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That Assyrians, as a people, were the first who did believe in Jesus Christ and accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour is a fact. That Assyrians, as a people, were the first in playing the central role in founding the 'first Church', in 33 AD, known as The Church of The East (also referred to as the Assyrian Church of The East) is a fact. That Jesus Christ spoke the language of the Assyrians, Aramaic, is also a fact. (Aramaic is the linguistic heritage of the Assyrians. They inherited it from their 'cousins', the Arameans. Later it became the lingua franca of almost all the Middle East and even beyond.) The Holy, Official, Version of the Church of the East is referred to as 'Peshitta' (Peshitta Aramaic) in which the New Testament was originally written.
And what about spreading the Gospel of Christ? Assyrians wholeheartedly championed in taking the message of the Lord Jesus to different peoples and various communities of the East, as far as China, Japan, and even to the Pacific Islands. And what about to Europe? More of these in 'The Spreading of Christianity'.
But there is something more, something special, that Assyrians have done in respect of the Lord that even many, if not most, of the Assyrians don't know about it. Who were the three wise men, the Magi, who came (by following the Star of Bethlehem, to the place that Jesus was born) to visit and worship the newly born King of Kings, and the Saviour? These three wise men that came with their gifts, Frankincense and Myrrh, to visit the baby Jesus in the manger were none other than three Assyrians from Persia (from Babylon which was part of Persian Empire at the time). Here let me explain what the term Magi means. 'Magi' is not a religion as most people think, but is a spiritual term. In Persian, the term 'Majoosi' was referred to someone who was wise, spiritual and righteous, belonging to the spiritually enlightened community of 'Majusi'. Then, in the course of time, the word 'Majusi' (or Magoosi), through some 'linguistic gymnastics' not only entered into English language as 'Magus' but also it was Latinised so that its plural became Magi. Incidentally, the word 'Magi' (Magoosi) in Aramaic is 'Meghooshe', which could be, some say, the origin of the word in question.
Assyrians have produced philosophers, great scholars and eminent theologians and distinguished writers. Mar Narsai of the 5th century was one of the greatest writers - a copious writer in verse as well as in prose. Mar Narsai was, and will always be, known as one of the best scholars of language and literature in Assyrian/Aramaic, and of course also a great theologian. This distinguished Assyrian writer and poet in respect of the Magi and the birth of Jesus says,
'As great Assyria realized, she called the Magiand told them, take with you offerings and go topraise the great King that is born in Judea.Persia will rejoice with your announcement, andAssyria will be happy with your procession, whenthe Light of my Son's Kingdom shine, there willbe peace among you.'
And in another place regarding the birth of Jesus Mar Narsai says,
'Herod saw how much Assyrians degraded him,And he poured his anger on the children without mercy.'
Some month's ago I read an article on Assyrians and their survival and continuing contributions; the article also included the story of the three wise men, the Magi, and their journey to Bethlehem. The writer says the three wise men with their gifts visiting the baby Jesus had to be Assyrians - it was prophesied centuries before by Isaiah (19:24):
"In that day shall Israel be the third to the Egyptians and the Assyrians.A Blessing in the midst of the land."
That is, Assyrians will be the first.
There have been a few other writers who have written about the story that the three wise men, Magi, were Assyrians; one of these, I believe, is the well-known historian, Heraditos.
It is said that when the three Assyrian Magi went back to Persia they built a sort of church (a place of worship) for worshipping the Lord. Does this mean that while Jesus was still a child, a baby, there was a church, built by Assyrians, for worshipping the Lord? (I believe the church still exists?) I must do my research into this area in order to find out the 'full truth' on this 'spiritually interesting matter'.
Perhaps the best 'reminder' of the beginning of Christianity (coming to Christ Jesus) for Assyrian people is the name, 'Urhai' (known in the West as 'Edessa'). This is the story of the correspondance between King Abgar (an Assyrian) of the city of Edessa and Jesus. The former is asking The Lord to come to Edessa to Heal him, king Abgar, from an incurable disease. It is, spiritually, a fascinating story which I have described in some detail in a separate Article. Though I just said that the story in question was 'the beginning' of Christianiity among the Assyrians, I must also say that the 'growth' of the Assyrian Church took place mostly in the heart of Assyria/Ashur, namely the region of Adiabene (today would be Arbil and the surrounding areas). Furthermore, that part of Mesopotamia also progressively became central to the 'rapid expansion' of the Church of The East.
Now the question - and an important question - that arises is: Why the Assyrians, 'as a people', were the first to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour; and why while Jesus still on the Earth Assyrians were preparing for the establishment of the First Christian Church, and the Assyrian Missionaries of The Church of The East travelled a large part of the world (mostly bare-footed) to preach the Gospel of Christ? Many Assyriologists and some theologians have given a linguistically related answer to 'the question in question'. They say this is mainly due to the fact that Lord Jesus spoke the language of Assyrians, Assyriac (Syriac is a misnomer) Aramaic. Therefore, Assyrians better understood His words, parables, teachings and sermons, thus, they soon found a 'sense of closeness', an affinity, with Him. This sounds an interestingly reasonable argument, but (for me) not a convincing one. There were, at the time, different peoples and communities who could speak and understand Assyrian Aramaic very well. However, a few historians and students of Assyriology have maintained the main reason for Assyrians' readiness to follow Jesus and embrace Christianity was mainly a cultural and traditional one. For exmple, the well-known Assyriologist, Professer Parpola of helsinki University draws some parallels, similarities, between certain ancient Assyrians' spiritual tenets and some of the Christian doctrines, and in doing so he also draws upon the 'Doctrine of Holy Trinity'. His argument is an interesting one.
However, I believe it is the highest blessing for a people or nation who is pronounced or deemed "repented" by Jesus Christ. Therefore Could the Assyrians' wholehearted acceptance of Jesus as their Saviour and their faith in Him and their enthusiasm to establish the First Christian Church have "stemmed" from the following statement made by Christ. (Matt. 12:41)
'The men of Nineveh [Assyrians] shall rise injudgement with this generation, and shallcondemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and behold, a greater thanJonas is here.'
Long-suffered And Abandoned Assyrians Are Loved And Never Abandoned By Eshoo, Mesheekha d'Alaha.