January 5

We Three Kings

by Larry Carr

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0BJonwPCds

This Christmas carol was written by an Episcopalian named John H. Hopkins Jr.. Originally titled “Kings of Orient”, it tells the story of the birth and life of the Christ child as portrayed in chapter 2 of Matthew’s gospel.

You may find it interesting that We Three Kings was originally written for a Christmas Pageant. In 1857, Hopkins composed the music and wrote the lyrics as a pageant presentation at General Theological Seminary in New York City. The song has five verses. The first and the last verses are sung by a chorus of singers, while verses two, three and four are sung as solos by each of the Three Kings.

In these five short verses, Hopkins highlights the message of the Good News.

    V. 1 – Something special has happened! The “three kings” are foreigners, not Jews, who have come from afar, led by a unique star to bring gifts to someone very, very special.

   V. 2 – The first Magi’s gift of gold is imagined to acknowledge that Jesus is RIGHTFUL KING over all, that his reign will be forever.

    V. 3 – The second Magi’s gift of frankinsense is imagined to acknowledge that as INCARNATE DEITY, Jesus is worthy of being worshiped through prayer and praise.

   V. 4 – The third Magi’s gift of myrrh is imagined to acknowledge that as the SUFFERING SERVANT, Jesus will offer His life as a sin-offering for mankind.

    V. 5 – Praise God! Jesus comes back to life.  All of creation sings hallelujah!

The words of the chorus speak of “the star of wonder, star of night” that led the Magi to the infant King. Let’s remember a star is yet again to appear; one that finishes the story, in all of its glory: “The Bright Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16)