Christian tradition teaches that the Magi worshipped Jesus in Bethlehem. The proof of this is found on the front of most Christmas cards and in viewing nativity scenes. Yet at the time of the Magi’s visit, Joseph, Mary and Jesus lived in the city of Nazareth in Galilee. The Magi never went to Bethlehem, but were actually led by the angel of the Lord to the house of Joseph and Mary in the city of Nazareth. The following account revisits the events surrounding the Birth of Christ.
“His star”, which the Magi had seen, was actually an angel of the Lord, not a luminous celestial body as we have supposed. In the following Scripture references, the word “angel” is also found interchangeable with the word “star” (Isa. 14:12-14; Rev. 1: 20; 12:4, 7-9). “His star” was an angel of the Lord. This explains how the Magi knew of the birth of Jesus. His birth was announced to the Magi by an angel of the Lord, His star.
The Magi were Gentiles coming to worship the Savior, for as Simeon said, with the Holy Spirit upon him, “… my eyes have seen Thy salvation … a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel” (Luke 2:25-35). God had given the Magi an understanding that the Savior was born.
The angel of the Lord (His star), who the Magi had seen in their country to the east, had appeared to them two years before they arrived in Jerusalem. This same angel appeared to the Magi again after they left Herod to find the Christ Child, and led the Magi until it stood over the house of Joseph and Mary in the city of Nazareth (Matt. 2:9; Luke 2:39).
After the visit of the Magi, Joseph and his family fled to Egypt and remained there until Herod’s death (4 B.C.). This testifies that Jesus was born in 6 B.C. or earlier, for Scriptures show that the Christ Child was two years old at the time Herod was still alive (Luke 2:7, 16).
After Herod’s death (4 B.C.) Rome ruled Judea for a short time, but later that same year appointed Herod’s son, Herod Archelaus, to rule over Judea (historical fact).
After Herod’s death, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him to take the Child and Mary from Egypt back into the land of Israel. (This happened during the time of Rome’s temporary rule in Judea which began immediately after Herod’s death.) After entering Israel, Joseph became afraid when he heard that Herod Archelaus had been made ruler over Judea. Then, being warned by God in another dream, he departs for the city of Nazareth which is outside Archelaus’ realm. Jesus would most likely still have been two years old at the time they returned to Nazareth.
The Birth Of Christ
“Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city” (Luke 2:1-3).
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:4-7).
“And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, `Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, `Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased’” (Luke 2:8-14).
“And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, `Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger” (Luke 2:15-16).
“And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds” (Luke 2:17-18).
“But Mary treasured up all these things (believing them to be true), pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:19).
“And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them” (Luke 2:20).
We can be sure that the shepherds continued to tell others of the visitation of the angels, and of the Christ Child and His parents. All of this would prove to be a danger, for when Herod began looking for the Child, said to be the promised Messiah, his questions would produce focused responses from those who knew of the things spoken of by the Shepherds. Herod would easily learn the identity of the Child’s parents.
“And when eight days were completed before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21).
“ And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed (40 days, Lev . 12:1-4), they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every first-born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, `A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons‘” (Luke 2:22-24).
“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, `Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; For my eyes have seenThy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.’ And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, `Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed–and a sword will pierce even your own soul–to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed’” (Luke 2:25-35).
“And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. And she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:36-38).
Because of the words spoken by Simeon and Anna, others in Jerusalem would hear and know about Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, and the strange things spoken of them. They would wonder about these things and about what this Child would become.
“And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth” (Luke 2:39).
Their home in Nazareth is located some 65 miles north of Jerusalem. (Bethlehem is located five miles south of Jerusalem.)
After a passage of two years the story continues with the Magi from the east arriving in Jerusalem.
“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? For we saw His star (His angel–Rev. 1:1, 20; 9:1; 12:4, 7; 22:16; Isa. 14:12) in the east, and have come to worship Him’” (Matt. 2:1-2).
“And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. And they said to him, `In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet, “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler, Who will shepherd My people Israel’” (Matt. 2:3-6).
“Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star (the angel of the Lord) appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, `Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him’” (Matt. 2:7-8).
We can ascertain from Matthew 2:7 and 16 that the angel of the Lord had appeared to the Magi two years before their arrival in Jerusalem, announcing to them the birth of Jesus. This also explains why Herod later slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs from two years old and under. Herod had calculated that Jesus must have been approximately two years old at the time of the Magi’s visit.
“And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star (the angel of the Lord), which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it (the angel of the Lord) came and stood over where the Child was” (Matt. 2:9).
The angel of the Lord had led the Magi to the house of Joseph and Mary, which was located in the city of Nazareth, some 65 miles north of Bethlehem.
“And when they saw the star (His angel) they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way” (Matt. 2:10-12).
When the Magi saw the angel of the Lord standing over the house of Joseph and Mary, in Nazareth of Galilee, they entered the house rejoicing with great joy, and fell down and worshiped Jesus as the Savior sent from God!
“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, `Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.’ And he arose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, `Out of Egypt did I call My Son’” (Matt. 2:13-15).
Joseph departed for Egypt at night, because Jerusalem, the seat of Herod’s kingdom, was between their home in the city of Nazareth and Egypt, and he did not want it to be known that they were fleeing to Egypt.
“Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, `A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more’” (Matt. 2:16-18).
“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, `Arise and take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.’ And he arose and took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he departed for the regions of Galilee, and came and resided in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matt. 2:19-23).
After Herod died in 4 B.C. the Romans ruled for a short time, but later that same year Herod Archelaus, one of Herod’s son’s, was named by Rome to become the ruler of Judea (historical fact).
Being warned by God in a dream, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned to their home in the city of Nazareth in order to live away from Herod Archelaus’ area of rule.
Herod’s death in 4 B.C. testifies that Jesus would have been born in 6 B.C. or earlier.
“And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:39).
Summary
The fact that the Magi actually worshipped Jesus in the city of Nazareth, instead of Bethlehem, as presented in Christian tradition, may seem to you insignificant. Nevertheless, it illustrates that Christian tradition, if accepted without critical scriptural verification, has the power to completely mislead–and truth remains unnoticed. Over the years, many traditions have been taught within Christianity which have invalidated God’s Word; traditions which have blinded our minds to God’s purpose for our lives. One seemingly small misunderstanding of Scripture always leads to another bigger one if not corrected.
Therefore, for the safety of your soul, it is necessary that you take care how you listen to what is taught. Scripture points out that the person who hears Scripture correctly (taught by the Holy Spirit) and submits to it, to him more understanding will be given. But to him who is careless in his hearing of Scripture, even what he thinks he has understood shall be taken away from him (Luke 8:18).