How old do you think Jesus was when the wise men visited? Do you envision Him being just a few days old? A few weeks? From where have you gotten that image? Has it been influenced by popular culture? Would it impact your faith if your image was incorrect?
The liturgical calendar of the church has us recognizing this Sunday as Epiphany Sunday. Epiphany is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. This year, it is Monday, January 6. Therefore, we celebrate is Sunday. Epiphany is when we recognize the wise men’s visit.
Unfortunately, we may think it was twelve days after Jesus’ birth that the wise men made their visit, which is not necessarily true. We can state it was more than eight days after Jesus was born for Luke 2:21 tells us that Jesus was circumcised according to Jewish custom on the eighth day and named Jesus. The Jews would formally name their male children on the day of their circumcision. This also confirms that Mary and Joseph followed the Jewish law.
Another interesting fact is Matthew states Bethlehem of Judea to indicate the Bethlehem that was just five miles south of Jerusalem rather than the Bethlehem of Zebulun, which was north. Yes, there were two different Bethlehem’s, and it was important to indicate the City of David, which fulfilled prophecy.
It is also very possible these wise men were Jewish. Minimally, they were familiar with the Jewish Scriptures and prophecy. These wise men knew a significant event had occurred. It is possible, and even likely, God guided these wise men to Jerusalem. They King Herod to enquire about the newborn king. We would be wise to enquire about the King of kings as well.
I pray we all seek the truth rather than cultural traditions. I pray we seek to understand Jewish customs. I pray each one of us will seek to know more about Jesus, the King of kings. Seek the truth. Understand Jewish customs. Put the pieces together. Seek to know more about Jesus.
Matthew 2:1-2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”
Marty Pressey 