What do you think about this JW Watchtower article about Christmas I just came across?
In the December 1st 2009 issue of The Watchtower, a Jehovah’s Witness publication, there an article in the back titled "Did Three Wise Men Really Visit Baby Jesus"?
It went on to make mention how Christmas-time lore all around the globe depicts Nativity scenes with Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus in a manger, a star above and three wise men, or kings. But, does this line up with what the Bible records?
Matthew and Luke are the only gospels to chronicle the birth of Jesus, and they show that only lowly Shepard’s from nearby visited Jesus at his birth.
Luke 2:8-16, And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them… And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"… the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
So it is recorded that only Mary, Joseph, and the Shepard’s were present with baby Jesus.
Looking at Matthew 2:1-11, Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet… Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." After listening to the king… behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. Then they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Notice first that is just says "wise men" not "three wise men". And they traveled to Jerusalem for an audience with Herod. By the time they reach Bethlehem, Jesus was a "young child" and no longer in a stable, but in "a house". Notice also the KJV uses the term "wise men" but it is actually the Greek word mag’-os, which means a Magian, that is, Oriental scientist; by implication a magician, sorcerer. The Bible condemns astrology, witchcraft and spirit-ism Isaiah 47, Deut 18. That is why no angel of God announced the birth of Jesus to the magicians.
It is possible they were under demonic influence, and being led by Satan who wanted to thwart God’s plans, using the magicians to lead Herod to the Messiah. But God ultimately wins when he warns them in a dream not to go back to the King.
It seems like their article is very Biblical, and helping to clear the air on the Christmas Story, which has become a Hallmark Holiday. Your thoughts?
If the star led the to Herod, then God had nothing to do with the star.
Herod wanted that child killed.
Why would God lead anyone there?
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Looks like another JW Bible rewrite is in the works……
They need to raise some brows to fill the ranks. Luckily the net is making it harder for this fictitious cult to fool people into following their numb beliefs.
I agree with this article as it shows from the bible and past articles of the watchtower that a star was put in the sky for them to follow to find Jesus, but it also went on to say that star wasn’t normally there showing demonic influence
And some stories about the wise men are
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That they had to go to their home town to register in the counting of all the people
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And on getting there there was no room at any of the lodges
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And seeing this stable with only one donkey they came over and ask of they might get a small place to sleep the night
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Joseph the husband of Mary said No way not today My wife just had a baby don’t you hear the little one crying
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And the three men of knowledge then paused and went to their camels and brought back a little and big bag of goodies
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And ask again
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If we give ya a few trinkets and nice made in China jewelery will ya let us sleep the night here
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Well this went on for sometime till one of the wise guys said
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By the stars in heaven make these people take our worthless junk to let us sleep here
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I believe they were three wise men that studied the stars from different regions and eventually met simultaneously on the same road. They were not under demonic influence but, had they stayed on the path of the star rather than getting sidetracked by thinking that the King would be born in the city of Kings, then Herod would not have known and the babies two and under would have been spared. This shows that even "wise" men could be strayed by their own flesh. They might have been there for the birth of the baby Jesus had they done what they should have done but, all worked well as they met Him when He was two years old. Their gifts gave this family a sizable income.
The Bible mentions three gifts. There’s no mention of how many wise men or kings. This is old news.
I don’t believe Jehovah Witnesses were the first to be made aware of it.
"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."
Ephesians 4:14.
Hope this helps, thanks!
If JW failed to see the Manifestation of our Lord!!! They have failed to see the salvation of Yahweh!!! Peace!!!
There are many things the Wt is correct about.
You wrote so much that I am not sure I get the details right. But on this point the Wt has always taught the truth while the churches are remiss.
On other things the Wt is wrong – what can you say, the churches are wrong about this and the Wt is wrong about ‘that.’ If everybody (churches) is wrong about something, then who is better than the other, or are they equally bad?
1) That is why no angel of God announced the birth of Jesus to the magicians.
This is the first logical error. How does someone KNOW that this is why no angel of God announces the birth of Jesus to the "magicians" (a loaded translation: let’s call them "magi")? In fact, how does anyone even know that no angel of God announced the birth of Jesus to the magi? Does someone have biblical evidence that allows them to *logically* form such a conclusion? (The answer is "no".)
2) Your thoughts?
It is accurate that the wise men did not arrive during Jesus’ nativity. We can *logically estimate* it was very roughly a year later, as Herod (in order to ensure the prophesied king’s death) had all children under the age of 2 killed. Since children didn’t have their age stamped on their foreheads, Herod couldn’t have guaranteed the death of Jesus without ordering the soldiers to kill all of the children that *looked* young enough to be the prophesied king. "Two years old" probably gave Herod the assurance that the prophesied king would be among those slain.
The bible indeed does not mention how many magi there were. Christian tradition teaches that there were 3, but that tradition does not appear to be based on contemporary accounts. 3 is just as likely as any other number.
The magi did NOT "travel to Jerusalem for an audience with Herod". The bible is quite clear that they traveled to see the new-born king of Judea. Now – if you heard that, say, a future king of England had just been born, where would you expect to find him? The royal palace, or some village? *Logically*, the magi went to the palace of the king of Judea to meet the recently-born future king of Judea. So – they had an audience with Herod because they had traveled to see the new born king, and they expected that it would be his son, that he would be there in the palace, and that they would need Herod’s permission to see him. To act in another manner – Satan or no Satan – would have been illogical.
Finally, when given a message from God to avoid Herod after discovering the exact location of Jesus, the magi complied
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mat%202:12&multilayout=cols&version1=49&version2=9
This *clearly indicates* that they were obedient to God. If Satan was their *master* (e.g. if they were possessed), they would not have obeyed God. Although it can be *conjectured without evidence* that they were being used by Satan to expose Jesus to danger, it is clear that this was not **their** intention.
A final note:
Understand that "nativity scenes" are a reminder or display of honor of the nativity of Jesus. The entire "magi" account is intimately concerned with the **birth** of Jesus, even though it was probably at least a few months after his birth that the magi appeared in Judea. The magi were primarily concerned with the prophesied birth of a new king.
A more accurate "nativity scene" would have the two settings – one in the manger without magi, another with the magi, a house and a slightly older Jesus. But when celebrating the *nativity* of Jesus, is that practical?
The magi are "lumped in" with traditional nativity scenes because their story is primarily *about* the birth of Jesus – even though the magi did not appear until months after his birth. It is not historically accurate, but it is thematically appropriate.
Jim, http://www.christianwebprogramming.com/br/
I believe that God told Daniel when The Messiah would come (Daniel 9), Daniel was the chief of the wise men who were responsible for acknowledging new kings and that He sent the wisemen to greet The Messiah (our King) over 400 years before Jesus, The Messiah, was born.
I believe that they greeted Jesus on the night that He was born and I believe that He was born at the beginning of year 1 A.D.
THIS IS THE THEOLOGY AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2009 AS PER THE GOVERNING BODY
OF THE WATCHTOWER ORGANIZATION OF THE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES……
WHAT IS WRITTEN JANUARY 3, 2010……………….WELL………
AND BY THE WAY……..IF THE THEOLOGY CHANGES……
YOU DONT HAVE A RIGHT TO QUESTION……
The magi were astrologers. Magi also means magician, or "wise man" in the sense of being wise in astrology and divination and such. (The English word "magic" has the same root as "magi.") Astrology and magic are clearly condemned in the Bible. The magi were not "wise" in the biblical sense, so that is an extremely misleading translation.
The magi were not true worshipers of God. The fact that they practiced astrology prevents that possibility. But it is highly unlikely that they were worshipers of Satan, as non-JWs seem to accuse the JWs of saying. The magi were well intentioned.
The Bible is clear about what happens, despite how others try to twist it:
1) The magi were led to the vicinity of Jerusalem by means of a practice clearly condemned in the Bible.
2) The magi had to ask where Jesus was born because the star had not been so explicit.
3) The magi talked to Herod who wanted Jesus killed.
4) AFTER Herod found out what was going on, the star show the magi EXACTLY where Jesus was. (Instead of leading the magi to where Jesus was first, bypassing Jerusalem and Herod.)
5) The magi were warned by God in a dream to avoid Herod, and they did, which shows that they were well intentioned.
From the biblical account, we can gather that the star was under supernatural control, because "it moved ahead of" the magi and rested exactly above where Jesus lived. It would be controlled by either God (or an angel) or Satan (or a demon).
It is unlikely, nay, impossible that God would indulge in a practice that he himself vehemently condemned in the scriptures. It is more likely that the star was under Satanic control, and that Satan tried to use the magi as unwitting pawns to help him kill Jesus.
if the star was sent by satan ,why didn’t he put it where Herod could follow it?
Herod was the one who wanted to kill him so why would satan not just lead him to Jesus?
The Bible nowhere states how many magi visited the infant Jesus. Although Matthew mentions three types of gifts they presented to the Son of God, there may have been two, three, or more of them. Some have even thought there might be as many as twelve!
does it really matter how many there were?
the wise men who visited Jesus knew in advance who they were going to visit and that the purpose of their visit was to worship Him (Matthew 2:2, 11). It is highly unlikely that heathen, idolatrous astrologers would go to the great effort to travel many, many miles to give honor to the son of a deity they did not worship. With this evidence, we can be quite certain that these magi were not pagan astrologers.
the J.W.’s should be very careful not to give credit to satan for what God has done,
that is called blasphemy.
Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
my friend I say this with love,
you sound like you are being slowly indoctrinated by the J.W.’s.
be careful.
peace
A very thought-provoking article. I enjoyed it. Why would God use practicers of astrology to betray his own son?. This explanation makes way more sense than thwe traditional story.