At the time, the Magi, the Wise Men were considered “the other people.” They looked different acted different: they were the oddballs, the outsiders and what did God do? God drew them in! The power of season of Christmas and Epiphany that follows is not for the consolation of Israel only! But that of the salvation of the world! For weeks we have been journeying, traveling with Mary and Joseph. And we now have the light, the hope! We are here! With the opportunity to begin living the life you love. My prayer for you is that you will not recoil and go down the same path you always have but that you will stop and meet face to face, the power of God and have the strength to go as God desires you to go.
When the Wise Men finally made it to Bethlehem, they encountered the light of Christ. What is the first thing they did? They rejoice and give praise to God. They fell to their knees. Was this the first witness of the words of the Apostle Paul before he even wrote a word, Jews and Gentile alike, Shepherds and Wise Men were the beginning of this reality that there would be a time when every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Christ Lord. I want to be a part of that! This account is not about three kings at all; this account is about each of us in this Holy Place!
Difference is that the Wise Men experienced awe. And we, well, we slip away from living the life we love! We have become so use to business as usual that we forget the awe! Maybe we have it too easy! Think of the Wise Men; they had to travel over 1000 miles and they had to face Herod’s arrogance and false concern. Maybe we do face hard journeys and false concern every day but how do we handle it? Do we cave to it, ignore it? Give it too much attention?
Don’t you think that that Wise Men suspected what Herod was up to? There he was at Herodians Palace, atop the 400-foot man made mountain that he had erected for himself. And no Christ Child there… “Go find Him so that I may worship Him too!” Yeah right, Herod. He didn’t get it; he couldn’t because he was clouded by his own…well…self. Herod couldn’t live the life he loved because he was shackled to his own pride and fears! And he was not going to move even 5 miles to where the King of the Universe was born. He was going to stay right where he was. The Wise Men on the other hand would travel the world to discover the King. And what they saw in the house in the little town of Bethlehem changed them! What happened to them John Wesley called it, “Second Birth” The moment when you realize that all of life is not about you nor does it revolve around you. “Second Birth!” When you look at yourself and you see not yourself but you see Christ. “Second Birth,” when you begin to give Christ the very best of what you have and what you are. And this is exactly what the Wise Men did.
First they stood in awe, then they bowed in reverence and then they gave the best of what they had brought with them. Did they know the significance in the Jewish tradition…the Christian tradition for all that they brought?
First they stood in awe, then they bowed in reverence and then they gave the best of what they had brought with them. Did they know the significance in the Jewish tradition…the Christian tradition for all that they brought? First – Gold has always been attached to the Monarchy… kingly gift. Christ Child you are the King…my King.
Second – Frankincense. This was the perfume reserved for the Holy. Exodus 30 says: And the LORD said to Moses: Take sweet spices…and pure frankincense... you shall not make any for yourselves; it shall be to you holy…reserved for the most holy. The Wise Men, these strangers, presented our Lord Child with costly and holy gifts. What they were saying is that You are worthy of my praise.
Third – the gift of Myrrh. Myrrh had two uses: 1) it was an anointment…I’m giving you the gift and naming you the anointed one. 2) It was an embalming agent. In John 19, Nicodemus brought 100 lbs of myrrh mixed with spices to preserve Jesus’ body. Think of it, Wise Men from afar tying the incarnation of God with the death of God before His resurrection. Were they not saying: You are not only my King but also my Savior.
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