Is Christmas a Celebration of Wise Men

Most people are not able to Remember a time when Christmas did not celebrate these men. But along time ago in a not so far away place these men were celebrated on another Great High Feast of the Church. This High Feast day is Epiphany. Epiphany is the day when the Light of the World came to the Nations. The Magi indicate this coming of the Star to the Nations.

In the Early Church or so I have been told they did not celebrate Christmas but Epiphany. This was celebrated as the LORD coming to the entire Earth. The Light of the World come for the World. This would have the Angel cry Peace and Good will to all mankind.

Now this may not be totally true. Most of the Church as I understand has celebrated Christmas and Epiphany, but the Feast of Epiphany was seen more important than Christmas. This makes sense because as Gentile Christians, they would care more about the Child being worshiped by non-Jews.

The Magi are not Jews. There is no real description of where exactly they come from. There is no indication of what god they worshipped. There is no full indication that they are not part of the Lost Tribes of Israel, but doubtful. These men come from the East, not indicated how far east. These men saw a star in the Sky and followed it.

The text says they "saw his star in the east." One has to assume in the east describes their location not the star's relative position. Otherwise these people would have traveled East and not West to Judea.

The Magi are Celebrated for other reasons besides the fact they are Gentiles while they have found prominence in our Christmas Story, because they are Gentiles, these men are also coming in search of the King of the Jews. The Magi bring with them the Account of the Holy Innocents. They also show us the Persecution of the Christ Child from his birth.

The Magi also give us our proof text as to where the Christ was to be born. The Child is not born in Jerusalem but Bethlehem. This city made famous by Rachael giving birth to Benjamin and Ruth and Boaz and finally King David. The City of the King is repeated here in Matthew as before in his Genealogy taught us about the King.

The Magi give further celebration of the Season of Light. They point us to look to the stars as a sign. They see the Star that leads them and it may do so in the manner which the Pillar of Fire lead the Israelites. "And Behold the star which they saw in the east lead them." This could indicate that when they got to Jerusalem they ignored the Star to Ask the King. Then they followed the star as it continued to Bethlehem.

Finally the Magi indicate for us the Time frames. They give a time when they saw the star until they reported to the King. The King uses this time frame to kill the Holy Innocents. Therefore, these things took place roughly 2 years after the Birth of the Christ.

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