Wise men come to see a child of greater wisdom and honor divine. ~
In almost every manger I’ve ever viewed, I have seen baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, farm animals, and … wise men. How many wise men? Always three. Why do we think there were three–no more, no less? And what were they doing there at the same time as the shepherds? And were they kings? Let’s take a look.
What the Bible says about the wise men--well, these anyway
Here’s what Matthew 2:9-11tells us, paraphrased. The wise men were following a star that they believed would stop over the place where they would find the prophesied messiah. In verse 11, specifically, the KJV states, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child and Mary, his mother …” Note that the wise men were only referred to as wise men and they. No numbers of wise men were noted. Discipleship Ministries suggested that perhaps the three gifts mentioned in the Gospels gave rise to the traditional belief that there were three wise men. Britannica concurs, but added that the Eastern church believes there were 12 wise men.
Further, they came into the house. We have all read Luke 2, which says, ” …she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Jesus was no longer in the manger when the wise men arrived. Or were they kings?
Yes, yet another question. Some sources suggest that the “king” label began with the song, “We Three Kings,” but gifts offered and worship by an elite group may be a call-back to the Old Testament. (See Isaiah 60 and Psalm 72 reference to kings bearing gifts.) However, the KJV refers to the visitors as wise men, not kings. Perhaps they were labeled in this manner because their study of the stars indicated a high level of education attained or at least educational pursuits. Up there in the hierarchy, but maybe not royalty.
Does any of this change the miracle? The impact of this event? No. Still. Leave your wise men out of the crèche, somewhere west of where the star hovered over the stable. They hit the road too late to catch the angels singing. But, speaking of late to the party – read on.
A little TBT from the late 60s. Yes, about the wise men.
More than fifty years ago I attended a small high school in West Tennessee. We had chapel every Wednesday afternoon, and I recall at least two times during the Christmas season when we had a special treat. No, not Santa. Instead of a pastor arriving to provide a sermon, our guest speaker was Margaret Gauldin, a local business person. Whenever she visited, she recited the entire story of The Other Wise Man.
Even aside from her phenomenal memory, Mrs. Gauldin was a force of nature. As she shifted her gaze shifted from one side of the auditorium to the other, we felt her making eye contact with each of us. No one spoke to a seatmate, nor did we cough or fidget. We sat and listened to a story that was new to many–a story about a wise man who was delayed on his journey to see the newborn King.
The other (fourth) wise man intended to join the others in their quest, and he, too, had gifts for the baby. However, along the way he paused in his trek to help others. Those meetings cost him time and valuables. I won’t spoil the ending, but I will include the truth that the other wise man came to realize just before he died, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40
For me, at least, there's something to learn.
The Other Wise Man is a work of fiction by Henry van Dyke and dates back to 1895, just 10 years before O. Henry wrote Gift of the Magi, another Christmas classic. Read it soon if you haven’t already. While Dyke’s story isn’t Biblical, it beautifully illustrates ways to honor Christ. This season of celebration and anticipation is a perfect time to consider whether our lofty pursuits are the most noble uses of our time. Perhaps those efforts could be sacrificed for unexpected delays that assist someone in need. What if they’re Godwinks instead of petty annoyances?
