Who were really the 3 Kings?

Someone has aptly asked why is it that we can only sing songs about the birth of Christ once a year? Why not all through the year?

While this question will largely go unanswered, there is no doubt the answer lies in our traditions surrounding Christmas. Our secular society aside, are not these songs usually called “Christmas hymns?” And, would it not feel out of place to you if sung in May, June or July?

While I leave you to ponder these questions for yourself, one of my own personal favorites, “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” is not even about Jesus’ birth. Once again, tradition is responsible for leading us to believe that the wise men from the east found Jesus lying in a manger. But while they do dress up the manger scenes and earn department stores a few dollars, the Bible says they found Jesus in a house.

Matthew 2:11 says, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child.” While Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn, finding Jesus in a house means that at some point after the birth, Joseph, like any good family man, moved his family to a more permanent dwelling place. Or, being a carpenter, perhaps even built one.

Additionally, that they found a young child rather than a “babe,” as in Luke’s gospel, which further verifies that this was well after his birth. In fact, that King Herod killed all the children that were 2 years of age and younger is a good indicator of Jesus’ age as Herod had inquired of the wise men as to when his star had first appeared.

And for those who are still skeptical at this point, let us consider Mary for a moment. How many postpartum mothers do you know of who would be up to a 200-mile donkey ride hours or even days after having just given birth?

Yet even though tradition wrongly associates this song with Christ’s birth, “We Three Kings” remains one of my favorites because it is true to the Word of God with regard to the gifts these wise men brought. Even though tradition touches the song itself and calls them kings, and even that there were, the significance remains in the gifts these wise men gave.

Let us then consider these gifts, the first of which is gold. Gold is the commodity of kings, and to this Matthew 2:2 tells us these wise men came to Herod asking, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” Certainly Jesus was king, yet even though he even died king, it was Jesus who told Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world. Simply put, his kingship is yet future with regard to this world.

My friend, I wonder today if you are as wise as these three wise men were. They gave no gold to Herod, he who was crowned king by man. Instead, their wealth was reserved for him who God crowned King, their offering of it representing their submission to him. I wonder who your gold is offered to, to whom or to what do you submit to as king?

Secondly, these wise men offered frankincense. Incense is the fragrance of worship, and again Matthew 2:2 tells us these wise men said “we are come to worship him.” In Genesis 1:14, the Bible tells us that God put lights in the heavens in part “for signs.” And in Psalm 19:1 we are told that “the heavens declare the glory of God.” These men were wise because they understood what the stars said, and when Christ’s star appeared what it required of them.

Again I wonder just how wise you might be. We live in a day when many scoff at the idea that Jesus is less than Almighty God. While the Bible gives him a name in both testaments which plainly means “God with us,” doubts persist. But how can you truthfully worship someone you don’t fully believe in?

Lastly, these wise men offered myrrh. Myrrh is the spice of death, and to this Matthew again speaks to us in verse 4 that Herod “demanded of them where Christ should be born.” As we said last week, Jesus came the first time to die. When he stood before Pilate and asserted that his kingdom was not of this world, it was because he had been born to die as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. Hence, we may rightly conclude that in the offering of the myrrh, these wise men knew the purpose for which he came.

The only question that remains is do you? Jesus Christ died nearly 2,000 years ago for the sins of the whole world — past, present and future. Yet, while payment for sin is available for all, it must be appropriated individually.

These men were wise because they accepted the right sacrifice for their sins. What about you?

Ron Hamman is pastor for Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229.