Monday, December 11, 2006
The second chapter of Matthew's Gospel gives us the account of the Magi who came to Israel looking for the new born Messiah. We know them as the 3 wise men, though in truth the number is unknown. This record of their visit is important because it collaborates two predictions concerning Jesus' birth. The Magi came to Israel seeking to worship "He who is born King of the Jews." According to the custom of the day and assuming the nation of Israel would be as excited as they were about the matter, they came to King Herod in the capital. As soon as he heard the nature of their visit, Herod called in the scholars and priests to find out where Messiah would be born. They told him Bethlehem and soon after Herod had all the male children in Bethlehem under two years of age killed.
Key questions to ask and answer are: How did the Magi know the significance of a sign they had seen in the sky back in their home land? Why did Herod immediately know they were speaking of the Messiah?
The answers are in the Old Testament books written by the prophets Daniel and Micah. Daniel's prophecy detailed the year when the Messiah would be "cut off" or be executed by linking it to the date when a decree to rebuild Jerusalem would be issued. We know this degree was issued by Artaxerxes in 445 BC which would put the date of Messiah being cut off 483 years later or around 33-37 AD (allowing for errors in the calendars). Micah's prohecy stated Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
The Magi saw something new in the sky that looked like a star and searched their ancient writing to see what significance it might have. Among their manuscripts was Daniel's prophecy. Daniel had been taken captive and trained up as a magi in the Babylon government some 600 years earlier. That is why they had a copy. Since they knew the time of Messiah's death it would be easy to determine a window to time for his birth. So, they set out on a journey that would lead them to Jerusalem some 18 months or so later.
The Jews knew these prophecies as well and that is why Herod knew what the Magi were talking about and the scholars knew where to look.
This is what caught my attention and gave me reason to look into the matter of Jesus' identity. These prophecies predate His birth by hundreds of years. They are precise in detail and could be understood before the fact as to their meaning. That makes them unique. Both men claimed they got the information from God. I wanted to know more.
Key questions to ask and answer are: How did the Magi know the significance of a sign they had seen in the sky back in their home land? Why did Herod immediately know they were speaking of the Messiah?
The answers are in the Old Testament books written by the prophets Daniel and Micah. Daniel's prophecy detailed the year when the Messiah would be "cut off" or be executed by linking it to the date when a decree to rebuild Jerusalem would be issued. We know this degree was issued by Artaxerxes in 445 BC which would put the date of Messiah being cut off 483 years later or around 33-37 AD (allowing for errors in the calendars). Micah's prohecy stated Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
The Magi saw something new in the sky that looked like a star and searched their ancient writing to see what significance it might have. Among their manuscripts was Daniel's prophecy. Daniel had been taken captive and trained up as a magi in the Babylon government some 600 years earlier. That is why they had a copy. Since they knew the time of Messiah's death it would be easy to determine a window to time for his birth. So, they set out on a journey that would lead them to Jerusalem some 18 months or so later.
The Jews knew these prophecies as well and that is why Herod knew what the Magi were talking about and the scholars knew where to look.
This is what caught my attention and gave me reason to look into the matter of Jesus' identity. These prophecies predate His birth by hundreds of years. They are precise in detail and could be understood before the fact as to their meaning. That makes them unique. Both men claimed they got the information from God. I wanted to know more.
