Week 4 | We Three Kings
Lisa Scheffler, author
Three Kings came riding from far away,
Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar;
Three Wise Men out of the East were they,
And they travelled by night and they slept by day,
For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.
The star was so beautiful, large and clear,
That all the other stars of the sky
Became a white mist in the atmosphere,
And by this they knew that the coming was near
Of the Prince foretold in the prophecy.
Three caskets they bore on their saddle-bows,
Three caskets of gold with golden keys;
Their robes were of crimson silk with rows
Of bells and pomegranates and furbelows,
Their turbans like blossoming almond-trees…(to be continued tomorrow)
From “The Three Kings” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, (1905)
My family has two nativity scenes that we set out at Christmas. One is beautiful and expensive enough that it took me years to collect all the pieces. But that’s not the family favorite. Everyone loves the cute, colorful one designed for children. It has all the familiar figures: Mary and Joseph, shepherds and sheep, three wise men holding gifts, a donkey and an angel with wings. The most beloved figure has always been the smiling, infant Jesus. Though the figure is shaped more like a tube of lipstick than a baby, it was the perfect shape for my sweet toddlers to grip in their chubby fists and carry around. My kids are much older now, but they still insist that we set up their nativity every year.
As much as I love our nativity sets and have tried to use them as a reminder that ultimately, Christmas is about worshipping Jesus, they capture only one part of the story of Jesus’ birth. We love to ponder this beautiful, idyllic scene when “all is calm, all is bright,” but some of the events surrounding Christ’s birth were more dramatic. Because God’s plan unfolded precisely as he designed, we sometimes forget the intense struggle that surrounded Christ’s birth.
Jesus came to bring a revolution unlike anything the world has ever known. True revolution smashes existing norms and can bring conflict and even danger. This week we’ll consider the exotic visitors that paid the Messiah a visit and the powers that threatened the infant’s life. We’re going to explore the story of Magi who traveled a long distance from a foreign nation in search of the new king and the existing king who tried to stop the revolution before it could begin.
Day 1 | Magi From The East
Sometimes they’re called “Magi” and other times “kings” or “wise men.” Speculation has created the legends that surround them. Because they bring three gifts, it became common to tell the story of the three kings, although we don’t know their exact number. Centuries after Christ’s birth, names were given to the Magi: Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar. Yet, the biblical text tells us very little about these mysterious visitors who came to pay homage to the infant king of the Jews.
Today we’ll look at the two verses Matthew gives to introduce them.
Read
Matthew 2:1-2
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew is the only Gospel that records the Magi’s journey to see Jesus. For hundreds of years scholars have wondered about these visitors. They came from the east, possibly Persia or Babylon. From the Old Testament books of Daniel and Esther and the writings of the ancient Roman historian, Herodotus, we know that Magi were advisors who served their kings by interpreting dreams and omens, and by looking for signs in the heavens. The Magi credit the appearance of a special star with prompting their visit to Jerusalem.
We can only speculate that their astronomical observations and perhaps the prompting of the Holy Spirit led a contingent of these men to journey westward in search of the new Jewish king. People have also speculated about what the “his star” could have been. Could it have been a comet whose approach from the outer rim of our solar system was noticed by the Magi? Or was it the explosion of a distant supernova whose light traveled millions of light-years to reach their watching eyes? Or was it something else altogether? We can’t say for sure. Yet we do know that Creator of heaven and earth can orchestrate the heavens to serve his purposes. God desired these foreign dignitaries to honor and bring gifts to his Son.
In his Gospel, Luke focuses on the local shepherds who celebrate Jesus’ birth — ordinary Jewish men who are given the honor of seeing the Messiah. Matthew tells the story of foreign, royal visitors from a pagan land who are compelled to find the newborn King. Led by a star, Magi come to Jerusalem to worship Christ at his birth. Scripture foretold that the nations would be drawn to Israel and its Messiah. For example, Isaiah 60:3 says “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Matthew gives his readers another sign that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah and Savior.
Jesus’ time on earth begins with a visit from the nations, and ends with him sending his disciples out into the world. Before his ascension into heaven, Jesus gives his disciples a new mission: to go and share the good news of his salvation. The Savior did not just come for the Jews, but for everyone who will put their trust in him. The King was inaugurating his kingdom and with it a radical message of hope, love, peace and joy.
Notice that the Magi don’t come just to find the King; they traveled a great distance to worship him. This royal contingent from a foreign land was ready to humble themselves in front of an infant. Somehow, they knew he was no ordinary, earthly King.
Though our nativity scenes feature an infant Jesus because we are celebrating his birth, we should always remember that we are worshipping a King. He is the ruler and Lord of all people, and has given us the privilege of inviting them to come and experience his just and loving rule.
At Christmas time, with so much to distract us, it’s easy to lose the reason we celebrate at all. But, this season gives us the opportunity to talk about the birth of the newborn King. How can you help focus your family’s attention on Jesus? What about others that you know? But first, how can you center him in your own heart? Take some time to praise and worship him now.
