The Magi and Herod

Posted by Tel Asiado Jan 6, 2008

First of all, a happy and blessed New Year to everyone. I too, have my own piece offering in welcoming the year 2008: New Year's Tips for New You.

Today, known as Epiphany (6th of January), three wise men or Magi from Eastern lands were led by a star to Jerusalem in search for the baby Jesus. It was during the last months of King Herod's bloody reign that Jesus was born in Bethlehem

According to the Gospels, the three wise men asked Herod where "the king of the Jews" was to be born. The Magi acknowledged publicly the baby Jesus as the Messiah and Herod was afraid of such threat to him as the king of Judea and Samaria. Herod acted swiftly to destroy any possible rival, so he ordered the death of all the male children up to two years old in the entire area of Behtlehem.

The star that led the wise men went on ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They went into the stable and saw the child, with Mary his mother and Joseph his father. The wise men worshipped him and offered their gifts of gold, myrrh and francincense.

When the three Magi left, they went another way as they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod.