December 15, 2008 - Did The Wise Men Go To Worship At The Manger?

Meditation on Matthew 2

It is common to see the nativity scene where the shepherds and the Wise Men from the East all worship the Baby Jesus together at the manger. That needs to be corrected. Yes, it is true that the shepherds found Baby Jesus in a manger. But Matthew 2:11 clearly says, "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worship Him." (NKJV) By the time the Magi arrived from the East, Jesus was a young child and he was living in a house with Mary and Joseph.

How long did it take for them to travel? I would estimate that it took them about thirteen months. According to the official astronomic record of the Han dynasty, during the 2nd year of the reign of Xiao Ai Di (孝哀帝), (around the actual time when Jesus was born, 4-5 BC.) a bright comic appeared in the constellation of Bull Carrier for seventy some days. For this most unusual appearance, the officials in the court had suggested a new era had arrived for the kingdom and had attempted to change the official calendar for the kingdom for sometime. Then about thirteen months later, in the same region of the constellation, the comic reappeared again.

This phenomenon explains to us why the Magi saw the star again with great joy in Matthew 2:10. Also we can understand why Herod commanded to kill all male infants under two years old in Bethlehem. It was more than a year since the Wise Men began their journey to search for the King of the Jews.

Though Jesus was born in the city of David, he was also announced by the angel to be the savior for all people, (Luke 2:10-11) So, the Jews, the Wise men and all of us should worship Him.