Today is Easter! I take the chance to showcase my latest illustration sketch, of the Wise Men who visited baby Jesus with gifts., to celebrate this special day.
I made sure to draw the specific details that ALL the artists in the past missed out – that the wise men were from the east. During 1BC in China, it was the Han Dynasty. Something I’ve not come across before…
It’s important to note that the biblical text does not mention how many ‘Wise Men’ also known as ‘Magi’ there were. The number “three” was added to the story through later Christian tradition. The tradition likely arose from the three gifts that the Magi presented to Jesus. Thus, I decided to illustrate four wise men instead.
Wise Men from the East Visits Baby Jesus, The Messiah, King of the Jews
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, [a]wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the [b]wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
