Left to Write: The Lesson of the Magi
12-31-2006
by Brenten Gilbert

He has filled our hearts with wonder. . . You and I are made to worship
Chris Tomlin - "Made to Worship"

O Henry gave us perhaps the most classic of tales regarding the nature of the Magi - traditionally, the wisemen who came to visit Jesus and proclaim Him king. His short story, The Gift of the Magi, concludes with the moral that sacrificial giving is the wisest and most beautiful type of giving.

Perhaps since it's such a familiar tale and they such familiar characters, I've never given too much thought about the Magi, but while I was working on a review for a Christmas album earlier this season, something struck me about the story of the Magi - a few things actually. Needless to say, the rabbit trail was in full view, I intended to follow the path at some point, and now is as good a time as ever.

The first question is obviously a question of identity. Who were the magi?

Well, traditionally - according to the famous carol - the three wisemen were kings in their own right from the "Orient." Most people who have researched this have determined that they were most likely from Persia, modern-day Iran, a distance of approximately six hundred miles. (I suppose it's also worth noting that it was likely a caravan of travelers, not just the three of them). The point is that they traveled quite a distance and they were a small percentage of the population.

Another interesting note is that, from a religious perspective, they would be considered pagans. They were religious, for sure, but it was a religion which was based on astrology and scientific beliefs, perhaps even mysticism and what might qualify as wizardry and/or witchcraft. Certainly not the type of people one might expect God to work with. However, it's clear that the magi did play a role in God's plan.

First, God revealed the star to them. There are a good many theories about whether or not it was a star, comet, or some strange aberration - the point is more that there was something that they saw that was compelling enough to follow on a long journey. God led them to Herod - it's worth noting that the fact that they were able to hold court with Herod further proves their stature among men - then, in a dream, told them not to tell Herod where Jesus was. (I know a lot of Christians who beg for that kind of direct guidance from God.) Finally, judging by the gifts the brought and the sincere reverence with which they approached and worshiped Jesus, it's reasonable to assume that God had also showed the magi that Jesus was God.

Of course, the magi were also ripe for the picking, so to speak. In The Grand Inquisitor, the classic work by Dostoyevsky, a great truth is revealed: We were created with a need and desire to worship something. More specifically, we were created to worship God, but we will settle for whatever we can grasp. The magi were searching everywhere possible to find something worth worshiping. It's no wonder that when they saw this great star in the sky, they would jump at the chance to seek out the source.

The all leads up to the big question - the moment of truth, so to speak. What would be cause enough for me to travel a great distance?

Recently, the headlines were littered with stories about week-long waits for a chance to buy a Playstation 3 or a Nintendo Wii. Do you think those same people would've camped out in front of the stable to give the infant King his proper respect?

A few weeks ago, I went to see Rebecca St James and Brian Littrell in concert and overheard someone who drove from Hershey, PA (approximately 150 miles away) without a ticket just on the chance that he'd be able to pick up tickets at the door and take his daughter to the show. Would that same family have made the journey if Jesus was on the other side?

Now, there's nothing wrong with wanting the latest video game system or driving for hours to see your favorite artist in concert. I just wonder myself sometimes what it would take to compel me to abandon some of the things I hold dearly to follow the stars God reveals to me.

We're designed to worship. We have to choose what it is that receives that worship.

Thanks for your time.

- bdg.