Bible Questions Answered
Why did the Magi travel to find the baby Jesus?
Kaiala/ Sao Paulo, Brazil South America
Bible Answer:
The Magi, were Israel's equivalent of the Levites, i.e. they were of a priestly tribe of the Medes.
They as learned men, who knew secrets of nature, that made them appear as magicians before the people.
The Magi, were a group from the castes of the Mede's, which had spurned idolatry, and longed for a more complete knowledge of God, information, which they sought from the Jews.
These men in their pilgrimage to find God, had seen a sign of a king coming into the world, which appeared to them as a star in the east. This star lead them to Jerusalem, and to King Herod, then disappeared.
Matthew 1:1,2 NLT
1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
2 “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw His star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him.”
Heord, knew not of any other king, but desired to know any information they might find out.
The determined travelers, then inquired of the priests and they told them, the child was to be born in Bethlehem.
Matthew 2:3-8 NLT
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.
4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.” (Micah 5:2)
7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.
8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the Child. And when you find Him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship Him, too!”
After this meeting the star reappeared to them, leading them to Bethlehem, and to the very spot where the Child King, lay.
What was this star, was it some planet alignment, or special astronomical body? No. The book of Revelation plainly tells us that at least one angel, may appear as a star from heaven!
Revelation 9:1 KJV
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
An angel of God, had guided the Wise Men, to the Bethlehem manger.
But, why had they come, out of curiosity?
No, they had come to worship Him, as do all wise men.
Matthew 2:9-12 NLT
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!
11 They entered the house and saw the Child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
The Gold that they brought, spoke of gifts for a King.
The Frankincense (A brittle resin/gum from the Lebonah tree, used for incense burning, it has a sweet fragrance.), spoke of their adoration of Him as the Son of God.
Their gift of Myrrh, (A gum substance from the Balsamodendron Myrrha plant. A fragrant resin, used for medical reasons and embalming.), prefigured the passion, and suffering this King would endure.
Psalm 95:6 KJV
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
Revelation 4:1-11 NLT
1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”
2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and Someone sitting on it.
3 The One sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow.
4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded Him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.
6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back.
7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.
8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever),
10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
