Why The Wise Men?

[Odë:hgöd]

Angels announced Jesus' birth up around the teensy community of Bethlehem, but
they didn't go to Jerusalem; which seems to me would've been a far more sensible
venue. Important news deserves an important audience, i.e. Jerusalem was Israel's
religious center whereas Bethlehem was no-account. (Micah 5:2)

I mean: imagine NASA limiting its release of information about the success of
Apollo 11 to the tiny community of Lakeview Texas, population 107. (2010 data)

There's some interesting points about the two events.

1» Celestial beings made the announcement up at Bethlehem whereas human
beings made the announcement at Jerusalem.

2» The angel's announced a savior, whereas the wise men announced a sovereign.
In other words: the angels and the wise men were talking about the same person,
but definitely not the same status.

3» The wise men were foreigners rather than home-grown prophets.
_

 

[Albion]

There seems to be an unwillingness here to accept that the divine plan was for him to come in lowliness to an obscure and scorned people and to die a common criminal's death although he was innocent of any wrongdoing. Deliberately. And then in due time, and as the Bible says, the Second Coming will be of the Lord appearing to all in triumph and in glory.

 

[Spindle4]

Angels announced Jesus' birth up around the teensy community of Bethlehem, but
they didn't go to Jerusalem; which seems to me would've been a far more sensible
venue. Important news deserves an important audience, i.e. Jerusalem was Israel's
religious center whereas Bethlehem was no-account. (Micah 5:2)

I mean: imagine NASA limiting its release of information about the success of
Apollo 11 to the tiny community of Lakeview Texas, population 107. (2010 data)

There's some interesting points about the two events.

1» Celestial beings made the announcement up at Bethlehem whereas human
beings made the announcement at Jerusalem.

2» The angel's announced a savior, whereas the wise men announced a sovereign.
In other words: the angels and the wise men were talking about the same person,
but definitely not the same status.

3» The wise men were foreigners rather than home-grown prophets.
_

WISE MEN FROM ALL NATIONS STILL WORSHIP HIM WHO WAS BORN KING OF THE JEWS. By time the first wise men found Him He was living in a house. Today He lives in the hearts of those who worship Him.

Mat 2:1-12 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, (2) saying,
"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

(3) When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (4) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (5) So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: (6)

'BUT YOU, BETHLEHEM, IN THE LAND OF JUDAH, ARE NOT THE LEAST AMONG THE RULERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.' "

(7) Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. (8) And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." (9) When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. (10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. (11)

And when they had come into the house,

they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (12) Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

 

[Lanman87]

Because it was part of God's plan. That is all we need to know.

 

[tango]

There seems to be an unwillingness here to accept that the divine plan was for him to come in lowliness to an obscure and scorned people and to die a common criminal's death although he was innocent of any wrongdoing. Deliberately. And then in due time, and as the Bible says, the Second Coming will be of the Lord appearing to all in triumph and in glory.

Indeed. In modern times we'd expect an announcement of global importance to come from a major city - London, Washington, Moscow, Beijing etc. We wouldn't expect it to spread by word of mouth starting in a sleepy village that had a higher population of farm animals than people. But God's ways are different. Just as John the Baptist spread his message in the wilderness, Jesus was born in a barn in a sleepy little village.

It really is comparable to NASA announcing the success of its mission into Lakeview TX and leaving news to spread by word of mouth from there. Still, it worked pretty well for God. From what I gather people are still talking about it, 2000-odd years later.

Jesus said he came to serve. It wouldn't be a good start to a servant's life to be born in a palace in Jerusalem and have the birth widely recorded. It would be like someone being born in a penthouse suite in Manhatten with the best doctors on hand, surrounded by celebrities bringing hugely expensive gifts, the news being announced in the high society press (and tweeted by confirmed celebrity accounts, naturally) and then the child in question announcing that he came to serve.

As you quite rightly say, this was God's plan. It doesn't have to make sense to us.

 

[Odë:hgöd]

.
• Matt 2:1-2 . . 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, saying:
Where is he that is born King of the Jews?

(Their star often gets more publicity than Jesus.)

I had never given so much as the slightest inkling of thought about Jesus as a
sovereign until someone came along to tell me about the scope of his jurisdiction.

Back in 1968, when I was 24, an acquaintance asked me if I was prepared for
Christ's return. Well; that was curious because up till then I didn't know he was
coming back. So I asked my friend why Jesus would even want to come back, and
for the very first time in my life discovered that Jesus was on track to rule the entire
planet. (Ps 2:1-12)

That news shook me to the core because I instinctively knew that were Christ and I
to meet for a face-to-face, it would not go well for me because I have a lot to
answer for; and that was before I knew anything at all about the sheep and goats
depicted at Matt 25:31-46, the judgment seat of Christ depicted at 1Cor 3:13-15,
and the great white throne event depicted at Rev 20:11-15.

But the news isn't all doom and gloom. For example:

It will be difficult to wage war during his reign. (Mic 4:4)

It will be safe to go for a walk in the woods without fear of being attacked and/or
bitten by critters. (Isa 11:6-9)

Justice will be fair across the board for everyone; whether rich or poor. (Isa
11:4, Ps 98:7-9)

Private property will be common. (Mic 4:4)

The Earth's fertility will be vastly improved. (Isa 35:1-2)

Longevity will be increased. (Isa 65:20)

Grief will be reduced. (Isa 65:19)
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