The King of the Jews...the King of All!

 

Today (January 6) is Epiphany, the day many churches set aside to remember the wise men, recorded in Matthew 2:1-12, who followed the star to find and worship “the King of the Jews.” One of the great hymns of the faith I enjoy dwelling on to help apply the wise men account is “This Is My Father’s World.” In this hymn, not only do we praise the Creator and speak of His creation giving back praise to Him, but we also focus on the sovereignty of our Father in Heaven. Think of this stanza: “This is my Father’s world, O let me never forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.” The God who led the wise men to worship this prophesied King is the same God that will receive the glory of every knee one day bowing and every tongue confessing that His Son, Jesus Christ, is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

Another hymn we often sing about the wise men is “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” It’s a title based merely on tradition, since we have no idea how many there were and exactly where they came from (from the east but probably not as far east as the Far East). Three of the stanzas are set aside to talk about each gift, bringing out their symbolism (gold for His royalty, frankincense for His deity, and myrrh for His sacrifice). The hymn may not be factually proven, but it holds a high view of God the Son and is worth singing and listening to during the Christmas season and even Epiphany.

Another unproven “fact” about this hymn is the wise men being kings. This idea partially comes from Isaiah 60:3 – “And nations shall come to Your light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising.” You can see the imagery of the star and the men following it, but they were more than likely advisors to a king rather than kings themselves. However, even if the wise men weren’t kings, there were multiple kings in this account. There’s the Divine King seen in both the sovereignty of our Father in Heaven and in God the Son, the King of the Jews. Then, there’s the other “king of the Jews,” Herod, who clearly didn’t welcome this “epiphany” (He never welcomed any challengers, including from his own family).

These wise men may not have been kings, but we know that as Isaiah 60:3 states, they are representatives of the “nations” coming to the light of Jesus Christ. These men were Gentiles, and maybe even pagans, following the appointed star to worship the true King of the Jews. If they were pagans, certainly they were no longer (no one is forced to stay in his or her station)! This King of the Jews is a King for all, and His call of salvation is not only given to Jews, or only certain ethnicities, or certain income levels, but to all! In praise to our King and this great truth of His, may we spread this good news throughout the world. Christ the King has come, has given “His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

"O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant, that we, which know Thee now in faith, may after this life have the fruition of Thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." (The Book of Common Prayer, 1662; p. 65)