St. Paul's Lutheran Church

St Paul's Lutheran Church
Ashland, Kentucky

“The Wise Men”

From December 24^th to January 6^th we observe the Christmas season during which we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! The giving of gifts has always been associated with this special holiday for Christians all over the world. Where did this custom come from? Many will say it began with the Wise Men (or Magi) bringing their gifts to Jesus. “As they offered gifts most rare, at Thy cradle rude and bare … ” (LSB 397 v. 3). Who were these visitors from the East who followed the star that led them to Bethlehem where the Christ Child lay? They came from the East (probably Persia, at that time, or maybe even from Iraq or Iran today). The Bible does not tell us “We Three Kings of Orient are” nor does it tell us they were only three in number. Because the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were given as gifts to Jesus (Matthew 2:11), “Biblical lore” says there may have been three Wise Men. Myth has even given them the names of Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. And how about those gifts they brought? The gold presented to Jesus supposedly later funded the Holy Family's flight to Egypt. Myrrh was a fragrant gum used by the Israelites to strengthen children, and we know it was blended with wine and offered to Jesus when He was on the cross. Frankincense was used in worship and symbolized prayer and sacrifice.

These are all great stories and ideas about the Wise Men, but what was the “critical event” that opened the eyes of the Wise Men? Was it the star that led them to Bethlehem? Seeing the Baby Jesus in the manger? Mary and Joseph? Whatever the “critical event” was, we know that the Holy Spirit worked His miracle of faith in these visitors from the East, who probably went home and told everyone what they had heard and seen.

The Wise Men experienced God's love when they gazed on the Baby. No gift that we ever will receive will be more precious than the love that God, our Father, has for us. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh … nice gifts … “but the greatest of these is love.” (I Cor. 13:13).

As you enjoy the gifts you received for Christmas from family and friends, think about the greatest gift of LOVE God gave you in the Infant Jesus – your Savior.

Praying that yours was a very blessed Christmas, and may the Love of God in Christ which you experienced during these holy days be passed on to others as you continue to grow in your understanding of the Reason for the Season.