why did the magi travel to bethlehem

The teachers of the law knew so much, were so near, and did so little. We don't know where this was, but it is reasonable to assume that it could have been Persia, if not India or even China as some traditions . The chief point of controversy is respecting the time of the visit of the Magi, or three wise men, to baby Jesus. If they knew that the Messiah was to be born there, why didn't they go and check it out for themselves? The magi first appear in history in the seventh century B.C. They presented the child king with gifts of gold, After being warned in a dream not to report back to Herod where the Jewish king child was, the Magi returned to their country in the east by another route (, The Information the Magi had About the Newborn Jewish King Was the Same Information Recorded by Daniel in Babylon, The Actions of the Magi Hint of a Jewish Heritage or at Least a Belief in the God of IsraelAs Some theologians and, The reason the Magi traveled such a long distance to find a newborn. Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem in 5 B.C. So the birth of Jesus and the Star of Bethlehem must have occurred around this time. Why didn't the Wise Men go straight to Bethlehem? However, many scholars believe that Matthew's magi did not really exist. As recorded in the Bible, after observing a “star” (aster) which was a sign to them that a Jewish king had been born in Judea, wise men (Magi) from the east arrived in Jerusalem looking for the Jewish king: “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? A reading of the biblical account of the Magi (Matt. The Magi did not arrive just after the birth of Jesus, but came some 15 months later. They can be traced back to Babylonian and . Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Mat 2:1 Why did the Magi travel to Jerusalem if the star had stopped over Bethlehem? 5, pgs 83-101, “The Star of Bethlehem” (Oct. 1995)]. Report It Reply:They saw a star when they were in the east. What is the theme of early harvest by bienvenido Santos. Jerusalem and Bethlehem are over 5 miles apart. [See, Rick Larson, The Bethlehem Star, DVD (2008)]. Summary and Introduction” here>> ], Published: November 5, 2014 / Last Edited: December 21, 2014, SOURCES REFERENCED OR RELIED ON IN THIS ARTICLE, Colin Humphreys, “The Star of Bethlehem” (1995), (www.asa3.org, accessed 9/16/11), Rick Larson, The Star of Bethlehem, DVD, (2006) (available at www.BethlehemStar.org), Hal Lindsey, “The Mystery of the Magi”, 12/24/06, re-aired on DSTR on 1/2/10], Paul Maier, The First Christmas: The True and Unfamiliar Story (Kregel Publications, 2001), John Mosley, The Christmas Star, (Griffith Observatory, January 1988), Hugh Ross, “The Christmas Star”, revised article (11/2010) (available at www.reasons.org), Barry Setterfield, The Christmas Star, DVD, (Freedom Films, 2008). King Herod The magi traveled to Bethlehem because they wanted to go see There is also no mention of having to flee Herod's regime in Jerusalem. What did the three Magi bring to baby Jesus in Bethlehem? Lk. Magi, who have often been called the three wise men, traveled from the East to find Jesus and after consulting, and with King Herod in Jerusalem, they arrived in Bethlehem some time after Jesus birth. Skip to>>. If the Magi saw the a star in the east, why, then, did they travel west to Bethlehem? Matthew was writing Christian midrash, with the purpose of telling his readers that even the priests from Persia would have wanted to honour Jesus. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? According to the Book of Luke, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem 40 days after Jesus was born, which means they had remained in Bethlehem for some time after his birth: "And when the days for their purification ... Skip to>>, COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE MAGI Skip to>>, WHY WOULD MAGI FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY TRAVEL TO BETHLEHEM TO WORSHIP A JEWISH KING? However, if you really really hate the idea of the Magi not having been at Bethlehem, then you could go back to Luke 2:39 and put a time space of a few years in between the phrase "When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord," and the phrase "they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth." If you can make . – 2 B.C. We saw his star (aster) when it rose and have come to worship him.” — Matt. According to the Gospel, the second time the Magi saw the same star after "it stopped over the place where the child was. The Magi may have come from the area we now call Iraq, and could have had a sizeable armed escort with them. Related videos. 2:1). The Healing Power of Essential Oils includes DIY recipes and formulations for all of these health needs and more—all backed by extensive scientific research and the trusted guidance of public health researcher and aromatherapist Eric ... … Herod asked the visitors to let him know exactly where the child was, so he too could worship him.. Why did King Herod send the Magi? But so few people actually know what the Bible really says about this event, or what it actually means for us today. Matthew 2 shows that Jesus was in Bethlehem when the Wise Men visited him. However, historical evidence outside of the Bible indicates Magi from the east of Jerusalem (Persia, including Babylon) were well-educated men who studied astronomy. What was the star and who were the magi? The wonderful tidings about the newborn babe in Bethlehem spread quickly. The magi leave and do not report back to Herod. The Star of Bethlehem, or Christmas Star, appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew where "wise men from the East" (Magi) are inspired by the star to travel to Jerusalem. T he events surrounding Jesus' birth in the gospels of Luke and Matthew are very different. As a theoretical astrophysicist, Grant Mathews had hoped the answer would be spectacular — something like a supernova. How is He Different than Us? So the wise men's visit, Joseph and Mary's trip to Egypt, and their trip back, all of it had to have happened within 40 days of Jesus' birth. Now through Dec. 25, virtual explorers can retrace the footsteps of the Magi from what was once Persia to modern Bethlehem and explore some of the legends of the Nativity on this month's holiday adventure. The Magi knew so little, came so far, and gave so much. According to the Bible, the Magi or wise men came to Bethlehem looking for Jesus after he was born. What is the meaning of it is well to read everything of something and something of everything? Only six miles away. " In Authorized Mark Ward builds a case for the KJV translators' view that English Bible translations should be readable by what they called "the very vulgar"―and what we would call "the man on the street." He sent His only Son to be born as a human baby, to live life among us and finally, to save us. Here there is no mention of Magi but instead Luke has nearby shepherds coming to visit the young family. What Cite concrete illustrations or applications of how the four pillars contribute to lifelong learning? . Matthew's gospel says that they came from the east. . Soon after the visit by the Magi, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus since King Herod would seek the . From Jerusalem to Bethlehem the Magi followed the road winding through the hills, not the star. 3. In my post about Jonah I mentioned The Pony Express Riders would travel around 75 miles a day, interchanging horses every 5-20 miles. If they knew that the Messiah was to be born there, why didn't they go and check it out for themselves? Maybe less. Ragnar Boyesen. They also studied various historical documents, prophecies and oral traditions passed down through generations and cultures, tracing back to the earliest generations. Found insideJohn Shelby Spong, bestselling author and Episcopal bishop of Newark, NJ, challenges the doctrine of the virgin birth, tracing its development in the early Christian church and revealing its legacy in our contemporary attitudes toward women ... In sum, many Christian theologians and apologists propose the Magi were most likely a legacy of the Jews transported to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar or they at least believed in the God of Israel: [See, Rick Larson, The Bethlehem Star, DVD (2006); Hal Lindsey, “The Mystery of the Magi”, 12/24/06, re-aired on DSTR on 1/2/10]. If this can be determined, the other events may be easily arranged. The tax census was over and people had returned to their source of income before the tax census, leaving houses free to rent. Arrival of the Magi To Visit Christ. Profile Evidence--Did Jesus fulfill the attributes of God? Fingerprint Evidence--Did Jesus uniquely match the identity of the Messiah? The Case for Christmas invites readers to consider why Christmas matters in the first place. Lk. The gospel of Luke tells us about the angel Gabriel's visit to Mary, the trip of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the shepherds' visit to see Jesus, and the blessings given by Simeon . This means the wise men traveled 800 to 900 miles to see the Christ child. They quoted Micah 5:2: the expected king would be born to the line of David in Bethlehem (2:4-6); Herod therefore sent the Magi on to Bethlehem (2:8). Babylon at the time of Nebuchadnezzar II, 600 B.C.CC-BY-SA-3.0 (more>>), As recorded in the Book of Daniel, the Jews transported to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar included Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan. Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem? Herod asked the Wise Men to find Jesus and […] The Magi did not arrive just after the birth of Jesus, but came some 15 months later. The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:13-23) and in New Testament apocrypha. Historically, the magi of the East were wise men who gave counsel to kings. One of the most evocative images from any Christmas scene must be that of the Wise Men attending Jesus' birth, and the star hovering over the stable where He was born. "Swedenborg's brief summary of his teachings about the New Jerusalem, the new spiritual age that he said began in the eighteenth century, with extensive references to his multi-volume Secrets of Heaven for further reading"-- It would have been easy for them to be taken in by the trappings of Herod's power and to stay in Jerusalem when they arrived. The Magi told Herod all about it, and probably even said "That star, over there. W HY WOULD MAGI FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY TRAVEL TO BETHLEHEM TO WORSHIP A JEWISH KING?. was taken in Iraq in 2004. Asked by wiki @ 18/07/2021 viewed by 3 People. (Micah 5:2) 6. The Arabians certainly domesticated camels and over the centuries used them as pack animals on their trade routes across the Arabia peninsula. Found insideThis text helps students acquire a basic theological literacy in key persons and events of the Bible and the Christian faith, and in Christianity's encounter with culture at large. My answer is that Jesus went up to Jerusalem to make twin demonstrations, first against Roman imperial control over the City of Peace and, second, against Roman imperial control over the Temple of God. by Rev. From the references, it appears to be saying the magi saw the star in the east; that is, it is their position in the east from which they saw the star. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? The magi have the choice of two kings to honour. The magi traveled to Bethlehem because they wanted to go see Jesus, and bring him gifts, when he was born. By caravan, with no major detours or disruption, this trek would have probably taken 50 to 60 days. How does Loxton(1993) explain the good life? It is possible to unite people having contradicting values? Why wouldn't Herod just send his troops there to kill all kids that are too small for the amusement park rides? He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child. Many historians consider them to have been Semites and that the Jews and Arabs are both descendants of Noah's son Shem. The Journey of the Magi. According to Scripture, "wise men from the East" followed a star to Jesus' location and then "fell down and . At the time of Jesus’ birth, Babylon was part of the Persian Empire having been conquered by Cyrus the Great (king of Persia) in 539 B.C. lol - I love you, man. Why did King Herod want Jesus? AnswerAccording to Matthew's Gospel, the magi travelled to Bethlehem to worship Jesus and to bring him gifts. In sum, Matthew 2:1-12 provides the following historical information about the Magi: COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE MAGI REFERENCED IN THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT. The Christmas season abounds with stories and songs about the amazing work that God did on behalf of the world. Historical evidence further verifies Magi had a reputation of traveling to other countries to pay homage to foreign kings. Maybe less. Did you know that we actually have the manual used by the magi in Babylonia to interpret the stars? The Babylonian magi were famous for their ability to read the skies. (Luke 2:1-5) 4. Who were the "Magi from the east"? The Bible tells us that the Magi's began their travel from the East to Jerusalem: "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem" (Matthew 2:1).. The Resurrection Best Explains the Transformation of Jesus’ Disciples from Fearful Fleers to Faithful Followers, The Resurrection Best Explains Jesus’ Empty Tomb — Introductory Summary, God’s Attributes — What is God Like? The Magi or Wise Men. The account of the visit of the Magi can be found in Matthew 2:1-18. The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:13-23) and in New Testament apocrypha. 2:1-5 Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem in Judaea, where Joseph's family live (see 1 on Map 4).The journey takes four or five days as Nazareth is 65 miles / 105 km north of Jerusalem (in a straight line), while Bethlehem is a hilltop town situated on a ridge near the edge of the Judaean desert, 5 miles / 8km south of Jerusalem.. Map 4 The Birth of Jesus The magi knelt down for the baby Jesus and "offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Their gifts are possibly an allusion to Isaiah's vision of nations rendering tribute to Jerusalem: "A multitude of camels shall cover you. 7. We Know When they Returned to Nazareth The wise men account (Matthew) tells us that they returned to Nazareth after their return from Egypt (Matthew 2:22,23). By caravan, with no major detours or disruption, this trek would have probably taken 50 to 60 days. Emperor Augustus decreed that there should be a census around 8BC. The root of these stories is the experience of hope found in the birth of Jesus and the affirmations of surrender and service embodied in his parents, Joseph and Mary. 2:1-2 (NIV), WHAT INFORMATION DOES THE BIBLE PROVIDE ABOUT THE WISE MEN (MAGI)? Based on the number of comments received on the last post regarding the story of the Magi, there is another aspect relating to the birth of Christ that should be shared and that is corroborated by the Biblical account and historical documentation. What is a song that everyone likes but won't admit it? (The latter view is indicated by John Gill in his commentary). According to the Gospel of Matthew, the star made the magi travel to Jerusalem. The journey from Parthia to Jerusalem is approximately 500 miles. The manual even suggests a trip to Israel in order to seek peace! 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