We Three Kings Of Orient Are

Journey of the Magi

James Tissot

(1902)

We Three Kings

We three kings of Orient are,

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

Field and fountain, moor and mountain,

Following yonder star.

Refrain

O star of wonder, star of night,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect light.

Melchior:

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,

Gold I bring to crown Him again;

King forever, ceasing never

Over us all to reign.

"Where Jesus has entered in for us in advance,

a Forerunner having become the High Priest forever

after the order of Melchizedek."

Hebrews 6:20

Caspar:

Frankincense to offer have I,

Incense owns a Deity nigh;

Prayer and praising, all men raising,

Worship Him, God on high.

Aromatic frankincense is a resin which was used as

part of the incense burned in the Tent of Meeting by Moses.

(Exodus 30:34)

The gift of frankincense presented to the Christ Child is

symbolic of His willingness to become a living sacrifice on the

cross for the sins of all mankind.

Balthazar

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume

Breathes a life of gathering gloom;

Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,

Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

Meaning "bitter" in the Aramaic language,  Myrrh is

a resin of the Horn of Africa and is used as perfume, incense, and

for medicinal purposes to alleviate pain. In keeping with Hebrew

custom, Jesus was offered a cup of wine mixed with myrrh and gall,

which He refused to drink despite the terrible agony He endured on the cross.

Mark 15:24

All

Glorious now behold Him arise,

King, and God, and Sacrifice;

Heav'n sings Alleluia;

Alleluia the earth sings.

The Empty Tomb

 "Save us, O God of our salvation!

Gather and rescue us from among the nations,

so we can thank Your holy name and rejoice

and praise You."

1 Chronicles 16:35

"We Three Kings of Orient Are"

Composed by John Henry Hopkins Jr.

American clergyman 

(1857)