Light and Revelation
Light and Revelation are the themes of the season between Christmas and Lent; Epiphany calls us to explore and discover who the Christ child really is and what his birth means. No song does that better than the five familiar verses of the first American Christmas Carol: “We Three Kings.”
1. We three kings of orient are.
Bearing gifts we traverse afar:
Field and fountain Moor and mountain
Following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright;
Westward leading, still proceeding.
Guide us to thy perfect light.
2. [Melchior] Born a King on Bethlehem's plain.
Gold I bring to crown Him again;
King for ever, ceasing never;
Over us all to reign.
3. [Casper] Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, all men raising;
Worship Him, God most high.
4. [Balthazar] Myrrh is mine, Its bitter perfume,
breathes a life of gathering gloom,
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying;
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
5. Glorious now behold Him arise.
King and God and Sacrifice!
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia
Heaven to earth replies.
In theological circles we often refer to Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King. Each of those titles carry certain meanings, which we theology geeks find really important. Rev John Henry Hopkins wrote “We Three Kings” in 1857. Being a fellow theology geek, he built the song around those important concepts.
The song refers to the Magi—the Wise men—and their visit to Bethlehem. Tradition takes the presentation of three gifts and places one in the hand of three men, who have come to be known of as Melchior (gold), Casper (frankincense) , and Balthazar (myrrh). The names of the men are tradition, but the gifts brought are mentioned in the Bible. And each carries the theological meaning that Pastor Hopkins mentions in his song.
First is GOLD, the gift fitting a King. The wisdom of “Melchior” is evident in his ability to see a King when all evidence points in the opposite direction. Seeing Jesus as a King calls for the same discernment and faith today. It is not easy to see anything kingly about Jesus, whose only crown was made of thorns. But when we do see him as such, that places a call to honor him upon our hearts.
Second is FRANKINCENSE, the gift only a priest would ever need. Frankincense was burned in the OT Temple, and is still the preferred incense in most churches today. For 4,000 years it has been burned in Yahweh’s presence. Jesus never actually burned incense in the Temple in Jerusalem—and would never have been allowed to. Jesus was born into the tribe of Judah, and only descendants of the tribe of Levi, AND men descended from Aaron were allowed to serve as priests. But according to David (Ps 110) and Priscilla* in Hebrews 7, Jesus is a priest of the older order of Melchizedek. “Casper” was able to intuit his role as the Great High Priest of all Creation. Such faith is still required today. Those with eyes to see, are able to view him as our great High Priest who brings us into the presence of God.
Finally is MYRRH, an ingredient in Mid-Eastern burials. It was also often mixed into oil used to anoint prophets. “Balthazar” saw the Christ child as a mighty prophet who would lay down his life to bring God's message to all people. Jesus certainly did that…and his sacrifice still brings us comfort today, even as it calls us to shine his Light to those who still sit in the darkness. King and God and Sacrifice, indeed!
Blessed Epiphany season!
Pastor Derek
* Priscilla is not accepted by all as the author of Hebrews, but I believe she is the best candidate.
