Entry #39: What 3 Wise Men?

Christmas cards often depict 3 wise men coming to Bethlehem to seek the child born who was to be Governor and rule God’s people Israel. However, surprising as it may be to some, the Bible never tells the number of wise men who went searching for the child. Perhaps it was the 3 gifts (which the Bible DOES mention—gold, frankincense, and myrrh) the wise men offered that lead some to believe it was also 3 wise men. Regardless of how many wise men came from the east, it was perhaps the 3 gifts themselves that were significant and symbolized some pretty profound and prophetic things. Here’s a poem I found, liked, and thought I’d share. It’s short, but you have to read it “with attention,” I feel, to understand its meaning. See what you think. Hope to hear your comments.

Gold and frankincense and myrrh,
Lord, they brought to Thee;
And myrrh was death, and incense prayer,
And gold was victory.
But first is last, as last was first;
The myrrh they gave Thee in Thy thirst
Upon the tree.

And through the solemn centuries
The prayers of saints have risen
From hearth and chancel, crypt and tomb,
From pyre, and from prison.

Now never was the mystic power
Of the gold fulfilled;
Yet draweth on the mighty hour
By the Father willed
When every knee shall bow to Thee
Who on the cross was lift,
And every tongue acclaim Thee king;
This is the golden gift. 

“Three Gifts” by Edward Judson Hanna