"We Three Kings"

Dusty camels lumber across the shifting sands as their bejeweled saddles and weighty packs creak and sway to the rhythm of the night wind. A rich perfume of frankincense and myrrh drifts alongside the travelers as they follow a bright extraordinary star they first spotted in the eastern sky. Is it really a star? Or is it a planet? Maybe it’s the Shekinah glory of God the ancient Hebrew texts describe. I wonder as I wander with this caravan journeying from the Far East to the town of Bethlehem, nestled in the Judean hills. 

Interestingly, Matthew is the only one of the four gospel writers who includes the account of the wise men, a story which nearly 2000 years later clergyman and hymn writer John Henry Hopkins, Jr. would recount in the Christmas carol “We Three Kings.” The song relates the magi’s journey as well as the momentous birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The refrain, which ties all the elements together, highlights the supernatural star that led the wise men to “the Perfect Light” to whom they offered their treasures.  

Like Matthew’s account, the song also describes the costly gifts, including myrrh, which the magi brought to pay homage to the Christ-child. Before His death, Jesus’s friend Mary would offer Him the best she had when she broke open the alabaster jar and anointed Him with expensive perfume made from spikenard. With Christmas just three days away, I ask myself whether this Advent season I have surrendered anew my heart to Jesus and laid my treasure at His feet in worship.