When did the Magi visit Jesus?

When did the Magi come and visit Jesus? Was there only three of them? Where did they come from? Well I went through this in one of my classes and I thought I would share it. Though I decided to do it a little differently. I thought I would do is from the perspective of a young boy and his dad having a bible study. The story ended up quite long, so I decided to break it into a couple of parts. Here is part 1. Let me know what you think.

Mike

Update: I have finished all parts of this story now it is in 3 parts here is:

Part 2

Part 3

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One day a young boy named Caleb came to his father and ask “Dad when did the Magi (wise men) see baby Jesus?” He went on to say “I was downtown today and I was looking at the Nativity scene in front of the church and I overheard some men talking about how the wise men and how they did not see Jesus in the manager. How can this be? If they were not there then, then when did they see Jesus? They also said that there were way more than three wise men is this true? Why do all pictures I see always show it this way if it is not true?”

“Wow, slow down” said his dad. “Come on let’s sit down and have some hot chocolate and I will tell you all about the wise men and how Joseph and Mary came to be in the manager in the first place.” Caleb spoke up and said “I know that, there was no room in the inn” he stated proudly. “Well that is true, but there is a lot more to the story, why don’t we get our bibles and I will show you what I am talking about. Let’s start with Luke 1.” His dad said.

So they opened their bibles and read together:

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:30-34)

Now when they finished reading, his dad said “This is not where the actually journey begins for Joseph and Mary, but it is where the chronicle needs to start. This is where we see that the God of the universe who with but a word created everything set aside His Glory to become a man. O the depths of love that must have filled the Father when He allowed His Son to become man to redeem that which He created. What depths of love the Son must have had for us to set aside everything to become a baby lying in a manger. To actually become man and walk among us, to understand what it is like to be man to show us how to overcome, what an incomprehensible love He must have for us.” “Our Dad and Jesus must really love us, huh dad?” Caleb said. “He sure does son, He sure does.” his father stated.

Here is a question for you, do you know where Joseph and Mary were living when the Angel came to Mary?’ his dad asked. Caleb shot back “Oh that is easy dad; everyone knows they lived in Nazareth.” You are absolutely right” declared his dad. “Ok, let’s turn to Luke 2 and see why Mary and Joseph had to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem” his dad said.

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth (Luke 2:1)

“Now Joseph belonged to the tribe of David and he was originally from the town of Bethlehem so this is why they had to go to Bethlehem” his dad said. “Do you know why this is so important?” his dad asked Caleb. “No” he answered “why was it important that they went to Bethlehem?” Caleb answered. “Well it was not just important as to where they went, but also what tribe they belong to” his dad said.

“You see a long time ago a prophet declared that…” Caleb interrupted and asked “what’s a prophet dad?” “Well for our purpose here” his dad said. “A prophet is someone who is inspired by God to bring a messages and predictions of the future to the people. Does this make sense” his dad ask? “yep” Caleb said.

OK, where was I, Oh yea” his dad said. “A long time ago a prophet predicted that, well why don’t we just go and see what the prophets had to say” his father said. “let’s start by going to 2^nd Samuel.”

“When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ” I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”"‘ (2^nd Samuel 7:12-16)

“Now let’s flip over and see what Isaiah has to say about the importance of Jesus coming from the line of David” his dad said.

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse [David's Dad], and a branch from his roots will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1)

“God chose the line of David to bring Jesus into the world” his dad said “and we can see by these passages that first the prophet Nathan declared to David and then the Prophet Isaiah also declared to the people. God never does anything unless He first declares that He is going to do it. This is how much He loves us, He wants us to be in partnership with Him and this is one way that He does it” his dad said. “Yea, but what about Bethlehem” his son asked? “Well, God also told us through His prophets that His son would be brought forth from Bethlehem” his dad said. “let’s go look at it, turn your bible to Micah.”

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” (Micah 5:2)

“Here again” his dad said “we see God proclaiming through His prophets where His son was to come into the world.” “Wow” proclaimed Caleb “God really thought of everything didn’t he.” “He certainly did” his dad said.

“Lets see now” his dad said “We see now that Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem for the census, but let’s see what happens when they get there.” Let’s go back to the book of Luke and see what he had to say about this.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

So Jesus was born in a stable” declared Caleb. “Yes” his dad replied.” Though it could just have been stable could have taken many forms including being a cave, or the lower floors of someone’s house back in though days” his dad stated. “But let’s get to your question. Who showed up for that birth? Let’s look back in Luke and again and we will find out.”

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ” Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”… So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

(Luke 2:8-12; 16 emphasis mine)

“So we can see that according to the Word, the shepherds are the only people that we know of that visited Joseph, Mary and Jesus in the stable” his dad staid. “But what about the three wise men” Caleb asked? “Well get there, but for just know that they did not see Jesus in the manager for they were very far away and it would have took a very long time to travel and see him” his dad answered.

“OK, now what happened” asked Caleb? “Well let’s what the bible says what happened.

“Hold on young man” his dad replied “It time for you to go to bed, it is late and you have school tomorrow. Why don’t we continue this tomorrow night.” “Ok” Caleb reluctantly replied “Good night dad, I love you.” Good night Caleb” his dad said “and I love you too very much. Good night son.”

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Update: I have finished all parts of this story now it is in 3 parts here is:

Part 2

Part 3

~ by mjwakema on April 4, 2008.