds of Israel whose only altar of sacrifice were the flocks under their stewardship, due to their selfish ambition at the expense of their flocks. Historically, religious men have attributed their vain ideas as being GOD'S directing hand and not the result of their own self-serving inclinations. Said GOD, “I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” GOD has given His solemn warning on this and every other threat against men: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” But Christ provided the solution: “Behold, I have foretold you all things.” “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD and read: no one of these shall fail.”

     Despite the cold reception given the wise men, there was one who did receive them with great courtesy and even enthusiasm. Herod displayed an attentive but fictitious care. O that his soul was sincere! He believed the report only as it might threaten his absolute power and authority. But even under false pretenses he did command the study into the Scriptures to see if the Magi were correct in their studies of the newborn King. When we are presented with Bible truth and that truth clashes with our beliefs from our upbringing a simple prayer to the GOD of Heaven for understanding will guide us as we study perplexing questions. And if we exert willpower to joyfully surrender to His will (as plainly revealed in His Word), He will make known to us His truth on the subject of study. None who have ever asked GOD to know His will have ever asked in vain. Said Jesus, “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.”

     The Magi, the wisest men of the realm, took Herod at his word. They were led to believe that he was sincere. After leaving the palace of Herod, that evening the star of Bethlehem reappeared to the Magi. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Following the star once more it led them to their desired haven. The following day, upon meeting the young Messiah and His mother, Mary, the Magi wondered within their hearts, ‘What manner of choice GOD has made to bring the Saviour into our world! For these people are peasants and not rich. They have no scholarship in the things rated highest among men. Is the Messiah to be raised and educated in the ghetto of this land?’ But their strength of humility surrendered their souls before GOD’S judgment. “They saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him.” And after a span of time humbling their hearts and contemplating their thankfulness for the newborn King, they place at His feet the gifts of honor that are due: “gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” The gold is the purest faith, purified in the fires of affliction. The frankincense is the fragrant ingredient used for the sacred incense of the Holy Sanctuary, descriptive of the sweet prayers to GOD from His faithful children. And myrrh is the fragrant ingredient used in the holy oil of the sanctuary candle, illustrative of the Holy Spirit shedding abroad to all the light and sweet aroma of GOD'S drawing love, as it is written, “with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” The Magi tell Mary of their study of the Messiah's star in the east, and how it led them right to their presence. They ask, ‘What is His name?’ Her response, ‘His name is Jesus.’

     The ones given a deeply high honor among men, an honor given to no other in history, quietly stand and leave the presence of the young Saviour and King. Returning to their camp and settled down to rest for the night our Heavenly Father sends His angel to warn the Magi to withhold from Herod the whereabouts of Jesus, and commands them to return immediately to their homes in the east. (But GOD would not leave His trusting children to be duped into being agents for the cause of Satan: He would later warn them.) After returning home they recount their experience with their people. The days ahead would reaffirm their faith in Jesus as they would hear of the wonders then taking place: the sick being healed; the blind gaining their sight; the lame leaping like a deer; the dead being restored to life.

     What unequaled joy awaits those who love the cause of Christ. No other subject of study ennobles the character, nor uplifts the dignity of life. No drug can duplicate its elation. No wealth can touch its security. No rewarded lust can compare to its sense of fulfillment. The least pain and superior joy available in this present world is yours “without money and without price.” Forever choose to walk in the truth “as the truth is in Jesus,” and all that the Father hath bestowed upon His Son will He bestow upon you.