3 Wise Men & a Baby Children's Musical Jungle Jam
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of Rex Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the ane who has been born king of the Jews? Nosotros saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew two:1-2).
We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, Moor and mountain,
Following yonder star("We Three Kings" written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr.).
We all know the words, don't nosotros? "Nosotros iii kings of Orient are, bearing gifts nosotros traverse afar." If we don't know the residual of the lyrics, we tin can certainly hum forth.
Other than the birth of Jesus itself, there is possibly no other effect written that has garnered and so much attention and resulted in more Christmas traditions than the story of the Magi from the east who came to visit Jesus and give him gifts worthy of a king.
Await though…Magi? Really? Isn't information technology three wise men? No, wait, three kings, right? Well, aye…and no.
We meet them in almost every Nativity scene — 3 men in glittering robes and crowns. If it is a living nativity at a church building, the scene will include simulated beards. And if not the "kings" nosotros encounter the star. We all know the "three wise men."
The "Star of Bethlehem" is a common sight at Christmas. Indeed, even the "12 days of Christmas" tradition and vocal is derived from the story of the men who visited the baby Jesus from the east, all begetting gifts.
What Were the iii Wise Men's Names?
Maybe if Luke, the doctor/historian, had written virtually them in his Christmas account, nosotros might accept had more details. But Matthew's story is quite vague and shrouded in mystery. Where did they come from? "The east" is hardly specific.
What were their names? Matthew doesn't say, and the other gospel writers never mention them. Who were they? Matthew calls them magi— but what are magi? Are they kings? Kings of what countries? Wise men? Sorcerers? Astrologers?
Centuries of intrigue have swirled around these three. Despite being among the best-known figures of Christmas, fiddling truth is known, leaving only speculation. And for all that time, Christians have been trying to reply this confusing and difficult question.
Much, though, of what people think they know about the Magi comes from later Christian legends and traditions, rather than from the Word of God.
What History and Geography Tell Usa About Them
The term magiisofttimes referred to astrologers, or "men who studied the stars." It should be noted that in that twenty-four hour period, astronomy and star divination were quite interchangeable.
Whoever they were or wherever they came from, the Magi would accept been men of nifty learning. The give-and-take itself comes from the Greek word "magos" — itself coming from an old Persian word, "magupati."
This title was given to priests, thus quite likely could have been used to refer, more specifically, to priests of the Zoroastrian religion — a Farsi (now, Iranian) tradition. These priests were rather known for their skills interpreting the night sky.
Thus, the Magi could well have been from Persia, which indeed was east of Jerusalem. Much of early on Christian thought was along these lines. Many other traditions though have laid claim to the three kings. Babylon is often idea to exist the birthplace of star divination.
Two of the gifts — frankincense and myrrh — were exotic spices more normally constitute in Arabia. When the gift of gold is included, these luxurious gifts certainly further indicated that these visitors were people of great wealth and power.
They would accept been very rich and held in high esteem by people who were not from their country or religion. Looking to the stars, i star, in detail, would take been very much in keeping with their religious tradition — looking to the heavens, the stars, and the planets for information about their god or gods. In other words, the Magi would have followed the patterns of the stars "religiously."
Every bit educated men, they would have been quite familiar with the Old Testament prophesies of a Jewish Savior, also known equally the Messiah, from when the Jews had been held captive in ancient Babylon. Thus, they would take known of Balaam's prophecy in Numbers 24:17, "…a star shall come out of Jacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…"
And so, they had seen an unusual new star in the western sky. Something different. Something they believed told of the birth of that special king in State of israel. Their religion, their faith, their education all required that they follow this star to see where it led.
Historically, the visit of the Magi has played an important office in Christmas celebrations around the earth.
Traditions from Other Countries and Cultures
Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25, merely that is inappreciably the end of the Christmas story. In many Christian traditions, there are 12 days of Christmas, culminating on January 6, as well known as the Feast of the Epiphany, or the day the "Magi" arrive to see the newborn king, infant Jesus.
This tradition comes from Matthew 2:11, which says, "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him." Notice — they came "to the house…" not to the stable or manger. Joseph had already plant a place for them to live.
The Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated in Espana and other Latin American countries. While socks are hung for Santa Claus, children put shoes out, when it was said the iii kings would put coin in the shoes.
In Mexico, their version of traditional Rex Cake — Rosca de Reyes — is eaten. In Argentine republic, Paraguay, and Uruguay, kids as well put out grass and water for the camels belonging to the three kings. The morning of the sixth, they wake up to notice the gifts left past the kings.
In Bulgaria and Greece, 3 Kings Day starts with the Blessing of the Waters. Then people jump into icy waters to call up a blessed cantankerous. In many countries, there are celebrations with parades and festivals.
Armenians celebrate the Feast of the Nativity and Revelation of Jesus Christ on January 6. Christmas is not complete until gifts are opened on this special day.
Many scholars, in fact, attribute the names of the 3 kings to Armenian tradition: Gaspar (or Caspar), Melchior, and Balthasar. Legends are told about them, and often fifty-fifty descriptions are attached.
ane. Melchior,often represented equally the King of Persia, with a gold cloak, is said to have given the gift of gold to the Christ Child. In art, he is often depicted as the oldest of the three, and often with white hair and a long white beard.
ii. Balthasar, oft depicted as the King of Arabia or Ethiopia, is represented as a black human in ancient art, with a black beard and wearing a purple cloak. He is said to have given the gift of myrrh.
iii. Gaspar (or Caspar) is the King of Sheba, who wears a green cloak and a gilded crown with green jewels and is said to accept given the souvenir of frankincense to Jesus.
And we may non realize information technology now, but those names have an important meaning.
What Are We Celebrating?
Today, we have seemed to simply take them for granted. The three kings. The wise men. The Magi. Any you choose to telephone call them, they have fallen into obscurity. Faded into the scenery of Christmas, not much more than a Christmas accessory.
Similar the belt or socks that we got every bit a gift. Or the green edible bean casserole nosotros'll have with Christmas dinner. They're a throw-in. We know they are there, but practice nosotros really know what they represent anymore? What do — or should — the 3 Kings mean to united states?
While many of us don't know the names of the Three Kings from the Bible, I believe they are of import to the commemoration of Christmas, as are the celebrations and the festivals around them.
Their names make information technology personal. These were existent people in a real time. Educated people who realized exactly who it was they were visiting. They had ridden more than than 2,000 miles on camels to come see, to come honor, to bring their very all-time to the newborn King.
Can you even imagine that? Today, some days we tin can't offering Jesus more than than a passing glance or a few minutes of our time.
Their gifts represented who Jesus is:
1. Gold. Associated with wealth and power, just similar today, fit for the birth of the King of Kings.
2. Frankincense. A very expensive type of incense and perfume, representing our prayers rising up to heaven.
3. Myrrh. A fragrance embedded on dead bodies, representing Christ's expiry on the cross — just besides mixed into the oil used to anoint kings.
Indeed, the Iii Kings gave Jesus their best and finest. The Feast of the Epiphany is now generally now celebrated by Catholic and Orthodox Churches — information technology is a 24-hour interval that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. God offer flesh mercy, grace, and reconciliation to Himself.
And the twenty-four hours that Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar — and peradventure many others — came to encounter the newborn King. Our redeemer. Emmanuel — God with united states.
For further reading:
Who Were the Wise Men of the Christmas Story?
What Is the Significance of the Three Wise Men and Their Gifts?
What Is the Significance of the Star of Bethlehem?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Denis-Art
Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/do-we-know-the-three-wise-mens-names-in-the-bible.html
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