It’s the day of the Magi, the Epiphany, the day that commemorates when the three Magi, arrived with gifts to see the Messiah, Jesus. I’ve been listening to a book, Real Magic: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science, and a Guide to the Secret Power of the Universe, by Dean Radin, PhD. And I realize that the Biblical story of the gifts of the Magi is somehow connected to the word, “magic.”

“Magi” is the plural word for Magus which is Latin. The Greek word, μάγοι magoi  is translated “magi” but it has also been transcribed into English as “kings” and “wisemen” (KJV).

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem (NIV Matt 2: 1)

I guess I never focused on that word before — “magi” probably because I have read the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, which transcribes this word as “wisemen.”

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem

But what were wisemen or magi? I’m sure our words “magic” and “magician” come from the word “magi” — Did the Magi have some special powers? Some of these questions about the history of magi are answered in the book I’m listening to.

The story of the Magi in the second chapter of the gospel of Matthew, recounts the story of three Magi  living in the east — who see a star which they somehow recognize as a sign of the birth of the Messiah — and they follow it to Jerusalem. Here they talk to King Herod and ask him for the whereabouts of this child, who was born king of the Jews. Naturally, this causes quite a raucous in Jerusalem, and Herod calls upon his priests and teachers of the law to ask them about this. When they tell him of the ancient prophecy,

But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. (Matt 2:6)

Herod becomes concerned, and secretly asks the Magi at what time this star appeared. And then he sends them on their way to Bethlehem, telling them to come back and tell him where he can find this king of the Jews, so he can worship him too. Of course, he has no desire to worship Jesus as do the Magi.

The Magi arrive to see and worship Christ. They bring him gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh. And then God warns them in a dream not to return to Herod, and so they travel home through another route.

The Magi have magical gifts of God — they understand the sign of the star, they are able to follow the star, (really not an easy task) and after they see the Messiah, God communicates with them through a dream, to warn them not to return to Jerusalem.