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Question 8
Bercot notes the Magi “worshiped” Jesus (proskune?), which could mean worship of God or honor given to a king; how do you interpret the Magi’s posture and gifts in light of that ambiguity, and what might it reveal about God drawing people who don’t yet fully understand Christ’s identity?
Another way to ask: Since the Magi’s “worship” could mean honoring a king or worshiping God, how do you understand what they did, and what might it show about God drawing people who don’t fully understand who Jesus is yet?

Direct Answer Bercot leaves open whether the Magi recognized Jesus as divine or primarily as a king, but their kneeling and gifts still function as real homage; it suggests God can draw seekers who begin with partial understanding and lead them into deeper truth.

Support from Transcript:

  • He explains proskune? “can mean the worship…we give to God,” but “could also mean the worship that people gave to kings.”
  • He illustrates kingly homage with Persia/Alexander: Persians would “prostrate themselves before the rulers,” a custom tied to kingship.
  • Therefore, “we don’t know if they understood divinity…[but] they certainly understood him to be the king, and…bowed down for that reason.”
  • He highlights early Christian symbolism of the gifts: myrrh (burial/mortality), gold (gift for a king), frankincense (used in worship/temple incense).
  • He concludes the gifts point to “his humanity and his sacrificial death…his being a king…and…his being divine…somebody that we worship.”
Discussion Follow-ups Does the mixed meaning of proskune? help you think about evangelism and discipleship as a process? How might God use a person’s imperfect motives (curiosity, respect, fear) to lead them to Christ?

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