way, and the star they
had seen in the east went
ahead of them until it
stopped over the place
where the child
was. When they saw the star,
they were overjoyed.
Matthew 2:9-10
As soon as the Magi left Herod's palace, the star blazed forth to light their way. The Bible states that the star led them to a "house." Contrary to our modern nativity plays, the kings did not show up at the stable. The star first appeared on the night of Christ's birth. It took many months (perhaps as much as two years) for the men to travel to Jerusalem and then on to Bethlehem where Jesus lived. He was no longer an infant, but a young child, and... On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
At this point, the Magi brought forth gifts for the young king - very expensive gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. Legend has always presented three wise men with three gifts, but in point of fact, we have no idea how many men made that journey. The pronoun "they" indicates more than one, but beyond that, we simply do not know. What we do know is that they recognized the child as the Savior of the universe, and they bowed before Him in humble worship.
*
Myrrh is mine, its
bitter perfume
Breathes a life of
gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing,
bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the
stone-cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star
of light,
Star with royal beauty
bright,
Westward leading, still
proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect
light.
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