We Three Kings

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. (Matthew 2:9-12 ESV). "We Three Kings", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a popular Christmas carol that was written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr., in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopkins served as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, PA, and he wrote the carol for a Christmas pageant in New York City. The first verse and chorus are: 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 night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. There are three claims about the wise men, only one of which is true: they were from the Orient, the east, which is true; they were kings, which is not true, since they were magi, astrologers; and though Matthew mentions three gifts, there may have been more than three to visit the Christ-child. The really important thing about them isn’t what they were but who they were; they were gentiles drawn to worship Jesus as king. The magi are a preview of all the different nations who come in faith to Christ the Lord. Think of it. No Bible, no Temple, just a hint from the heavens, and off they went, pressing onward through the years the journey must have taken and across the many miles from the east to this little town in the southern region of Judea. The magi went to honor Christ, even when Herod and the leaders of his own people show no interest in doing so. They believed in Christ, even when the King turns out to be a little baby on a poor mother’s lap in a humble village house. But still “they fell down and worshiped him” and presented him with gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. However, the real gift of the magi wasn’t carried in any box. They were the gift. If the magi, with so little real factual information, could worship him with heart and treasure, shouldn’t we?