| Have you ever been curious about why the Wise Men | | | | thousands of years had passed since Daniels |
| or the Magi who came to visit Jesus upon His birth? | | | | pronouncement of a soon coming king, how did they |
| How did they know exactly when to arrive? And how | | | | know exactly when and where to arrive? And how |
| did they know where to look for the new coming | | | | was Daniel able to predict the exact date of the |
| King? How in the world would they find an infant in this | | | | Messiah’s arrival (Dan. 2:12-48, 9:24-26)? Daniel |
| far away nation. It would be akin to looking for a | | | | was a man of prayer and Gabriel answered his |
| needle in a haystack. When did these wise men know | | | | prayer and told Daniel not only when He would come, |
| when to precisely leave for this likely year long | | | | but when He would be crucified (Dan. 9). The location |
| journey? | | | | must have obviously been common knowledge to |
| In the first place, the Bible doesn’t mention precisely | | | | these Wise Men, otherwise they could only have |
| mention that there were only three of them (Luke | | | | guessed at it. And only guessing about the when and |
| 2:1-12). There may have been more than three. They | | | | where of the Messiah’s birth would have been |
| did bring at least three types of gifts, but these were | | | | sheer, blind luck for them to ever find Him. If it was too |
| customary gifts to kings in this age. Also, there most | | | | early, they would have missed Him and if they were |
| certainly could have been more than three offerings. | | | | too late, baby Jesus and His parents would have |
| And the question of why would they bring gifts has | | | | already fled to Egypt (Matt. 2:13). |
| been asked? It was certainly customary to have | | | | The book of Daniel makes it obvious that he foreknew |
| dignitaries from several nations be present for a | | | | when the coming Savior would be born and He must |
| coronation of a new king (Glory to the newborn King). | | | | have known where but this was also reveal to other |
| And no one would approach a king without a gift or | | | | prophets as well and so was still common knowledge |
| without bringing an offering. | | | | even in the minor prophet‘s day (Micah 5:2). Since |
| Incidentally, these gifts would come in handy later to | | | | Daniel was the leading Magi of the nation he was |
| fund a trip to Egypt that Joseph and Mary would have | | | | being held captive in, it makes sense that this was |
| to take to avoid King Herod’s killing of all males age | | | | taught to the nation and was incorporated into their |
| two and under; this would have included the baby | | | | religious prophecies. Eastern religions had long used |
| Jesus. This murder of male babies and infants was | | | | astrology to try and predict certain events and this star |
| designed to prevent any other king from arising and | | | | was obvious to them the sign they had almost |
| taking Herod’s place. That’s not precisely why | | | | certainly looked for. Ancient eastern customs and |
| the Magi had brought gifts, but this does explain why | | | | prophecies had long predicted a world ruling king to be |
| these foreign dignitaries, upon seeing Him, fell down and | | | | born in this same time. This was a residue of Daniels |
| then began to worship the infant Jesus (Mt. 2:11). The | | | | teachings that were recorded for posterity and |
| wise men were originally a class of priests so their | | | | remained to the day of Christ’s birth. |
| worshiping Him was totally appropriate. And the | | | | During this time in history (5 AD-0) nations were |
| precise number of nations that were represented is | | | | expecting a great king coming out of the Jews. These |
| not revealed in the Bible, so there may have been | | | | nations may have been influenced by Daniel and his |
| more than three that were represented and more than | | | | writings, since he knew when and where the Christ |
| three wise men or governmental representatives. | | | | would be born (Micah 5:2). The Persian’s and the |
| Common sense would seem to indicate that there | | | | Hebrews had similar beliefs, more than any other |
| were probably more gifts and more wise men than | | | | nation at that time. They also believed in one God, did |
| only three. And this was likely no small excursion. The | | | | not worship idols and saw light as a symbol of God. |
| size of the caravan must have been exceedingly | | | | How perfectly fitting that Bethlehem would be the |
| large. These must have had accompanying guards for | | | | birthplace of the Savior since the name means |
| protecting the wise men as well as all the valuable | | | | “house of bread”. He is known as the Bread of |
| gifts, plus there must have been food, servants and | | | | Life and that He was in a manger which is a feeding |
| supplies. | | | | trough that usually had grain. This fits with Jesus saying |
| Now comes the exceedingly difficult questions of the | | | | “I am the Bread of Life”. But where exactly |
| who, what, when, where, why and how of finding the | | | | would they find Baby Jesus and how? They had been |
| soon coming infant King? How did these wise men | | | | following the star, but this only pointed them in the right |
| from the entire known world at the time, know Who to | | | | direction, toward Judea. But how could they know |
| look for, what to look for, when to find Him, and where | | | | exactly where to find Him in a fairly large country or |
| to find the soon-to-be-born King and Messiah? They | | | | city? The Old Testament prophet Micah knew the |
| apparently already knew the why of finding Him from | | | | Savior would be born in Bethlehem. Daniel must have |
| Daniel‘s written messages recorded for posterity in | | | | known this and passed this on to others in Babylonia. |
| Babylonia. When Daniel and Israel where being held | | | | He had already recorded the number of days until this |
| captive by Babylonia, they imported their religion and | | | | prophecy was to be fulfilled (to the minute!). |
| history, including their knowledge of God with them. | | | | And “…when they saw the star, they rejoiced, |
| These conquests also included gathering up all wise | | | | with exceeding great joy (Matt. 2:10)” knowing this |
| men of the Medes, Persian, and all nations under his | | | | must be the place. But it was only when the star |
| rule for the kings private council and the nations under | | | | came directly over [literally, “stood over” like |
| Babylon‘s domination represented all the known | | | | someone or something stood over] the child did they |
| peoples, nations and languages that were known at | | | | knew for certain where the infant would be. This |
| this time (Dan 6:3, 6:25). Daniel was apparently in this | | | | explains the “exceeding great joy”, since they |
| council and not only that, he was the head over it all | | | | had finally found Him. After perhaps a year or more, |
| (Dan. 5:29, 6:1-3). Since Daniel had previously proven to | | | | and having traveled thousands of miles, with no map, |
| Nebuchadnezzar, and most recently, King Darius, that | | | | no guide, only a star to guide then, they now beheld |
| God does exist and knows not only the whispers in a | | | | the star. This star had shown them precisely where |
| king’s chamber, but his dreams too, he had placed | | | | the new King was. Herod the king and all the so-called |
| Daniel as the highest authority (next to the king) in | | | | religious experts; the Chief Priests and Scribes could, |
| Babylonia. This included the position of Governor, | | | | could not even find Him, lest Herod would have had |
| placing Daniel over all authorities in the greatest | | | | him killed (Matt. 2:3). But foreigners, from another |
| kingdom of that present world. And subsequently, this | | | | continent away, knew exactly when, where, and how |
| included reigning over all wise men (Dan. 2:12, 48). | | | | to find Him. They followed the star and apparently |
| Ironically, Daniel’s title was actually rab mag or | | | | knew when this epic event would happen. |
| “chief of the Magi” (Dan. 5:11). But after | | | | |