2. Background
•Who are the Magis? (MAGIcians)
Wise and learned men
•Astrologers, magicians, enchanters
from Persia/Arabia> ROYALS
•Equivalent of scientists today
3. How many?
•Definitely not 3 (dangerous route)
possibly 300 people
•3 gifts of probably chests
•Jesus was probably 1.5 to 2 years old
(1,600 km – 3 months of travel)
•Not in a manger
5. Magi
•Prophecy – Numbers 24:17
•“I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
the skullsofall the people of Sheth.”
6. Elements of Wise Men Worship
•Recognize base truth
•Recognize that wisdom is a gift
•Recognize the power of God
7. Recognize Base Truth (Prophecy)
•The Magi knew about the prophecy
for years
•They were waiting for the RIGHT
TIME to act on it!
8. Recognize that wisdom is a gift
•Daniel 2:10-12 > they told
Nebuchadnezzar that “no one on
earth can tell the king’s dream…”
•Even Daniel 2:23 – for you have
given me wisdom…
•Trained under Daniel
9. Recognized the Power of God
•Astrologers – “If they saw the star over
Israel, it would indicate that the star
was not astronomical, because stars do
not rise in the West — they rise in the
East. If it rose in the East, then it must
have been special” (Creation Today)
10. Star = Presence of God
•Shekinah Glory of God was leading
them!
•Hence, they knew it was God
11. Why not Bethlehem? Why pass by
Jerusalem?
•The importance of Jerusalem in
Salvation History
•The large entourage disturbed the
WHOLE of JERUSALEM
•Reminder of God’s great mercy
