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Topic 3
Sometimes We Have an Epiphany

Often times as we approach the Christmas season, I hear an occasional conversation about the feasts and Holy Days that we celebrate in the Christian Community. One such feast is the Feast of the Epiphany.

During one of the conversations, someone asked,
“Why do people say that the wise men were kings?”

One answer could be… “They were probably kings because they received a special audience with King Herod.

People and travelers of less rank and authority would have no need to visit Herod as it was the time of the taxation census, and thousands of people were moving about the region individually and in small groups taking care

of their official business. However, people of high rank and authority considered it to be a royal courtesy
to pay respect to the king before proceeding on their mission or business.”

An extension of this idea is that as Kings of the East, or Magi, traveling with great treasures,

they would have brought a considerable number of attendants and even soldiers with them on this journey.

They would need protection from bandits and such. The Wise Men would have a duty to make the king aware of their entourage and request permission to move through the area with the King’s blessing. There is no doubt that Herod’s reception was generous, and Herod treated them kindly, as he wished to gain information from them concerning

the Christ Child. His anger at their failure to return should also be noted here.

Ask yourself these questions:
From what we know of King Herod, would he give an audience to just anyone passing through the area- according

to the historical information we have of this time in history? Was Herod known for his kindness or patience

with just anyone who wished to have an audience? If these visitors were just a few random travelers,

would such care have been taken with these men? Would these men have even survived the visit to Herod?

Let's turn to the the Biblical Text.
“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?

for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” 

(Matthew 2:1-2)

Ordinary travelers would not have caused such an uproar… they would simply be dismissed or ignored.
Matthew 2:3 “When Herod heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
…Not a few people in Jerusalem, but all of Jerusalem…

The king and the people were so troubled that a meeting was called with the chief priests and scribes.  
I submit that a stately entourage would make such an impression,
but a few travelers would not cause a meeting of the king, the scribes, and chief priests.
We know the remainder of the story.
The Wise Men follow the star and find the Christ Child. They give Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The text does not say whether there were two kings, three kings, or more.

The Three Kings reference is related to the number of gifts.
What if there were more kings? In my opinion, there were three.

Were these men special, and was their visit ordained by God? Yes.
An angel visited them to warn them not to return to Herod. God was in this plan.
God wanted His Child to have the gifts and be worshipped.
Psalm 72:10-11 (Reading the entire 72nd Number of Psalms will explain even more of the Biblical prophecy.)

To reiterate the question from the beginning of this topic:
“Why do people say that the wise men were kings?”

I know what I believe.
What do you think?
Search the scriptures. 

Additional Note: If some of these ideas are of interest to you, take a look at a work of art by James Tissot
titled  “The Magi Journeying.”

Follow this link to see the work of art at Amazon.com

View Spiritual Food for Thought Topic 4

"A Hymn is a Slice of Faith"