What’s a Magi?

We sing about “We Three Kings” around this time of year, but that’s not really who we’re talking about. The word used in Matthew 2 is magoi, which doesn’t mean kings at all. It’s the root of our word “magician,” but in the ancient world, it referred to people who studied the mysteries of the universe—early scientists, stargazers, astrologers. If we wanted the most accurate translation for today, it might be astrologers (but good luck convincing a Bible translation committee to slip that one into the Christmas story!).

Here’s what we know about the Magi:

• They weren’t kings.
• There weren’t necessarily just three of them (three gifts, sure, but if you’re wise, you’d go in on a gift like gold with a buddy, right? Orthodox traditions say they were 12).
• They probably weren’t hanging around the manger. Herod’s reaction—ordering all boys under two to be killed—suggests their visit came later.

So, no crowns, no camels, and maybe not even any wise men (sorry, nativity sets). Did I ruin your Christmas? I promise I’m getting to the good part.

A Journey from the East: The Zoroastrian Connection

The Magi likely came from Persia, a land east of Judea. There, a faith called Zoroastrianism was widespread, and the Magi may have been its priests. In fact, magoi only appears in the ancient religious texts of the Zoroastrians. Here’s where it gets interesting. Zoroastrians believed in:

• One God who created the universe
• A battle between good and evil, order and chaos
• A coming redeemer (the Saoshyant) born to a young woman in a miraculous way
• A final triumph of good, resurrection of the righteous, and a remade world

Their beliefs sound an awful lot like parts of Christian theology. And before the Jews recognized Jesus as Messiah, before he performed miracles or rose from the dead, these foreign astrologers packed up their treasures and followed a star to worship him. My problem is not with their doctrine. My problem is that their names aren’t Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.

God’s Love Goes Beyond Our Expectations

This story challenges the way we think about faith. It challenges our assumptions about who “gets it right” and how people find Jesus. The Magi didn’t have Scripture or Sunday school. They weren’t Jewish, and they didn’t know the stories of the prophets. But they were looking for wisdom—and their pursuit of truth led them to Jesus.

God spoke to them in a way they could understand: a star. That’s not how it’s supposed to work. People are supposed to read the Bible, hear good arguments, and then come to church with us, potato salad in hand. But the story of Christmas tells us that God’s love is bigger than our formulas, our strategies, or our control. God meets people right where they are—even in foreign lands and unfamiliar faiths.

A Christmas Challenge: Be a Witness, Not a Debater

Maybe this Christmas you’ll sit down with friends or family who don’t share your faith. Maybe they look at Christianity as something foreign. Take a lesson from the Magi—and from Jesus himself. God’s love is patient, kind, and full of grace. Instead of arguments and corrections, tell your story. Share how you’ve seen Jesus at work in your life. Pray for them, and trust that God loves them even more than you do.

Our world feels more divided than ever. We’re quick to draw lines and build walls, but Christmas reminds us that God came to break down those barriers. The God who told Israel to love the foreigners in their land still calls us to do the same.

God is Still Calling People Home

A Christian minister once told the story of a Muslim taxi driver who turned around to him and said, “I had a dream that I would meet a Christian who would tell me about Jesus. Tell me about Jesus.” That’s not how we think it’s supposed to work, but God is still speaking in dreams, through stars, and in ways that surprise us. The Magi remind us that God’s love reaches further than we imagine. It’s like God loves us before we get everything right.

This Christmas, I need the story of the Magi. They remind me that the pursuit of truth leads us to Jesus, that God meets us in unexpected ways, and that his love is for everyone—no matter how far away they seem.

So, as we gather around tables with family, as we worship together on Christmas Eve, let’s remember the star that led the Magi to the source of all wisdom, love, and life.

Jesus is still calling. And he is worth the journey.