20 Dec. Matthew 2:10-12

20 Dec. The wise men bring gifts to the King of the Jews

"When the wise men saw the star, they were filled with joy."

"They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him."

"They opened their gifts and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

"But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their own country by a different way."

          (Matthew 2:10-12)


 

The 'magi' or 'wise men' found the infant Jesus with his mother Mary living in a house in Bethlehem – probably the house belonging to Joseph’s relatives (see Luke 2:7). In all likelihood, they had been living here with Joseph's relatives for several months before the 'wise men' arrived.

They bowed before the child and worshipped Jesus as the ‘King of the Jews’: "Where is the baby who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (see Matthew 2:2).

Then they presented him with symbolic gifts of precious gold (appropriate for a king), fragrant frankincense (burnt during worship in the Temple and signifying God’s presence) and costly myrrh (used for embalming and foretelling death).

But warned in a dream of Herod's evil intentions they returned home to their eastern homeland another way without informing King Herod.

The Greek Orthodox Monastery of St Theodosius at the village of Ubediyyeh, 15 miles / 12 km east of Bethlehem, is believed to mark the site where the magi rested when God warned them in a dream that they should not return to King Herod.

The photo (by Lux Moundi) shows a cross in the sky of Bethlehem.

You can read more about the visit of the 'wise men' @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/the-bible-journey/3-jesuss-childhood-journeys-b/wise-men-visit-jerusalem/

Powered by Church Edit