Several years ago there was a unique Christmas television special called, “Claymation Christmas.” My family and I enjoyed it so much that we video taped it. A couple of the animated characters would tell the story behind of the Christmas song or hymns, after which other Claymation creations would sing them. It was creatively cute, informative, and fun. One of the hymns they did, in a soulful gospel style, was “We Three Kings.” Three animated royal looking people sang the verses and three camels took over singing the chorus. Three Kings and three camels fits our commonly accepted belief of this biblical account of the magi who made the trek to Bethlehem guided by a star. But is that accepted belief correct?

A careful study of the account in Matthew 2:1-12 reveals that it may not be correct. It really doesn’t detail how many magi there were. It does note there were three gifts, thus we assume that there was one gift per magi, hence three magi. It might just be that there were only two magi and they both gave three gifts to the Christ Child. We don’t really know for sure. We like the serene scene of three kingly looking men traveling across the horizon on there camels, but this actually doesn’t fit the historical record. The magi were probably riding horses, because royalty didn’t ride camels in Jesus’ day. And they surely would have had a entourage with them, for royalty would not travel alone and unattended. There probably was a full caravan of people making the trip to Bethlehem.

Matthew did not want to bog us down with unnecessary details. He gave us details that were vital to conveying essential truth about Jesus’ birth and the gospel. The missing details that pique our curiosity are not essential. Therefore, it is important for us to slow down and reread the account so that it may speak afresh to us. For the details that are included are replete with truth that challenges us in our Christian walk.

Verses eleven and twelve tell us that when the magi arrived they found Jesus with His mother Mary. They immediately bowed down to worship Him. Opening their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh they gave them to Him. These familiar details harbor some essential components of worship that can be missed with a cursory reading.

This royal group bowed down before the Jesus child. What a sight. They had traveled many miles and upon entering His presence they bowed down before Jesus. Matthew, not wanting us to mistake the magi’s action added, “and worshiped him.” This was not a simple gesture to pay respect. Their bowing was an act of worship. The magi, in the glory of Jesus presence, knew the only fitting posture was to bow in submission. Note also that the account emphasizes that they worshiped “Him,” clearly referring to Jesus. The did not worship “them” or the “event.” Jesus was the object and focus of their worship.

Their worship prompted their giving. The rarity and expensiveness of the gifts is what we tend to empathize and with good reason, they were both. But these are not the only factors of significance. It was customary for dignitaries traveling through another’s kingdom to stop to pay homage to the ruler of the land, including giving tribute gift(s) of appreciation for safely passage through the land. The account records the fact the these magi went to Herod, but gave nothing to him. They only inquired of him where to find the King of the Jews. Then, coming to the lowly house of a carpenter in Bethlehem, they bowed before Jesus and gave Him the tribute gifts leaving no doubt who is the real King of the Jews. Even more, He was the King they would bow and worship.

The actions of the magi reveal that worship involves humility, reverence, keeping Jesus central, submission and giving. Makes one wonder; what do our actions reveal about our worship?

Keep Close To Jesus

Pastor Gerry