Epiphany #1 of 14:

Magians Arrived from the East.

(Matthew 2:1)

I know, it should be “magicians”, but that’s how D.B. Hart, translates it. Magoi is the Greek word translated “magi” or “wise men” or sung as “We three Kings” from chapter sixty of Isaiah

Arise, shine; for your light has come!

        And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,

        and kings to the brightness of your rising.
And your heart shall swell with joy;

        because the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.

Their camels shall bring gold and incense;

        proclaiming praises to the Lord (vss 1,3,5-6).

Who are these guys? Maybe best understood as leading “scholars” or “astrologers”.  They are Ivy leaguers from the East—the brightest and best. Their science leads them to Jerusalem—it gets them close to Jesus; but, they need something more than science to get them to Bethlehem—a word from scripture. And there, in Bethlehem, scripture and science bring them to the Christ Child. A good place for science and scripture to meet.