Introduction
For FPC, We Three Kings is a piece we regularly use as part of the Lessons in Carols service, coming before Christmas. But it’s probably the most well known Epiphany hymn we have.
Epiphany
Today (January 6th) is the traditional day for Epiphany in western churches, and typically celebrated on the first Sunday after January 1st. Eastern churches on the Julian calendar are off-set by 13 days and celebrate Epiphany on the 19th of January. The timing is that this is the 12th day after Christmas, or the first day after Christmastide.
For Western churches, Epiphany (manifestation or striking appearance) is primarily viewed as a celebration of the visit of the Magi, while Eastern churches celebrate Epiphany more as the baptism of Christ. It’s an old holiday and celebration, going back to the early 4th century, as a celebration of the manifestation of Christ (as expressed in the visit of the Magi), His baptism, and the first miracle (wedding feast at Cana)[1]. Note that in Eastern churches, it can also be called Theophany (God shining forth or divine manifestation).
One view is that the shepherds were Jewish, so the visit of the Magi represents Christ’s first revelation to the Gentiles.
What are our memories, thoughts, and interpretations of the Magi visit? See Wikipedia article on biblical Magi and the article on Magi in general for discussion during class.
Does it matter if these are Magi, wise men, or kings? We use all three words at different points, though they can have some very different connotations. Note too, that we’ve sanitized the concept of what first century shepherds were in our cute portrayals of them with our children in the Christmas pageants. They were dirty, not necessarily of sound moral character, and at least somewhat societal outcasts. So, the contrasts between the shepherds and the magi can be quite interesting. Indeed, He came to be king of all, though neither of these groups represent the then mainstream power groups in Judaism.
What do we think of the Star of Bethlehem and what it means?
We Three Kings (scripture)
From Matthew 2:1–12 [NIV]. Note that 2:6 references Micah 5:2,4
The Magi Visit the Messiah
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] 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.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
We often talk of three magi, but the scripture doesn’t name the number, only that there were three gifts. So, we (particularly in the western church) have often assumed that there were, thus, three Magi. In the Eastern church, there is a tradition of 12 wise men. One of the Renaissance paintings of this uses a procession of 20 Magi. There is a tradition that links these to the kings of Tarshish, Sheba, and Seba described in Psalm 72. There is also some interest in three as being Trinitarian in nature, one for each of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, many think that these three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself—gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming.
We Three Kings (song)
Compared to some, this is a relatively recent hymn, written and composed by John Henry Hopkins in 1857 and first published in 1863. Hopkins was then an ordained Episcopal deacon and later ordained as an Episcopal priest[2]
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder starRefrain: O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect lightBorn a king on Bethlehem plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign
refrainFrankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising all men raising
Worship Him, God on high
refrainMyrrh is mine its bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone cold tomb
refrainGlorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.
refrain(alternate)Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and sacrifice
Heaven sings alleluia
Alleluia the earth replies
refrain(alternate)Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia Earth to heav’n replies
refrain
What do you see in the words? Does this change or add anything to you about the story?
What does this song and the story mean for us today?
Note about the versions of We Three Kings: The vocal version I used was done by a vocal ensemble called Good Company, based out of Midland, Michigan. Several of the members are friends of mine from my time there, and I enjoyed hearing them in concert several times. We Three Kings can be found on their Christmas CD from a few years ago: http://www.goodcompanysings.com/CD_Purchase.html
For a bit of humor and some serious thought, see the Claymation version http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CnIFTtW1pko and the discussion of this on http://www.sbnation.com/2012/12/19/3780658/christmas-song-octagon-we-three-kings
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