Question
Gramps,
The Magi visited Jesus when he was two years old. How did this come about?
Geoffrey
Answer
Geoffrey,
The story of the Magi is found in Matthew 2. Verse 2 tells us why:
2 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.
We don’t have much in the way of details of who they were or where they came from. The number of wise men isn’t even confirmed. We talk about three because of the three gifts that were given. We know that they knew enough to watch for and recognize the signs given of Christ’s birth and its importance. We know that they came from the east and they traveled a long distance. Long enough for Christ to be a ‘young child’ when found (maybe 2 years).
We also know that they were righteous enough to listen to the angel that told them not to return to Herod and report their finding. But that is the end of what we know for sure about them. Who they were and how they knew the things they knew is a source of much speculation and conjecture.
Gramps