We Three Kings Of Orient Are

NOT! Zoroastrian High Priest Magi Are We

Epiphany is celebratated around this time of year. Three mysterious characters arrive on camelback through desert and village following a blaring North Star to find what they think is the most significant birth in a lifetime- in fact so significant a God or something must be born according to the stars.

In Nativity scenes and plays everywhere these guys are the Three Kings-and one invariably is a black guy because Ethiopia has the lost tribe and Solomon was visited by the Queen of Egypt- which is about as silly a recreative piece of nonsense ever imagined.

What are MAGI? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magi And why is it so important we all get it straight. Why Magi- not -the finance minister of Egypt or a South African Prince or something. Why MAGI?

The Magi followed Zoroaster- they were expert Astrologers and made charts and graphs of the skies believing that the stars revealed heavenly mysteries as disclosed by the Gods. They were likely Zoroasteran high priests from Medio-Persia [IRAN] likely as they carried with them the presents that a high priest would have accessible- notably Frankincense used for incensing the Temple in Jerusalem as well as used in other priestly rituals in other religions from a tree sap found near Babylon. They were wealthy- had gold to give away and myhrr- a fine herb used for burial rites priest would conduct.

They likely would have been plotting and following the trajectory of this star.
It is significant- much more highly significant than a bunch of random Kings- because these were high religious figures, highly trained astronomers who had some spiritual insight into the heavens as revealed by their lights- and even they recognize-NON Jews that they were, that the birth of the Jesus was a cataclysmic event- a coming down from Heaven of something directly from God as they knew him. They didn't care if it was in an obscure little village in the middle of what was a part of the Roman Empire then.

People of other religions recognize Jesus as something of God.
It is important for self-described christians to realize that.
When I lived in Israel for a brief time around the Galilee an Israeli woman of sephardic background whose family hailed originally from Syria said many many Jews believe in the biblical account of what Jesus did and was, they however culturally and ethnically still call themselves Jews. They acknowledge him. She took me to see the statue of the Jewish Fisherman Apostle Peter by the Sea of Gallilee, Lake Kinneret in 1990.

When the Magi arrived, foreigners, bearing gifts full of belief, Mary did not lock them out of the barn because they were not Jews and in fact from an alien religion of polytheists against Judaism. Those who are not against me are for me, said Jesus later. She and her husband graciously accepted their kind gifts. Signs they were, of the special nature of their child.

More thoughts...
Recall the history of Kings Cyrus and Darius of the Persians and how Daniel of lion fame for a time lived there after the Babylonian exhile. Daniel it was believed was eventually so favored he was appointed a sort of state Minister. Some have surmised that Daniel who was full of prophesy, told Magi in Persia of the signs indicating the coming of the Messiah- so when they traveled to the Land of the Jews following the signs, notably the NORTH STAR over Bethlehem, they knew they were looking for the Jewish Messiah- who would spiritually one day rule the world as Savior/Messiah. http://ldolphin.org/magi.html
The gifts they brought were for a Jewish Messiah King-King of the Jews is what they are reported to have called him to Herod on the way.
When you visit someone your gifts are appropriate to them-not things you like. They didn't bring him telescopes and camels and fine rugs. They brought him things signalling they knew who he was; King (Gold) Priest (Frankincense) and Martyr Savior (Myhrr). Just as foretold by Daniel.
During the Babylonian exhile the Jews were protected and flourished under Persian kings until they were allowed to return. Persian high priests or magi would be well versed in Jewish liturgical practice as they guarded the vessels from the Temple and Jews were allowed to return with them.