We Three Kings

 

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea
in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men, astrologers
from the east, came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is He who
has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star
in the east at its rising and have come to worship Him."
(Matthew 2:1-2)

The Holy Men

Liz Lemon Swindle

We three kings of Orient are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar,

Field and fountain, moor and mountain,

Following yonder star.

O star of wonder, star of light,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect Light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain

Gold I bring to crown Him again,

King forever, ceasing never,

Over us all to reign.

O star of wonder, star of light,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect Light.

Frankincense to offer have I;

Incense owns a Deity nigh.

Prayer and praising, voices raising,

Worshipping God on high.

O star of wonder, star of light,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect Light.

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume

Breathes a life of gathering gloom;

Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,

Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

O star of wonder, star of light,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect Light.

Glorious now behold Him arise;

King and God and sacrifice;

Alleluia, Alleluia,

Sounds through the earth and skies.

O star of wonder, star of light,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect Light.

"We Three Kings"
(1857)
John Henry Hopkins Jr.
(1820-1891)
American clergyman and hymn writer

The Gift of The Magi

It was perhaps a year or more after the birth of Messiah

that the Magi, mysterious visitors from the east, arrived in

Bethlehem to visit the Christ child.  Although there is much

speculation as to the identities of these three wise men,

it is generally assumed that they were members of

 the tribes of the Medes, a people whom lived in what

 is today the nation of Iran.  They were said to be

priests of  Zoroastrianism and known for

their practices in astrology.

"And on going into the house, they saw the Child with

Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him.

Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him

gifts-gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.'

(Matthew 2:11)

The opulent gifts brought to Baby Jesus by the Magi were indeed

presents "fit for a King."  But whether these wise men were aware

of the significance of their costly offerings is unknown. 

Gold symbolized Jesus' identity as the King of kings.

  The aromatic resin Frankincense, used as incense,

 represented His Deity as God.

The gift of myrrh, which was used to anoint the dead, 

represented His death and burial.

After He was crucified, a wealthy follower of Jesus,

Joseph of Arimathea, quietly, for fear of the Jews, 

 asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus.

And Pilate granted him permission to do so.

Then Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, who had come

to visit Jesus by night, came to Joseph of Arimathea bringing 

one hundred pounds of myrrh mixed with aloes, and in accordance

with the Jewish customs in preparing for burial, they wrapped Jesus'

body in linen cloth with the aromatic spices.

"Now there was a garden in the place where He was crucified, and

in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever yet been laid.

So there, because of the Jewish day of Preparation, and since 

 the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus."

(John 19:41-42)