Jesus Christian Allusions

Throughout their lives, countless Christians, as well as nonbelievers, have heard the story of the three wise men who journeyed from a far distance to see the birth of Jesus Christ. Author T.S. Eliot, however, tells the story from a different perspective, one of the magus, in his work, “Journey of the Magi.” In this, Eliot describes the long and arduous adventure these three men embarked upon while simultaneously adding in additional allusions to the life of Christ. All of these images combine to compare and contrast the realities of both life and death in the context of Jesus’s birth and Christianity. By doing so, Eliot has created a new and fascinating experience for his readers by bridging the gap between the worlds of life and death. Looking

During the crucifixion, not only was Jesus hung on the cross, but two other men were also crucified on both sides of Him. After this image, the reader encounters a thought-provoking line stating, “we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel” (26). In Exodus, God brings ten plagues to punish the Egyptians. The tenth plague is the killing of all first born sons who have not put the blood of a lamb on the lintel of the door. Although this allusion may seem peculiar, Eliot’s intention with this image is to foreshadow the death of Christ. By saying there were vine-leaves instead of blood over the lintel, and Jesus is God’s son, the reader can understand what is bound to happen. Also, another image given to the reader is that of “pieces of silver” (27). Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, did so by collecting thirty pieces of silver. Combining these images together gives the reader a timeline of the occurrences leading up to the crucifixion. How does this connect back to the Garden of Eden though? In the beginning of time, God created the world and every living creature that inhabited it free from sin. However, due to the deceitfulness of Satan, Eve ate the forbidden fruit and thus created the downfall of humanity. Even at the beginning of existence, life was required to bring death. It was this death of innocence that brought about the necessity for Jesus’s birth and

The narrator even discusses whether they were “led all that way for / Birth or Death” (35-36). Of course, there was the literal birth of Jesus, but there was also the birth of a new age of religion. During that time in history, the religious beliefs centered on multiple Gods instead of a single power. However, the men realized that their prior life is now over, and would have to live with the knowledge that they had been wrong their entire lives. This is why the narrator says “this Birth was / Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death” (38-39). They were “no longer at ease” (41), in their kingdoms, because they felt they no longer belonged “with an alien people clutching their gods” (42). It is due to this inner turmoil that the narrator eventually concludes the only way to ease his “agony” (39) would be “another death” (43). Although this may sound tragic, Eliot seems to be referencing the crucifixion once again. The magus knows that Jesus has been sent to save humanity from sin; therefore, the pain and agony will eventually end. Once Christ has sacrificed Himself for humanity’s sins, all who seek redemption will be offered eternity in Heaven. Yet again, death brings new life to those affected by such a tragedy. To conclude, “Journey of the Magi” is a wonderfully creative poem that expresses the belief that without death, there would