The Three "Wise" Men

.....With Christmas coming, we are all going to hear the story about of the three wise men. I asked God to show me why he called the men "Wise". So I wish to share it with you this Christmas as we celebrate the true meaning of the Holiday, and that is the birth of Jesus.

.....Matthew 2: 2-12..." Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So then they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel." Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determine from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: (Caspar gave) Gold, (Melchior gave) Frankincense, and (Balthasar gave) Myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way."

.....From this passage I would like you to notice that there are three different groups or types of men to be found in regard to Jesus. There are the Herod's, they are the ones of hatred and hostility and would forever be interfering with His life. There are the chief priests and scribes, the ones whose reaction would be of complete indifference, engrossed in their rituals, legalistic ways and discussions, completely disregarding Jesus. And there are the wise men, those whose reaction would be of adoring and worshiping, having a true and pure desire to lay their noble gifts at the feet of Jesus.

.....Let's concentrate on why God called the three men wise. First of all, these men were Astrologers and able to interpret through the Holy Spirit the star which was a sign to the birth of the "King of the Jews," Jesus. Melchior meant "Treasurer", Caspar meant "Visitor from the East", and Balthasar meant " All Praise." Imagine, visitors from the East bringing treasures and praise to a new king. The unique thing about these men is that they were continually looking up to the heavens, and God revealed Himself to them. (A message of that in itself could mean alot to us in our own lives. If we would just quit looking around ourselves at all of our circumstances and just look up and focus on Him, and the Joy that it would bring.) They then set aside everything in their life to go and pay homage to this great and joyous occasion. So they followed the star which led them to the New and True King, bringing with them each a unique gift, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

.....The gifts the wise men laid at the cradle of Christ fortold that who He was to be, and each represented something very special about Jesus' life. Gold was the gift for a king. King of metals and fit for a king, a gift that men presented to kings. Jesus was to reign, not by force, but by love. He was to rule over men's hearts, not from a throne, but from a Cross. The King of kings. Frankincense was the gift for a priest. It was used in the temple and at the temple sacrifices. Jesus was to be the priest or go-between between God and men, opening the way to God for men. The last gift was Myrrh, which was a burial spice used to embalm the bodies of the dead, and was given for one that was to die. So in a way prophetically speaking, the gifts each represented the true callings on Jesus' life. The True King. the Perfect High Priest, and in the end, the Supreme Sacrifice and Savior of men.

.....And that's why the three men were called wise in God's eyes. Jesus came into the world to live for men and also to die for men. These wise men had received a Revelation of the Christ from God through the Holy Spirit, through a relationship with the Lord. May you share this with others this Holiday Season, and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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