The appearance of the Magi in the birth narrative of Jesus is certainly significant but definitely brief. We know little about them. They were star-gazers from the east… they were learned men… they had enough clout to earn an audience with King Herod… they eventually found Jesus… and they brought gifts. Such slight detail for what was probably a most arduous journey.
I wonder, what was that journey like? How many trials did they face? How far did they travel? What country did they call home? How many were in their traveling procession? But I think the most compelling question that I would like to ask them is, “Were you disappointed in who you found?”
They had to be shocked at the humble sight of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, right? No way they were expecting to find the King of the Jews as the son of a carpenter! It makes total sense that their first stop in Judah was at King Herod’s palace in Jerusalem, THAT is where you would expect to find a new born king — not in the callused hands of someone who worked hard for a living.
Yet, Matthew records, “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.” Matthew 1:11 Yes, I am fairly certain that Jesus wasn’t who the Magi expected to find… but they certainly had the right attitude… they worshiped him.
T.S. Elliot is one of my favorite poets, and his poem, “Journey of the Magi,” is one of my favorite poems. He ends the poem with the following words of a Magi:
All this was a long time ago, I remember.
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down…
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or for Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt.
I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different;
This Birth was hard and bitter agony for us,
Like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.
T.S Elliot, Journey of the Magi
I love Elliot’s reflections on the impact that worshipping Jesus had on those Magi. Of course, it is purely poetic speculation, but I find the reflections on Birth and Death compelling. Notice that sometimes “birth” and “death” are capitalized and sometimes not. Elliot is putting significant weight behind those words.
He is stating there is birth and death as we know it in the physical world… the birth and death that every living creature experiences in the cycle of life; but there is also a “Birth” and “Death” that can be experienced when one worships the true King. The Death to our old life… and the new spiritual Birth that happens as a result. Which is why this Magi cries out that he is no longer at ease in the land he returned to — because his people were worshipping gods who could provide no such life change… so he waits for his death… so that then… he can worship the King… again.
When anyone meets THE KING… they have a choice… worship him… or not. And when we worship… when we place our faith in him and his goodness… everything changes. We can no longer be at ease in our old dispensation. We are new creatures! With new purpose! And a new hope!
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