A couple of weeks ago my daughter had a part in her school nativity, singing some solo sections of “We Three Kings”. Needless to say, Christmas singing started early in our house this year, as she provided us with daily renditions of the song, practicing it incessantly. As a result of this, I’ve had a lot of time to ponder the lyrics, and the truths held therein. And as I’ve done so, it has pushed me back to the Biblical account, with some new musings on the wonder of what happened 2000 years ago.
Consider what we know about these Magi:
“Westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.“
“Behold, wise men from the east came…”
Firstly, these men came from the East to the West. This is significant for several reasons. Magi were likely astrologers or divinators in Persia, though some early sources suggest they were from Arabia. The fact is, Matthew doesn’t care to mention where they are from, only that they are from “The East”.
“The East” in Scripture is always negative direction to go. Adam and Eve are exiled from the garden of Eden to the East. Cain goes away from the presence of the Lord to settle in the land of Nod, East of Eden. In exile, the people are taken away, eastward to Babylon, etc.
Heading East, was symbolic of heading away from God’s presence. This is why the tabernacle, and temple, had such a system in place, that the approach to the presence of the Lord was Westward. You had to approach from the East to the West.
“Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.“
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
But what was the tabernacle? It was the dwelling place of Israel’s King, enthroned on the Ark of the Covenant, in the midst of his people. These Magi were travelling that same trajectory. From the East, the place of separation from God, to the West, to worship the King of the Jews.
As one approached the innermost sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, the metals used became more precious, being made of gold. Many see this as symbolising the approach to royalty.
“Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high.”
“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.”
Incense was a key component in the approach to God in the tabernacle. In certain circumstances frankincense was mixed with grain offerings, as the people approached in an act of thankful worship. It served as a reminder for the people of God’s covenant with them. Other, unspecified, incense, would be used on the altar of incense, which provided a cloud of covering for the priest before the Lord. It was a symbol of the prayers of the people, and the necessity of a mediator to draw near to the King of Heaven.
“Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb.”
“Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
Myrrh has two uses in the Scriptures that are relevant to the Magis’ gift. In Exodus 30 we read of the first ingredient of the priest’s anointing oil to be, myrrh. This was to consecrate them for their impending service.
But we also see it in John 19 at Jesus’ death, used as an embalming oil. Perhaps one could insinuate that it is appropriate in both senses in this case, as his death made way for his High Priestly ministry. But anyhow, we see these 2 uses of myrrh in the Scriptures.
Of the limited information on these Magi then, we see them as people who travelled from the East, to the West. The brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. And they found a child in a house, in Bethlehem.
Matthew has a huge emphasis in his gospel, on the fact that Jesus is King. Could it be that he is describing the approach of the Magi in terms of the ultimate approach to the King, the Lord himself, in the tabernacle setting?
They come bearing gold, understanding the position of this child they have found.
They come bringing incense, understanding that their bowing in worship needs that fragrant covering to be made acceptable.
They come bringing myrrh, either as an acknowledgement of their need of the priest before them, or, perhaps more likely, as a symbol of sacrifice. It is unlikely they understood the sacrifice that Jesus would one day make, but maybe they knew enough from Babylon, based on interactions with the Jewish diaspora, that you approach the Lord, the King, in the holiest place, via sacrifice. And perhaps this myrrh denoted that.*
If this is the case, then it just deepens the reality of the Christmas story, and what the Magi found. It was not just a case of finding a King born in a humble dwelling rather than a palace. Rather it would make Matthew’s emphasis on the fact that rather than in the temple in Jerusalem, these gentiles approached the very presence of God in a house in Bethlehem.
I am overwhelmed with awe at that point. Think on the burning bush. Think on Nadab and Abihu being struck down. Think about the awesome call to holiness and consecration, needed for the approach to God, in order to preserve life. Yet, here are some gentiles, who are approaching that consuming fire. And they are met with a small child in a small town. The full reality of that presence that indwelt the tabernacle resided in that out-of-the-way room.
Once upon a time, the people of Israel could not even look at Moses’ face, for fear of the dying reflection of God’s glory that shone from it. Now, via sacrifice, incense and gold, the fullness of the godhead dwelling bodily in Christ was freely accessible, drawing people from the farthest reaches to be gathered in worship of Him once more. How those Magi must have trembled as they fell on their knees that day.
This Christmas, may we not treat the incarnation cavalierly. Let us live in the tension of glorious praise that we who were far off have been brought near, and holy reverence and fear, that deity, the King of Kings, the consuming fire who is our God, is so accessible in all his glory, to sinful men and women like us.
Amidst the Christmas lights and wrapping paper, the sweets and the family dinner, the only true response to Christmas, is to fall down on our faces and worship him.
“Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies.”
*I will be honest; I have not read this whole exact line of thinking elsewhere, in quite the same way. I would value feedback if others have, or if I’m missing something that would correct this theory. Spending three years in Leviticus and Hebrews has probably wired me to see the tabernacle approach everywhere. Though the danger is, that when one has a hammer, everything is a nail…
Imitators of Those 
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