Most of the Jewish groups (Pharisees and Sadducees) dismissed Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah, because He didn’t fit what they were looking for. He wasn’t a military or political leader who could free them from Roman rule. He wasn’t a priest. And He wasn’t a king. Thomas Cahill puts his finger on the truth when he says, …

Before the coming of Jesus, there had developed a variety of messianic beliefs in a wide range of Jewish groups. Many Jews of Jesus’ time held to the hope and biblical promise of an age to come when God would bring into this world a new state of affairs—it would be the Kingdom of God, as the prophets Isaiah and Daniel foretold. Many further believed that God would send a Messiah, meaning “anointed one,” who would be the one to deliver Israel. Many roles were attributed to this Messiah, including …

The wise men spoken of in the Nativity Story were most likely magi from Persia (present day Iran and Iraq)–which is to the east of Bethlehem. The magi were Zoroastrian priests. Magi is the plural Greek term for the Persian word for priest, magus. As part of their religion, the priests paid particular attention to the stars and practiced astrology. While the number of wise men is not named, the popular tradition is that there were three– one for each of the three gifts given. Early believers reinterpreted the description of the wise men in light of the Old Testament prophecies that show the Messiah being worshipped by kings (Isaiah 60:3, Psalm 72:10, Psalm 68:29). And they elevated the magi to kingly status. Hence, …