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The Story of Jesus in One Song
From Matthew 2: 1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' " 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Our having sung this hymn yesterday in worship blessed me. It made me realize that in this sacred hymn, used as a carol of Christmas is found more than the story of three men visiting a baby. Upon reading about it, the words to this hymn came to the writer just before the Civil War and it was during the actual war that it was published and performed in a seminary for a Christmas pageant. The words to this hymn are as follows:
We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
Refrain: 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. (Refrain)
Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a Deity nigh; prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high. (Refrain)
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. (Refrain)
Glorious now behold Him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. (Refrain) (Text and Music by John H. Hopkins, Jr., 1820-1891)
The hymn writer drew from scripture, legend, apocryphal sources and the like to share the story he read into this account of this special visit to the child Jesus.
The visitors are called kings from the East, who have traveled over much distance and all kinds of terrain to reach the child. They have brought gifts and they have been guided by the star, whose appearance in the east they saw as a fulfillment of prophecy and importance. The writings telling of this birth named the region and it was on "Bethlehem's plain" that they found the child with His mother and father. The first king sings of his gift, the gift of gold, the only gift worthy of a king, but this gift is to "crown Him again," referencing the belief that Jesus left His Kingdom of Heaven to be born among us, and this visitor wishes to crown Him again. Yet, notice the declaration; "King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign." No one gets left out of that reign!
The second visitor brings the gift fit for a High Priest, the gift of incense to stir worship, notice what is important in worship: "Prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high." While most of us do not worship in settings where incense is used, those who do believe it is a call and presence of worship where used.
The third king's gift is a bit sorrowful, the gift of myrrh, a "bitter perfume," that "breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb." Not the message one usually likes or wants to hear at Christmas, but it is very much a part of the reality of this special birth. Jesus was born to share His life with us, and dying was very much a part of that life and purpose.
Yet, the hymn concludes with the Resurrection; "Glorious now behold Him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies." Indeed.
For many, today is when "Christmas" ends. Some folks are just now getting their gifts, for they believe the "kings" bring them, not some giant elf in the fireplace. Others use this day as THE day to take down the tree and put away the ornaments. Yet, the day is a declaration of God's great light revealed to all people, a light of love and compassion, forgiveness and grace, all found in the birth of a human child, born fully God and fully man.
¡Feliz Dia de Los Reyes Magos!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
