The Magi

The story of The Magi, or the Wise Men, as written in the Bible, says that Magi from the east saw a star rise that signified a new king. They followed the star and went to the leader of the land, who was King Herod. They inquired about the new king and Herod asked when the star appeared and spoke with the scribes and teachers of the law as to where this king is to be born. They said he would be born in Bethlehem. So Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem to find the new king and asked them to come back to tell him where this new king lived so he could also go and worship him.

The Magi went and followed the star to Bethlehem and it came to rest over the house where Mary, Joseph and Jesus lived. They entered the house and bowed down to worship Jesus. They then presented Mary with gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Since they had been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they left Jesus and went home via a different route. Meanwhile, Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt. Herod was furious that the Magi didn’t return and ordered all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem and surrounding areas killed. In accordance to the time line the Magi had said as to when the star appeared. Jesus was saved because his parents took him to Egypt.

Why am I recounting this story? Because I have issues with nativity sets. Most every nativity set that is sold in stores or passed down as family heirlooms depicts the following: Mary and Joseph kneeling beside a manger that contains Baby Jesus, usually with his arms outstretched and looking to be about a year old. Sometimes Joseph is standing but Mary is kneeling. Surrounding this little family is usually sheep and cows. All of this is contained in a stable like structure (if that came with the set). Standing near by, with maybe one or two figures kneeling, are the three wise men (Magi). Very sweet. Very Christmasy. Wholly inaccurate.

First of all, Jesus was a newborn wrapped in swaddling clothes. Which means he was wrapped in cloth from his neck all the way down. He was not lying there with a cloth around his hips and his arms raised to heaven.

Secondly, the stable was not a stable like we have. It was more than likely a cave like structure. But that is a minor point.

My major issue is with the Magi. They are depicted in a group of three kneeling or standing by Jesus. Let me point out why this is wrong.

Not to debunk the whole “We Three Kings of Orient Are” Christmas carol but there is nothing written that says there were three kings. They brought three gifts but there could have been two or there could have been ten. We don’t know how many there were.

Then there is the location. It clearly states in the Bible that the Magi came to the house where the Holy Family lived. A HOUSE. Not a stable. They only stayed in the stable for the birth and maybe a few days after. Then they moved on to an actual house. So to depict the Magi coming to the stable the night Jesus was born is wrong. They came to a house…as it says in the Bible (Matthew 2:11).

Now let us discuss the time line. The star first appeared the night Jesus was born. That was when the Magi saw it. They then had to travel from the east, following the star, to find Jesus. This took a while. They didn’t have planes, trains or automobiles. They weren’t beamed over by a transporter. They traveled by camel. It took a couple of years for them to reach Bethlehem. That is why Herod ordered the killing of every male child under the age of TWO.

These are all the reasons I have a problem with nativity sets. The wise men weren’t necessarily three, they never saw the stable and Jesus was two when they finally did find him. Nativity sets are completely inaccurate.

At my church, during Advent (the four weeks leading up to Christmas), Pastor has the children move the wise men from window sill to window sill during the Children’s Message. From the far back of the church to the window by the tree. Eventually on Christmas Eve, they arrive at the stable.

And every year that this takes place, I sit there and think “this is wrong – the wise men weren’t there on Christmas”. I finally brought it up at the Worship Committee meeting this month and was basically told that it is tradition. After all, we cover all over Jesus’ life from Christmas until Easter each year.

Ok…granted. But shouldn’t we be teaching the story as it is in the Bible and not as we have distorted it over time and with tradition? Couldn’t we depict the wise men traveling from Christmas until Epiphany on January 6^th since that is when we celebrate the wise men arriving at Jesus side? It seems to me that it is confusing to show the wise men traveling to Bethlehem even before the star appears and then actually celebrate their arrival twelve days after they arrive at the stable in the nativity set.

I know that this isn’t really important in the grand scheme of things. After all, Jesus wasn’t born on December 25^th and he wasn’t born when the years changed from BC to AD. It was actually 4 AD…or maybe 4 BC. Either way, he wasn’t 2000 years old in 2000 AD. Oh….and the whole “December 25th” date was picked to take over a pagan holiday occurring at that time.

But I just think that it may be a minor issue but shouldn’t the story be told as accurately as possible? Why distort it for tradition sake?

I guess for my own peace of mind and because I like historical accuracy, I will have to try to find a nativity set that contains both shepherds and wise men. And then maybe buy two sets so I can have more than three wise men and lots of shepherd. (I’ll just hide the extra Mary, Joseph and Jesus). Then I can leave the “stable” empty until Christmas Eve, put Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the display then and a little while later in the evening, add the shepherds. Then on January 6^th, I can put in the group of wise men. And leave it up for a while…maybe until the start of Lent. This way at least I can have peace of mind and stop myself from thinking during Advent at church “this is wrong!”. Because someday, when I am very old, gray and crotchety, I may just start mumbling it under my breath or, worse yet, yelling it out loud. EEK! Let’s hope THAT doesn’t happen!!