March 2022

Identifying the Magi

May 22, 2023

“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.”(Matthew 2:1). Here in the second chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew do the Magi make their first and last appearance in the entire New Testament. For the three other canonical Gospels do not mention the wise men, the gifts they offered, nor the star that they followed. Going further, Matthew does not specify how many wise men there were, but tradition tells us that there were three, due to the three separate gifts that they offered to the infant Christ. Traditionally speaking the three wise men came from Persia, Arabia, and Egypt. These three nations or races represent the three son’s of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Thus through the adoration of the Magi the entire human race worshiped and glorified the incarnate Word of God: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Leaning on tradition, the names and age ranges of the three kings are thus given: Melchior came from Persia and was old, with long white hair and beard. He offered gold which represented kingship. Gaspar came from Arabia and was of ruddy complexion, young and beardless. He offered frankincense, which represented the priesthood. Balthazar came from Egypt or possibly Ethiopia and was middle-aged, dark skinned and with a thick beard. He offered myrrh which symbolized death, as it was an ointment used to embalm the dead. So collectively speaking Christ was given gifts that symbolized His identity as the king of kings, as our great high priest, and also for Jesus’ triumph over death and Hades.

The origin of the Magi that came from Persia dates back to ancient Babylon, where in the 6th century BC, prophet Daniel was elevated to chief of the enchanters after he successfully interpreted the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar. For in Babylon there was a counsel of soothsayers and magicians who advised the king. In fact the word magi is where the word magic derives its origin. When Babylon was conquered by the Persians many Jews tarried in the Persian realm for several years. At this point in Persian history there was a strong Jewish presence in the kingdom, with Jewish citizens holding high political office. As Persia housed the Jewish Diaspora they must have come in contact with Jewish Messianic traditions. So, it is possible that some of the Magi who sought the infant Christ were in fact Jewish descendants from those appointed as Magi going back to the days of the prophet Daniel.

The prophecies of Daniel concerning the coming of the king of the Jews left a lasting impact on the kings of the east. The Magi were also most likely familiar with the prophecy of Balaam that told of the star that would come forth out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17). The magi believed that the stars of heaven had a mystical influence upon those of us here on earth. Therefore they would constantly study the heavenly bodies seeking after the sign of the coming of the Messiah: the king of the Jews, the king of Israel. For these wise men or Magi were a group of priestly scholars, who were held in high status among the Persians. This group of intellectuals were occupied with the study of medicine, philosophy, the natural sciences, astrology, and the interpretation of dreams. These individuals indeed lived up to their title as wise men and Magi.

By arriving in Jerusalem unannounced, the Magi’s presence in the holy city alarmed the citizens of Jerusalem and it also startled king Herod who ruled Judea at the time. For the kings of Persian came with an entire army to ensure their protection, due to the rivalry between the Persians and the Romans that went back for decades. It was even rumored in neighboring lands that the Persians had captured Jerusalem. With a Persian army in Jerusalem who sought to give homage to a child born king of the Jews, Herod was struck with the fear of possibly losing his earthly power and dominion. For as it is written in the Gospel, “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” (Matthew 2:3).

Now the traditional birth-date of Jesus Christ is believed to be on December 25, around the year 1 AD. However, some modern scholars believe that Jesus was born in April, 6 BC. Now the Bible states that shepherds were tending their flocks at night when the angles brought them glad tiding of the birth of the Savior (Luke 2:8-15). Now the only time that the shepherds of old kept their flocks at night were in the months April through September, due to the warm climate during this time of year. In turn the shepherds would not have let their flocks out at night in the month of December due to the cold temperatures. So, with what we see here Jesus must not have been born in December. Again some astronomers place the birth of Christ at April 17, 6 BC, while at least one astronomer Dr. Ernest L. Martin, has come to the conclusion that Jesus Christ was born on September 11, 3 BC. Whatever the actual date was for the birth of Jesus, it can be agreed upon by both Bible scholars and scientists that the Magi of old did indeed follow the course of the stars and the celestial bodies as a part of their discipline.

The Magi, being led by the star, followed it until it came and stood over where the young child was [and] when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy (Matthew 2:9,10). Now the fact that this star moved in the heavens can have two different meanings. The first meaning is that this moving star was not a star at all but a planet, like the planet Jupiter for example. The other meaning is that the star was really an angel taking the form of a luminous star which guided the Magi to witness another supernatural event: the birth of the Lord Christ. Since these Magi were already acquainted with mysticism, the supernatural nature of the star of Bethlehem did not frighten them in the least and in fact the very opposite happened, they were filled with joy! So the three kings brought their gifts to the child Jesus and worshiped Him. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way (Matthew 2:12).

Now after the wise men left the holy land and returned to their own country, they disappear from the Biblical narrative. However, though it is not clear how they arrived there, the relics of the three Magi came to rest in Constantinople going as far back to the reign of Constantine the Great. The relics were soon after brought to Milan by the bishop Eustorgius I in 314 AD. The bones of the Magi rested there for several centuries, until 1164 AD when the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa took the relics of the Magi from the church of St. Eustorgio in Milan and brought them to Cologne Germany. Subsequently the remains of the wise men were encased in a golden shrine and ultimately laid in Cologne Cathedral, which was built for the sole purpose of housing the relics of the three Magi. The shrine itself is golden with silver overlays and encrusted with over 1,000 jewels and precious stones: a sarcophagus fit for a king. And just as the Magi traveled from afar to pay homage to the king of the Jews, so also do pilgrims today travel from across the globe to visit Cologne Cathedral in order to give their adoration to the Magi.

 

References:

ABC’s Of The Bible. (Pleasantville, NY: The Readers Digest Association, Inc., 1991).

Lang, D.M. Lives and Legends of the Georgian Saints. (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1976).

Martin, E.L. The Stat that Astonished the World. (Portland, Oregon: ASK Publications, 1991).

The Life of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos. (Buena Vista, CO: Holy Apostles Convent, 2000).

Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices

May 22, 2023

Ever since the most ancient of times human beings have offered up sacrifices to the God or gods they served, worshiped, and believed in. According to the Bible, at the beginning of history, Adam and Eve’s two sons offered up sacrifices unto the Lord (Genesis 4:2-5). Several centuries later Noah would also offer burnt offerings to God after the Flood. The Lord was so pleased with Noah’s sacrifice that He promised not to curse the ground any more (Genesis 8:20-22). But most importantly the prophet Samuel would reveal that to obey God is better than sacrifice (I Samuel 15:22). And as we read in the Gospel, to love God with all the heart and to love our neighbor as our self is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:33). That being said let us now take a closer look at the sacrificial system as found in the pages of the Holy Bible.

The organized practice of animal sacrifice that the children of Israel would adhere to came about shortly after the Hebrews left Egypt, around the year 1446 BC or possibly 1200 BC. For in the first seven chapters of the book of Leviticus the rituals of worship are described and explained. In addition to burnt offerings Moses also wrote about grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and a guilt offering also known as a trespass offering. Sacrifices were carefully ritualized procedures. They involved both the one bringing the sacrifice and the priest and varied according to the type of offering. These sacrifices were first performed at the tabernacle and would later be exercised at the temple in Jerusalem after its construction during the days of king Solomon’s reign over Israel.

The burnt offering, or holocaust, was at the center of religious life in ancient Israel. Each day began and ended with the sacrifice of a male lamb which was without blemish. It was called a holocaust because the animal was completely burned and thus wholly given to God. The burning flesh produced a fragrance that was said to be a pleasing odor to the Lord (Leviticus 1:9). Peace offerings were made in thanksgiving, such as when a person survived an illness or in the fulfillment of a vow that a person made to God. The sin offering was made in atonement for an unintentional sin or impurity. In this case the fat portions of the animal were consumed by the fire, and the rest went to he priests. Some of the animal’s blood was smeared on the horns of the altar and the rest was poured out at the base of the altar. For sacrifices blood was important, “for it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof.” (Leviticus 17:14). For without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

If a man wished to make a burnt offering in the temple, he had to bathe in order to purify himself from any ritual uncleanliness. Only then could he approach the temple court with his sacrificial animal and additional offerings of flour, oil, and wine. When he reached the altar of burnt offering, he placed his hand upon the head of the animal so that, “…it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.” (Leviticus 1:4). After leading his lamb to the north side of the altar, he killed the sacrificial animal by cutting it’s throat. A priest stood by with a basin to catch the blood, “for the life of the flesh is in the blood…for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11). The priest would then cast this lifeblood against the altar, signifying that the life belonged to God.

The prophets of Israel on the other hand, were more critical of the people when it came to sacrifices, not by how well sacrifices were performed, but by how well the worshipers met the ethical and moral responsibilities of Israel’s covenants and laws. When the prophets discerned that the ritual of worship had replaced the obedience to God’s law, they chastened the children of Israel by preaching the judgments of the Lord against the emptiness of their rituals. For as the prophet Isaiah wrote: “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams…[rather]…learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:1,17). Only when a sacrifice was matched by faithful actions outside of the sanctuary, did the prophets acknowledge that the offering was accepted by God.

Now after the destruction of the second temple in 70 AD, the ritual of animal sacrifice ceased for the Jewish people as a whole. But, now in the age of grace the Orthodox Church performs a sacrifice without the shedding of blood in the mystery of Holy Communion. For just as the blood of bulls and rams made atonement for the sins of Israel, so too has the blood of Jesus made atonement for all those who have faith in His name. Just as each year did every Jew make his pilgrimage to Jerusalem at Passover in order to sacrifice the paschal lamb, so too was Christ’s sacrifice on the cross a ransom for all humanity, making Jesus Christ the sacrificial Lamb of God.

 

References:

ABC’s Of The Bible. (Pleasantville, NY: The Readers Digest Association, Inc., 1991).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).

The Burning Bush & The Temple Menorah

May 22, 2023

The purpose of this work is to compare the qualities of the burning bush encountered by Moses at mount Horeb, with the seven branched candelabra that once illuminated the temple in Jerusalem. Both the burning bush and the menorah may be symbolic of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and these similarities will also be examined. So now, let us turn aside and see this great sight of the burning bush and it’s comparison with the temple menorah.

When Moses approached the burning bush, God called out to him from the midst of the bush and instructed Moses to put off the shoes from off his feet, for the place where Moses stood was holy ground (Exodus 3:4-5). The temple too was a sanctified building, and the presence of God in the Holy of Holies also made the temple and the surrounding complex holy ground. Thus it was fitting that the menorah be placed within the holy temple, symbolizing the burning bush which stood and grew on holy ground. The burning bush could also be symbolic of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Just as the Tree of Life contained within it the properties of immortality, so too was the burning bush engulfed in the presence of the immortal God. The menorah may also possess a similarity to the Tree of Life, as the lighting of the seven lamps illuminated the sanctuary, symbolically giving life to creation. So here we see that in the temple the Tree of Life was represented by the fiery tree: the menorah.

Now the word “menorah” is not mentioned in the Bible, but it’s description is found within the pages of the holy scriptures. For when the tabernacle was being constructed in the wilderness, God also commanded that a candlestick of pure gold be made with a staff in the center and three branches coming out of it on either side (Exodus 25:31-32). When looking into the symbolism of the menorah we find that the seven lamps represented the seven days of creation, with the center light signifying the Sabbath day, the day when God rested from His labors. Going further we see in the book of Revelation that before the throne of God there were seven lamps of fire burning, which are the seven Spirits of God (Revelation 4:5). Amazingly the seven Spirits of God are listed in the Old Testament book of the prophet Isaiah. For in Isaiah 11:2 the description of these seven Spirits are as follows: the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of understanding, the spirit of council, the spirit of might, the spirit of knowledge, and the spirit of the fear of the Lord.

Returning to the burning bush, some hold to the belief that the actual bush itself was an almond tree. A clue pointing to this possibility is found in the 17th chapter of the book of Numbers. For during the wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness, Korah the son of Izhar, rebelled against Moses’ declaration of the tribe of Levi to be the designated tribe for the priesthood. So, in order to end these complaints, God commanded that each of the Twelve Tribes provide a rod, and that the rod of the tribe chosen to become priests would miraculously blossom overnight. The Bible says that,”…it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds (Numbers 17:8). Additionally in Exodus 25:33, God instructed Moses that the seven lamps or bowls of the menorah be made like unto almonds, another parallel linking the burning bush to be that of an almond tree.

Now when the temple which housed the menorah was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, the menorah may have been taken to Babylon along with other temple treasures. But, when the Jews returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple, there is no mention made in the Bible of the menorah returning, but only of the vessels of the temple (Ezra 1:9-11). However, in the Apocryphal book of I Maccabees we read that the Hellenistic king of the Seleucid Empire, Antiochus Epiphanes, went up to the temple, “…and entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden alter, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof.” (I Maccabees 1:21). So here we see evidence that a menorah, or a type of menorah was indeed present within the Second Temple, though it may not have been the original menorah which stood and functioned in the First Temple.

As we revisit Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush, the Bible informs us that it was the angel of the Lord who appeared unto Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush (Exodus 3:2). Now the word “angel” comes from the Greek word “angelos,” which means messenger. Interestingly, when speaking of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, the Greek Septuagint translates one of the names of the future Christ as the “Messenger of great council.” Now as concerning the Messiah it is important to note that the scriptures signify Christ as “the Messenger,” and not a messenger, just as Exodus 3:2 relates that “the angel” of the Lord appeared unto Moses and not an angel. This, I would argue, is crucial in identifying the presence of the Lord God in the burning bush as none other than the per-incarnate Son of God: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally I would like to propose another connection to the burning bush with something from the New Testament. In the Gospel of John 8:58, Jesus identifies Himself as the great I AM, Who appeared unto Moses at the burning bush. Just as the bush in the old Testament was filled with the presence of God, but was not consumed, so too in the New Testament did the Virgin Mary carry within her the Son of the living God, but was not similarly consumed. So here we see in the New Testament a typology of events found in the Old Testament. Just as the menorah illumined the temple, so too did the blessed Virgin Mary brighten the sanctuary with her purity and holiness during her years of dedication and upbringing in the temple. Just as Moses turned aside to marvel at the miracle of the bush that burned but was not consumed, so too is it a great miracle that the Virgin Mary possessed the Lord in her flesh, but was not burnt by the majesty of God. What a great marvel and testimony of purity and sanctity that a mortal woman could carry the living God in her womb, but not be overcome by the fire that is God. For as it is written in Hebrews 12:29, “…our God is a consuming fire.”



References:

Barker, M. King of the Jews: Temple Theology in John’s Gospel. (London, England: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2014).

Brenton. The Septuagint with Apocrypha: Greek and English. (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons, Ltd., 1851).

Cambridge University Press. The Apocrypha, Authorized King James Version. (Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 1992).