They were definitely not kings.  Probably not magicians.  Possibly Persian.  Almost certainly astrologers and academics.  They may have been royal counselors, though apparently not traveling on state business.  We know little about them.  Not their names. Nor their numbers.  While they gave three types of gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh, we don’t know that there were exactly three givers.  All we know for certain is that finding Jesus brought them exceeding great joy.

Their search is legendary, epic in fact.  The stars and the ancient scripture told them of a king to be born, The king of the Jews.  And so, they traveled to the city of Jewish kings.  But in Jerusalem they found only a pretender and a pretense.  The quest was never about the magi themselves, but the king they sought.  And their search highlighted two remarkable contrasts.  

The first is a shocking contrast between the tenacious joy of pagan magi and the apathetic rejection of the covenant people to the coming of their true king.  Angels sang, shepherds announced, portents appeared, yet no one went.  And then we see a vivid contrast between a self-serving, grasping puppet king and the King of Kings who did not grasp at his equality with God, but “emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself.”

Matthew’s account of the magi is not a story of three kings, but of two, Herod and Jesus.  And a story of both the callous rejection and joyful reception of Jesus as the only true king.  Join us as we examine Matthew 2:1-12 and consider this Tale of Two Kings and why it is such good news for us.  We meet on the square in Pottsville, right next to historic Potts’ Inn at 10:30 am for worship.  Get directions here or contact us for more info.  Or join our livestream on YouTube.