1.      THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST.   Two facts need to be stated right away: (a) We do not know the number of wise men that came to Bethlehem - they brought three different kinds of gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) but judging from the reaction they provoked, they may have been far more than three in number.  (b) It is almost certain that the wise men did not arrive in Bethlehem at the exact time when the Messiah was born.  First of all, they came from the east where they had seen the star indicating that the Messiah was born.  This may be somewhere in the modern day Iraq, Iran or even further towards the east.  A journey from any of these places to Bethlehem in those days would have taken several weeks.  Secondly, we know from Luke 2:22-24 that Miriam (Mary) had completed the (40) days of her cleansing directly after the birth of the Messiah, after which they took the child to Jerusalem, to present Him before Yahweh, all according to the stipulations of the Torah.  The wise men could not have arrived before this time, for it is reported that upon their departure, Yoseph, Miriam and the Child had left for Egypt and stayed there until after the death of Herod.  Thirdly, it is reported that during the visit of the wise men Herod had made enquiries concerning the exact time of the Messiah’s birth and consequently ordered that all the male children of two years old and under be killed - an order that would not have made sense if his enquiry had shown that the Messiah was only a few days old.  Is there perhaps a “hidden” message for us in the visit of the wise men?  I believe there is.  These wise men were known as magi (from the word magus) and it is probable that they came from Babylon and we know that their visit was the main reason why the Messiah (in his childhood) had to spend some time in Egypt.  Perhaps this event was a  prophetic indication that Babylon (symbolic for idolatry, falsehood and deception) and Egypt (symbolic for bondage and persecution) were going to be a continued threat in the lives of both the Messiah and his followers.  From historical records it is known that Simon, the magician (also called a magus) mentioned in Acts chapter 8, became a fierce opponent and distorter of the message of the Messiah and could have been a forerunner (even personal teacher) of Marcion who became well-known for his view that there is no agreement between the Old Covenant and New Covenant Scriptures and that  we have no mandate to even read the Old Covenant Scriptures.  This deviation from Scriptural truth was the beginning of a long process of Messianic believers, on the one hand being exposed to deception and elements of idolatry (Babylon) and, on the other hand, being subjected to persecution, whenever they chose to stand up for the truth and to bondage, whenever they allowed the truth to be twisted or suppressed (Egypt).

2.      THE SHEPHERDS, THE SHEEP, THE MANGER AND BETHLEHEM.  There is a connection between these four concepts that we need to look into.  Starting with the place where the Messiah was born, Bethlehem - the correct form of this word is Beit-lechem which means “house of bread”.  Significantly, the Messiah was born in a town called “House of bread”.  Could this be an indication that the One being born in this town would prove to be the true Bread of life and that only those who would eat of his “body” and drink of his “blood” could receive their share in the New Covenant?  Furthermore, He was born in a manger or a crib or a feeding trough.  The word being used here is “phatne” coming from the root “pateomai” which means to eat.  The exact spot where the Messiah was born was a trough used to feed animals like cattle and sheep.  The city was “Beit-lechem” - “House of bread”; the room was probably a “sheepfold” similar to the one mentioned in John chapter 10 and the bed was a feeding trough for sheep.  Is it any wonder that upon Herod’s enquiry concerning the birthplace of the Messiah (Matthew 2:6), he was specifically informed that it was “Beit-lechem” based on the fact that in Micah 5:2 it was prophesied that out of this town would come a shepherd for the people of Yisrael.  A shepherd was a person caring for, and feeding his sheep.  The Messiah was born for exactly this reason: to become a shepherd for sheep that was lost.  He was prepared to leave 99 sheep which were safe and cared for, in order to find one, poor sheep that was lost.  Not only did He come as the shepherd of the sheep, He also came as the door  to the sheepfold.  No one who is not prepared to enter through Him can become part of the flock.  Entering through the Messiah means entering on his conditions, accepting everything he did and everything He taught.  That is why the Messiah Himself is the only One providing the proper food for the sheep.  He, Himself, is the true bread of life.  He is the Manna from heaven of which the manna in the desert was only a foreshadow.  He confirmed that man can not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of Yahweh.  This message should be maintained by other shepherds following in the footsteps of the Messiah.  No shepherd has the right or the freedom to teach that some of the words coming from the mouth of Yahweh are not good for consumption!  Pastors and shepherds are called to resound the message of the Messiah.  They are not supposed to deviate from it, not one single inch.  Unfortunately, many of the shepherds entrusted with the responsibility of feeding the flock of Yahweh with the true Bread of life, have failed miserably in this regard.  History has shown that the words of Sha’ul (Paul) in Acts 20:28-30 have indeed become true: “Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Set-apart Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Master which he purchased with his own blood.  For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”

This time of the year (the month of December) may be a good time for shepherds (and sheep) to ask themselves whether the “truths”  they proclaim and digest are indeed honouring Yahshua the Messiah, the Bread of Life and the true and only Shepherd of those sheep who claim to be part of the flock of the Almighty.  Although we need to subject all areas of our belief system to this test, a good starting place may be our beliefs and practices concerning the feast of Christmas - a feast not commanded in the inspired Scriptures at all and, in its essence being mixed with idolatrous elements, not portraying the truth of the Messiah.