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The Magi, also called “wise men,” were advisors to kings who used astrology and astronomy to make predictions. They came from the East - likely from Babylon, a major ancient empire east of Israel.
Flashback: Centuries earlier, Babylon had conquered Judah, and during that time, Daniel, a follower of God, lived there and interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. Later, the angel Gabriel (yes, the same angel who appeared to Mary!) gave Daniel a prophecy about the coming Messiah. Gabriel told Daniel that from the time a command was given to rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah’s arrival, there would be “seventy sevens.” In ancient Hebrew, each "seven" represents seven years. Ezra and Nehemiah received this command 490 years before Jesus’ birth, and Gabriel’s prophecy pointed directly to this moment.
Fast forward to the time of Jesus’ birth, the wise men likely knew about this centuries-old prophecy. They tracked the stars, counted the years, and watched the skies, and when they saw a special star to the west, they recognized it as a sign of a king’s birth. They traveled to find him, bringing expensive gifts fit for royalty: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
But when they arrived, they didn’t find this king in a palace surrounded by luxury. Instead, they found him in a humble home with his carpenter father and young mother. Despite the setting, they worshiped him as the long-awaited Savior.
Even at Jesus’ birth, God’s plan was clear: salvation wasn’t just for Israel but for the whole world. As John 3:16 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Take time today to reflect on the gifts you could offer Jesus in worship. What talents, resources, or areas of your life can you dedicate to him as an act of faith and gratitude?