3 Kings

Today I want to work through a little of one of my favorite Christmas songs, “We Three Kings”. When I still played the saxophone, I loved to play this song at Christmas time. The rhythm, tone, and melody stuck with me, not only throughout the year ahead, but I can still hum this song in my mind, a few decades later. Many times, we see Christmas as a joyous, celebratory time. Christmas is also a very serious solemn time, as we realize the new born baby is destined for greater things than a manger. The new born baby we celebrate at Christmas is destined for greatness and glory through death. That is some serious thinking, and this song and melody bring the seriousness of Christmas into view.

We Three Kings

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

Born a baby on Bethlehem's plain
Gold we bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to rein

Chorus
Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light
Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Pray'r and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high

Chorus

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

Chorus

I love this song. I love the words in this song. I love that it highlights what each gift given to Jesus was for and foreshadows. I love the theology of this song and the fact it tells of the true reason for this season. Next time you hear this song and sing it as a carol remember that the baby born in the manger so many years ago came for a bigger reason than the manger and a celebration. Jesus came to earth as a baby to die for our sins, in our place, so that we can spend eternity with Him. This song shows Jesus came to give us a free gift, just as we respond to this truth by giving him the gift of us.