Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were left with the baby Jesus. Three gifts. We associate this to mean that there were three wise men, but we don’t actually know the exact number involved. It’s highly possible that there could have been as many as twenty, possibly more. There could have been several caravans arriving from many different directions.
In the song “We Three Kings,” we assume that they are from the Orient – which makes sense as it had taken at least two years from the time they began their travel until they reached their destination. When they finally arrived, they weren’t actually a part of the nativity scene that is often displayed today with the wise men and shepherds attending the same event. Oh, no. By the time the Wiseman arrived, Jesus was no longer a newborn sleeping in a manger, but a toddler living in a house. (Matthew 2:11)
When Jenna was younger, we had read a book about the journey of the wise men. The story focused on one boy who had the opportunity of making the journey with his father and the company they traveled with. Sadly, I do not remember the title of the book, but I remember feeling a sense of admiration for the journey that had been made.
I love stories and lessons involving the wise men, and thoughts given such as “Wise Men Still Seek Him” and the beautiful message tied in with relating their conditions and awareness to each of us. “The Fourth Wise man” (both book and animation) tells us the story of another who had traveled with gifts not mentioned in the Bible. These gifts actually never made it to the Christ Child as they were distributed along the way. This video is for just over an hour.
I also think about “The Greatest Salesman in the World” written by Og Mandino. I love the story he tells of Hafid, a young camel boy who has a strong desire to become a salesman. He is given the opportunity to sell a coat – a beautiful red coat to sell at whatever price he can get. It isn’t an easy task. His very first occasion to sell said coat takes place in Bethlehem - approximately at the same time that Joseph and Mary have arrived.
After three days in Bethlehem, Hafid returns to his master, humiliated, unaware of the Bethlehem Star. His master notices the star. He takes it as a sign, not that Jesus has been born, but for a different reason. Although Hafid was not a wise man per se, he gave unselfishly, which made him wise. Excellent book.
May we all continue to follow the wise men on our own personal journeys as we seek His Light and follow Him in righteousness.
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