From the Bridge Pastor
Christmastide. The time between the birth of Christ and the day the Magi or three kings were said to arrive in Bethlehem is what most people consider the 12 days of Christmas. The 12 days represent a 12-day journey for the Magi to reach Bethlehem. In actuality, the Bible tells us that the magi traveled from the East to Jerusalem: “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” (Matthew 2:1). This passage does not give us the exact location or country from where the wise men’s visit to Jerusalem started. Therefore, we cannot know for sure how far they traveled.
However, there are some theories to consider. The Jews considered the area of northern Arabia, Syria, and Mesopotamia as the “East.” There are several references in the Old Testament to the word “East.” For example, the city of Haran was in “the land of the people of the east” (Genesis 29:1, 4). And the prophet Isaiah spoke of Cyrus, from the land of Persia, as “the righteous man from the east” (Isaiah 41:2) and “a ravenous bird from the east” (Isaiah 46:11).
Also, we read that the king of Moab brought Balaam “from Aram [that is, Syria], out of the mountains of the east” (Numbers 23:7; 22:5). Some have thought that the magi were from the same section of the “east country” as was Balaam. This false prophet’s home has recently been identified with the Sajûr Valley between Aleppo and Carchemish, which is located near the Euphrates River (Numbers 22:5).
If this was true, then the magi traveled to Bethlehem around 400 miles. A trip of 400 miles would have taken the magi two to three weeks on camels or around a month’s journey by foot. If we assume that they traveled by night to be guided by the star, this will mean that their journey would have taken even longer time – over 40 days. Therefore, we can conclude that the magi might have traveled from the “east,” a vast area in Mesopotamia, which could range from 400 to 700 miles.
The Bible does not indicate how many men there were. The idea that there were three may have come from the mention of three kinds of gifts they brought, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The Magi did not find Jesus at a stable lying in manger. The Bible account says they were led to a “house” in Bethlehem where Jesus and his parents were living. Matthew 2:11 – “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him.”
Notice that Matthew 2:11 refers to Jesus as a “young child” not an infant at that time. Jesus was by then between one and two years old, because when they did not return to Herod, he ordered the slaughter of all the boys in Bethlehem “two years old and younger” based on the information the Magi gave him regarding when they first saw the star.
Nativity sets, like ours in the narthex, show the Magi, shepherds, and the Holy Family all in a stable setting. Tradition doesn’t seem to mind the inaccuracy, but the real story is important for us to know.
Neither does it matter whether Jesus was a few weeks old or 1-2 years old. The importance of the visit of the Magi is the Jesus, the Son of God, was born to save all people from their sins. In John’s Gospel, he writes: [Jesus] came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.” (NRSV Updated Edition)
Epiphany. The Epiphany, also known as Theophany in Eastern Christian traditions, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation (theophany) of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.
In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus Christ's physical manifestation to the Gentiles.
The first Sunday after Epiphany Day is commemorated as the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptizer in the River Jordan.
Bible Study at Pierce Street Coffee Works. Please join us for a weekly Bible study at 1920 Pierce Street on Thursdays at 1:00 PM. Weather permitting, we will have our first meeting on January 5. The study is open to female members of First and any guest they would like to invite. Please bring a Bible, a pencil, and your curiosity for details of a select number of women in the Bible. We will utilize a Yale Divinity School Bible Study.
Reading about the women in the Bible reveals a great deal more than simply the stories of a few individuals. Through the women’s trials and triumphs, the text offers various (sometimes contradictory) pictures of gender, family life, and relationships. Our modern understanding of gender may not translate directly onto the functions of gender in the Bible.
What are our pre-conceptions about gender in the time of the Hebrew Bible and in the Greco-Roman world? We may imagine that ancient women were universally oppressed or powerless, relegated to their roles as wives and mothers. This unit challenges these pre-conceived ideas as it seeks to understand the many roles women hold in biblical stories. We will read the stories with special attention to the power dynamics, including those surrounding gender, enslavement, and empire.
It is important to remember that these women’s stories do not necessarily reveal what was normal or even ideal about gender in the ancient Near East or the Greco-Roman world. Instead, they show us glimpses of those worlds from which the authors of the texts made meaning.
“Women in the Bible” sheds new light on familiar characters like Mary Magdalene in the New Testament and Sarah, Abraham’s wife in the Hebrew Bible. It also studies characters who are less well known to many Bible readers, such as the city of Babylon, styled as a whore in the Book of Revelation. Through the stories of these women, discover how gender can inform your reading as you explore how these stories relate to your own faith journey.
Thank you. A heartfelt thank you to the congregation for the Christmas gift. It is such an honor for me to serve as your bridge pastor and help you prepare to call a new pastor!
