The nativity scene at Christmas is an emblem of the season. It depicts Baby Jesus, moments after his birth, watched over by Mary and Joseph and surrounded by farm animals. Some scenes include the shepherds and most include “THREE WISE MEN” bearing gifts for the King. But is that a true picture based on Scripture? Starting at His birth, let’s see what the Bible has to say:

Luke 2:7 Jesus is born in Bethlehem in a stable.

Luke 2:21 After 8 days, Jesus is circumcised.

Luke 2:22 Joseph takes Jesus and Mary to Jerusalem to make the sacrificial offering for purification, according to Jewish law, which is 40 days. (Jesus is now 40 days old.)

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived and borne a son, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any holy thing nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed’ ” (Leviticus 12:1-4).

Luke 2:39 When they had completed the purification at the Temple, Joseph takes Mary and Jesus back to Nazareth, not Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:1 Wise men from the EAST, having seen a star, travel to Jerusalem and inquire where the King has been born. (The star is obviously no longer visible or they would not have had to ask.)

Matthew 2:7 Herod inquires of the wise men as to when they saw the star appear. (This implies a single point in time, not a continuous visibility.)

Matthew 2:8 Herod sends them to Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:9-10 A star leads the wise men to where Jesus abides.

Matthew 2:11 The wise men find Jesus in a house. (Not a stable.)

Matthew 2:12 The angel of the Lord tells Joseph to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt to escape the coming carnage.

Matthew 2:13-14 Joseph take Mary and “the young child” to Egypt.

Matthew 2:19-22 Following the death of Herod (which is after he slaughtered all children in Bethlehem two years old and under) Joseph returns to Nazareth with Mary and Jesus.

Do you think the wise men went to Bethlehem? Perhaps they started out that way and the star then appeared to lead them further to Nazareth. Or perhaps they got to Bethlehem and inquired about the King and were told which direction to head and then the star showed them where Jesus abode. Scripture is silent on these points and I have not looked into secular texts to see if there is any mention of the story. What do you think? Were the wise men in Bethlehem?