Tag: Jesus

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WHO WERE THE MAGI?

The tale of the Magi, often encapsulated in the serene manger scenes of nativity plays and Christmas cards, has long been a subject of fascination and speculation. Their journey, immortalized in the biblical book of Matthew, has transcended mere historical recounting, morphing into a blend of myth, legend, and spiritual symbolism. This article seeks to navigate through the intricate tapestry of stories surrounding the Magi, exploring the historical, mythological, and spiritual dimensions of their journey to meet the newborn King, Jesus Christ.

Who Were the Magi?

The Magi, often depicted as wise men or kings, have been enshrouded in a myriad of myths and legends. Contrary to the popular belief of them being three kings, the Bible does not specify their number. The assumption of them being three stems from the gifts they brought: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Furthermore, while western traditions cap their number at three, the Eastern Orthodox Church suggests there were twelve. The Magi were not kings but were likely part of a priestly caste in Persia, well-versed in astrology and astronomy, and held in high regard for their ability to interpret celestial events.

The Magi in Biblical and Historical Context

The biblical account in Matthew 2:1-12 narrates the Magi’s journey from the East to Jerusalem, following a star that ultimately led them to Jesus. Their quest was not merely to witness a newborn but was significantly rooted in prophecies and celestial signs that indicated the birth of a ruler, the King of the Jews. King Herod, disturbed by this, instructed the Magi to report back to him upon finding the child, under the guise of wanting to worship him. However, warned in a dream, the Magi chose a different route home, safeguarding the whereabouts of Jesus.

The Magi: A Connection to Daniel

Matthew is not the first time the Magi are mentioned in the Bible. In the book of Daniel, the Magi (or magicians) were among the wise men that Daniel, a Jewish captive, was chief of during King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign in Babylon. Daniel, known for interpreting dreams and prophecies, might have influenced the Magi’s later understanding and expectations of a coming Messiah, as indicated by their determined journey to find Jesus upon his birth.

Conclusion

Although not much is known about the Magi, we do know that they were mentioned in the Bible in Daniel which placed them in the courts of Nebuchadnezzar during the time of Daniel where they could have heard prophecies of the Messiah which ultimately led to their followers following the star to find Jesus. Also see our post on the significance of the three gifts the Magi brought to Jesus.

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THE BIBLICAL SYMBOLISM OF THE THREE GIFTS FROM THE WISE MEN TO BABY JESUS

In the heart of the Christmas narrative, nestled within the Gospel of Matthew, lies the poignant story of the Wise Men, who embarked on a journey, guided by a star, to present three gifts to the newborn Jesus. These gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh – were not arbitrary but laden with deep symbolic meanings that transcend mere wealth and opulence. They speak volumes about Jesus’ identity, mission, and the salvation narrative that would unfold in His life and death.

Who were the Wise Men?

The Wise Men, or Magi, embarked on a quest, following the star which arose in the constellation of Virgo, to honor the birth of Jesus, whom they recognized as “the king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). Their journey from Persia signifies a royal visit, as they sought to worship and present gifts to the newborn King.

The Gift of Gold – Jesus as our King

Gold, a precious metal, has long been associated with royalty and wealth. The gift of gold to baby Jesus symbolized His kingship. In the Old Testament, gold was a common gift presented to kings, as seen when the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, bringing 120 talents of gold among her gifts (1 Kings 10:10). Thus, gold, as a symbol of kingship, acknowledges Jesus as the prophesied King, destined to reign eternally.

The Gift of Frankincense – Jesus’ Priesthood

Frankincense, a fragrant gum resin used in worship and as a sacred incense, symbolized Jesus’ divinity and role as a high priest. In the Old Testament, frankincense was a vital component of the sacred anointing oil used in the temple (Exodus 30:34). The gift of frankincense to Jesus underscored His role as our High Priest (Hebrews 9:11).

The Gift of Myrrh

Myrrh, a spice used for anointing and burial, foreshadowed Jesus’ suffering and death. It was a common practice to use myrrh for embalming, as witnessed in the burial of Joseph of Arimathea, where a mixture of myrrh and aloes was used to prepare the body of Jesus for burial (John 19:39). The gift of myrrh, thus, prophetically pointed to Jesus’ sacrificial death and His role as the Savior, who would die for the redemption of humanity.

Interpretations and Theological Perspectives

The gifts of the Magi have been subject to various theological interpretations, each unraveling layers of meaning and significance. Some scholars perceive the gifts as symbols of Christ’s threefold office as Prophet (frankincense), Priest (myrrh), and King (gold). Others view them as emblematic of Jesus’ dual nature as fully divine (gold and frankincense) and fully human (myrrh), bridging the gap between heaven and earth.

Historical and Cultural Context

In the historical and cultural context of the ancient world, the gifts of the Magi were not only valuable but also highly symbolic. Gold was a universal symbol of wealth and power; frankincense was associated with the divine due to its use in religious rituals; and myrrh, often used in burials, was a symbol of mortality. These gifts, presented to Jesus, were not only practical in nature but also prophetically significant, aligning with the various aspects of His life, death, and resurrection.

Relevance to Jesus’ Life and Ministry

The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, while symbolizing kingship, divinity, and sacrifice respectively, also find resonance in Jesus’ life and ministry. His teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection embody these symbols, offering a pathway to eternal life for humanity. The Magi’s gifts, therefore, were not merely offerings of wealth but a prophetic acknowledgment of the pivotal role Jesus would play in the salvation history.

Conclusion

The gifts from the Wise Men to baby Jesus extend beyond the physical offerings of wealth and luxury. They are imbued with profound symbolism, each gift echoing a facet of Jesus’ identity and mission on earth. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh, thus, serve as timeless symbols of Jesus’ kingship, divinity, and sacrificial love, weaving a rich tapestry that intertwines the earthly and the divine in the miraculous story of the first Christmas.

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THE GOSPEL IN THE STARS: LIBRA

The next constellation we get to in the Gospel in the Stars is Libra, which are the scales and refer to Daniel 5:27 “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.”

The three brightest stars are Zuben al genubi meaning “the purchase or price that is deficient”, Zuben al Chemali meaning “the price which covers” and Zuben Akrabi or Zuben Al Akrab which mean “the price of the conflict” and so in this sign we see that although we were weighed on the scales and found wanting that Jesus paid the price that covered that we might be redeemed.

Crux – The Southern Cross

The next decan in this constellation is that of Crux, or the Southern Cross, the interesting thing about this sign is that it has gradually been moving South and the last time it was seen in the Northern Hemisphere was at the time of Jesus’ death on the cross. The cross is the image of the last Hebrew letter that means ‘it is finished’ and this is what Jesus said when He died on the cross, ‘it is He finished’, He has accomplished our salvation. The Hebrew name for this constellation is Adom meaning ‘to cut off’ and means that Jesus’ sacrifice was made once for all.

In the Denderah zodiac crux is shown not as a cross but as a thirsty lion being given something to drink by a woman. This refers to the verse Ps 22:13-18 “I am poured out like water…my strength is dried up” and Ps 69:21 which says “in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”. The Egyptian name of this sign is Sera meaning victory and what a great victory was accomplished at the cross!

Lupus or Victima

The second decan in this sign is Lupus or Victima. It’s name in ancient Hebrew was Asedah and in Arabic Asedaton, both of these words meaning “to be slain”. Another ancient name for this sign was Sura meaning a sheep or lamb and so in this sign we see Is 53:7 “He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb; so He opened not His mouth.” This sign represents Jesus laying down His life for our sins so that He could pay the price that covers.

Corona

The last decan in this sign is Corona or the Crown, it is the crown for which Jesus endured the cross. In Greek it’s name was Ariadne meaning “who comes to reign”.

So in this sign we see Jesus, first slain as the victim on the cross, but coming again to receive the crown and rule and reign forever. We see that although we were weighed on the scales and found wanting that He paid the price to cover our sins so that one day we may live for eternity with Him.

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THE GOSPEL IN THE STARS: VIRGO

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel.” Is 7:14 (NIV)

In this first sign of the Gospel in the Stars we see the prophecy of the Virgin mentioned in Isaiah 7:14, and the coming of the Desired Branch and Seed of Woman.

The sign of Virgo itself is a picture of a young woman holding a branch in one hand and a sheaf of wheat in the other. The brightest star is found in the sheaf of wheat and is called either Al Zimach meaning “the Branch” or Spica meaning “an ear of corn” or “the seed”. Both of these are prophetic pictures of Jesus who is called both the Branch in Zech 3:8, 6:12 and Jer 23:5,6 as well as the Seed such as in Gen 3:15.

Coma: The Desired One

The next decan in the sign of Virgo is that of Coma and once again the picture is that of a young woman holding a baby. This baby is The Desired of All Nations i.e. Jesus Christ and the ancient people knew this, here is a quotation from Albumazar, an ancient Arabian Astronomer of the 8th century, “There arises in the first decan, as the Persians, Chaldeans and Egyptians and the two Hermes and Ascalius teach, a young woman whose Persian name denotes a pure virgin sitting on a throne, nourishing an infant boy (the boy, I say) having a Hebrew name , by some nations called IHESU with the signification IEZA, which in Greek is called CHRISTOS”. A latin translation of this work can be found in the British Museum and in it he explains that the Persians understood the meanings of these signs and it was Persian priests (the magi) who followed the star that arose in this constellation to find the baby Jesus when He was born.

Centaurus

Often when we see a combination of two different things in the Bible it is to symbolize Jesus’ dual nature as fully God and fully man and so the same is found in Centaurus. The Arabic and Chaldaic name for this sign was Al Beze which means “the despised” and refers to Jesus as in Is 53:3 “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” The Hebrew name for this constellation was Asmeath meaning “a sin offering” and in Greek it was Cheiron meaning “the pierced” and so in this sign we see Jesus as the suffering servant, despised and rejected of men and dying for our sins so that we may be forgiven.

Bootes

The last decan we come to in the constellation of Virgo is Bootes which comes from the root word Bo which means ‘to come’ in Hebrew and refers to Jesus as ‘The Coming One’ as in Ps 96:13 “Before the Lord: for He cometh, he cometh to judge the earth, he shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with his truth.”

The picture of Bootes is a picture of a man walking with a sickle in one hand and a spear in the other. His Greek name was Arcturus which also means ‘He cometh’ and in Egypt he was Smat which means “One who rules, subdues and governs”. 

Jesus came as a suffering servant to forgive us our sins but He is also coming again one day to rule and reign. This is the meaning of this sign as a whole, He who was born of a virgin, was fully God and fully man, but he was despised of men and died as a sin-offering for our sins but one day He will return to rule and reign. For more information about this sign you can watch our YouTube video at https://youtu.be/5EH3mmms4Sc?si=U01T_JzRsvljYdF7

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HOW DID THE WISE MEN KNOW TO FOLLOW THAT STAR?

In Matthew we are taught that some wise men (usually supposed to be three although this is actually probably incorrect) followed a star to find the baby Jesus when He was born. Have you ever asked yourself how the wise men knew to follow that particular star? In this post we will discuss this topic.

The Gospel in the Stars

In the previous post we looked at how God has written the gospels not only in the Bible but also in the stars and back in ancient times people had a much better understanding of what this gospel read. One part of this gospel is the gospel written in the decan of coma, a decan of the constellation of virgo which shows a young woman holding a child. Albumazar, an Arabic astronomer of the 8th century, tells us what this means:

“There arises in the first decan, as the Persians, Chaldeans and Egyptians and the two Hermes and Ascalius teach, a young woman whose Persian name denotes a pure virgin sitting on a throne, nourishing an infant boy (the boy, I say) having a Hebrew name , by some nations called IHESU with the signification IEZA, which in Greek is called CHRISTOS”

So we see here that the ancient Persians, Chaldeans and Egyptians knew that the sign of coma was a virgin who had given birth to Jesus Christ.

Thomas Hyde, an Orientalist, tells us in his book that the Persians were taught by Zoroaster that “a virgin should bring forth a son, and that when he should be born a star should appear, and should shine and be conspicuous in the midst of the figure of the virgin. It is then said he commanded his disciples, the Magi, when they should see the star that they should go forth where it directed them and offer gifts to him that should be born.” The Mazzaroth, Frances Rolleston.

So here we see that the Persians, of whom the magi were a part, were given this prophecy to follow a new star that appeared in the constellation of Virgo to the baby who they were to worship. As seen earlier, we know that they understood this baby to be Jesus and in the prophecy were probably given the land of Jacob as the place to find this infant and then the star would direct them to the exact point to find Jesus as EW Bullinger explains:

“This new star would show the latitude, passing at that time immediately overhead at midnight, every twenty-four hours, while the prophecy would give the longitude as the land of Jacob. Having these two factors it would be only a matter of observation, and easy for the Magi to find the place where it would be vertical, and thus to locate the very spot of the birth of Him of whom it was the sign, for they emphatically called it ‘His Star’.”

So here we see how the wise men knew to follow that particular star and how they found Jesus based on following the star. In the next post we will look at more prophecies in the constellation of Virgo.

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THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD

Over the next few posts we are going to be looking at the gospel in the stars, how the stars tell us more about Jesus and prophecy. We are told in Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork.” And in Psalm 147:4 it says, “He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.” When we know what God calls the stars we get a fuller picture of what He has to say about His plans and purposes for mankind, the world and prophecy in general.

God created the stars and He set them in their place, He created the zodiac to paint a picture but unfortunately satan has distorted this picture and created the lies of horoscopes. Satan tells us that the zodiac is all about us (typical in his pride) but the zodiac when read correctly is actually a picture of Jesus, the Son of God, being born of a virgin, suffering on the cross and then later coming to rule and reign.

Much of this prophetic picture has been lost as satan’s lies have creeped in but if we search we can still find this information and once again glorify God the way He should be glorified.

Over the course of the next few posts in this series we are going to be having a look at the different constellations, their decans and stars and the picture that they paint about Christ. Please note that this in no way means I am promoting horoscopes or the distortions that have entered the zodiac – these are lies of satan and need to be avoided at all costs. Do NOT read ‘your’ horoscope! The true story behind the zodiac is actually all about Christ and the best place to read it is in the Bible.

We will be providing plenty of Biblical evidence for the pictures we present in the zodiac and we encourage you to dig further to find out more of the truth as it is truly wonderful! Before people had the Bible, and remember that in terms of God’s history with man the Bible is a relatively new creation, people had creation to teach them about God and so it makes perfect sense that God spoke to people through the stars.

We see in Matthew that the wise men knew how to find Jesus and that He would be the King of the Jews because they followed the stars. We will be looking at this in more depth in the next post but it serves as proof that people used the stars to learn about God and that it did lead them to Jesus.

If you would like to learn more you can also follow our YouTube channel, the video for this post is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s259tJiIgu8

We look forward to sharing more about the gospel in the stars with you over the next few weeks.

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THE FOUR FACES OF GOD – THE FACE OF THE EAGLE IN JOHN

The last face of God we are going to look at is the face of the Eagle which is depicted in the gospel of John. The face of the eagle represents Jesus’ divinity as the eagle soars high in the heavens, so Jesus comes from the Heavens.

The Genealogy in John

The first thing we notice is that John doesn’t really have a genealogy as such, nor does it give any details regarding the nativity. In John we are simply told, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’ This therefore points to Jesus’ divinity – He is, and He was and He is to come.

‘I Am’ in the Gospel of John

In Exodus God reveals Himself as ‘I Am’ and in the Gospel of John Jesus makes seven ‘I Am’ statements about Himself:

‘I am the bread of life.’ John 6:35

‘I am the Light of the World’ John 8:12

‘I am the door’ John 10:7

‘I am the Good Shepherd’ John 10:11,14

‘I am the resurrection and the life’ John 11:25

‘I am the way, the truth and the life’ John 14:6

‘I am the true vine’ John 15:1

And in John 8:58 Jesus says, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.’

John 3:16

A well known verse that appears in John that does not appear in any other book of the Bible is ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son’, thus pointing to Jesus as the Son of God.

No Ascension in the Gospel of John

Another point about the gospel of John is that there is no ascension. We see Jesus rising from the dead and appearing to people but we do not see His ascension because He is God, He was from heaven and He was going back to Heaven and John just tells us that Jesus did many other miracles that He did not include but that his aim in writing was so that we might believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

I trust you have enjoyed this series on the faces of Jesus and that it has helped you get to know Him better. In our next series we will look at how even the heavens declare the glory of God and foretell about Jesus.

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THE FOUR FACES OF GOD – THE SON OF MAN IN LUKE

In this series we are having a look at the four faces of God and how they are represented in the gospels, in the gospel of Luke we have the face of the man because Luke wanted to reveal Jesus as the Son of Man.

The Genealogy in Luke

In Matthew we saw that Matthew had the royal genealogy of Christ, in Luke we see the genealogy of the average man. This is because Luke wanted to focus on Jesus’ humanity rather than His royalty. In Biblical times there were two ways of writing a genealogy, the one was used solely by royalty and the other by the average man on the street so to speak. In the Bible we are given both, Matthew focussing on His royalty as the Son of David and Luke focussing on His humanity as the Son of Man.

The Nativity in Luke

In Luke we see the humanity of Jesus again expressed in the visitors to His manger when He was born. In Matthew we saw royal visitors in the magi but in Luke we see humble shepherds visiting Jesus’ cradle. These shepherds had no special title or prestige but were just humble men who had seen the angels in the sky over Jerusalem and had come to visit Jesus.

Jesus as a Boy

Luke is the only gospel which really shows us Jesus growing up and becoming a man. We see stories of Jesus being presented at the temple as a baby and then later when He was 12 being found in the temple. We are told that Jesus ‘grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.’ So it shows us that, like other little boys, Jesus also had to learn and grow.

Compassion in the Parables

Two parables found only in the gospel of Luke are the parable of the good Samaritan and the parable of the prodigal son. Both of these parables show example of compassion, the compassion the good Samaritan had on the man he saved and the compassion of the father for his prodigal son. Compassion is an emotion that relates to our humanity and shows Jesus as a compassionate and gracious God. Luke is also the only gospel that teaches about Zaccheus and Jesus going to his house while he was considered a tax collector and sinner, and therefore showing compassion on Zaccheus.

Son of Man

Luke often refers to Jesus as the Son of Man, and so we see in the gospel of Luke that he is emphasizing Jesus’ humanity. Luke uses this phrase about twenty-four times in his gospel compared to ten times in the gospel of John and 14 in the gospel of Mark. He is also referred to as the Son of Man thirty times in the gospel of Matthew where the focus is on Him being the Son of David.

So in the gospel of Luke, we see Jesus as the Son of Man, being fully human while fully God. We see Jesus’ human characteristics such as mercy and compassion and learn a lot more about His life outside of His ministry. We see Jesus in the face of the Man.

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THE FOUR FACES OF GOD – THE FACE OF THE OX IN MARK

The Gospel of Mark looks at the face of the ox, Jesus as the suffering servant who came to lay down His life for His friends. The ox has always been seen as a beast of burden, toiling hard in the fields and strong for his task. The ox was also used in some sacrifices in the Old Testament. So Jesus came to be a servant to man and to lay down His life for us so that we could enjoy eternal life with Him.

Mark Has No Genealogy or Nativity

One thing that is noticeable about the gospel of Mark is that it has no genealogy or nativity, this is because no one really cared where a servant came from, only what they were able to do for them. The gospel of Mark begins with John preparing the way for Jesus and then jumps straight into Jesus’ ministry.

The Ascension in Mark

Just before the ascension in Mark we see Jesus telling His disciples about the works or miracles those who believed in Him would do, the ways in which He had served mankind by casting out devils and healing the sick. After this it simply said Jesus was received into heaven and sat at the right hand of God.

Keywords in Mark

One of the keywords in Mark is ‘immediately’, this is because a master expects immediate obedience from his servant. Jesus likewise expects immediate obedience from His disciples.

Action and Laying Down One’s Life

Another focus of Mark is action and laying down one’s life. Mark’s gospel starts quite early pointing towards the crucifixion and there is more talk of laying down one’s life than in the other gospels. There is also far more focus on action and serving both in His miracles and in His parables and the general story of Mark.

Mark therefore focuses on Jesus being the suffering servant without genealogy or any concern for his birth and early life and focused on what He did for the people and what was expected of His disciples.

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The Four Faces of God – The Face of the Lion in Matthew

The first face we come to in the gospel of Matthew is the face of the Lion, as we mentioned in our introduction to this series, the Lion was the King of the Beasts and represents Jesus as the King of Kings or the King of the Jews. Matthew was writing mainly to a Jewish audience and the question he wanted to answer for his audience was, ‘Was Jesus the King of the Jews?’ or the Messiah that they had been expecting and in numerous ways throughout this book he shows the answer to be a resounding ‘Yes!’

Jesus’ Genealogy in Matthew

The first way we see Jesus represented as the King or Lion in Matthew is because of the genealogy that Matthew represents. There were two different ways of presenting a genealogy in Biblical times, in the gospel of Matthew, Matthew shows the royal genealogy and his purpose is to link Jesus to King David revealing Jesus’ royal connection and therefore His right to be considered King by the Jews.

Royal Visitors at the Nativity

Matthew is the only gospel that tells the story of the Magi visiting Jesus. The Magi were important visitors from the East (Persia to be exact) and they asked Herod where the ‘King of the Jews’ was to be born as they had come to worship Him. This once again puts the focus on Jesus’ Royalty, the fact that he had important international visitors who claimed He was a King.

Focus on the Kingdom of Heaven

The Gospel of Matthew also focusses on the Kingdom of Heaven, mentioning it 53 times, whereas Mark mentions it 17 times and Luke 41 times. Matthew also focuses on the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ as opposed to the other writers who focus on the ‘Kingdom of God’, this was because he was writing to a Jewish audience who considered the name of God sacred and therefore preferred not to use the name of God.

The Royal Discourses

The gospel of Matthew also consists of a number of royal discourses, the sermon on the Mount is perhaps the most well known of these discourses and tells how a citizen of the Kingdom should behave. Other discourses are where Jesus sends out His disciples, or His emissaries, to spread the good news; the parables on the Kingdom of Heaven; and the Olivet discourse in Matthew 23-25 where Jesus talks of the second coming.

The Ascension

In the different gospels we are given different details of the Jesus’ ascension into Heaven after His rising from the dead (or sometimes we aren’t given much detail at all). In the Gospel of Matthew just before Jesus ascends into heaven He gives His disciples the Great Commission, once again this is like a king giving His command until He next sees His servants.

Our Response

What should our response to the face of the lion, or Jesus as the King be? It needs to be one of obedience. When Christ speaks, we obey, He is our King and we are His servants.  

In Matthew therefore we see Jesus as the King of the Jews and His royalty is represented in the face of the Lion. In the next few posts we will see Jesus’ face in the other gospels and what it means to us.

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