Their journey took longer than our manger scenes allow. Much longer, in fact.

To find the Christ, they had to travel for two years after his birth. This is why Matthew's account says that they came to his "house," not his manger, and found the "child," not the "baby" (v. 11).

This is why murderous King Herod killed all the Jewish boys in the vicinity from two years old and under (v. 16).

They came first to Herod in Jerusalem, assuming he would know of the birth of the King of the Jews. He did not, but his scholars knew that the boy would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). And when they saw again the star which first announced his birth, leading them to his home, they were overjoyed (v. 10).

They brought him gifts prepared for just this moment.

Gold, for Persians never came before a king without it.

Frankincense, a cinnamon incense which priests used to cover the odor of burning sacrifices. A gift for a priest.

Myrrh, an anointing substance for embalming and burial, something used only for a sacrifice.

And with their gifts, the Magi were wise enough to give him their obedience.

They refused to tell Herod where they found the child, though he had the power to kill them.

They returned to their homeland and told there the story of this child Christ. There is a Christian movement in Persia to this day which traces itself to their witness there.