This Christmas, may we not treat the incarnation cavalierly. Let us live in the tension of glorious praise that we who were far off have been brought near, and holy reverence and fear, that deity, the King of Kings, the consuming fire who is our God, is so accessible in all his glory, to sinful men and women like us.

A couple of weeks ago my daughter had a part in her school nativity, singing some solo sections of “We Three Kings”. Needless to say, Christmas singing started early in our house this year, as she provided us with daily renditions of the song, practicing it incessantly. As a result of this, I’ve had a lot of time to ponder the lyrics, and the truths held therein. And as I’ve done so, it has pushed me back to the Biblical account, with some new musings on the wonder of what happened 2000 years ago.

Consider what we know about these Magi:

“Westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.“

“Behold, wise men from the east came…”

Firstly, these men came from the East to the West. This is significant for several reasons. Magi were likely astrologers or divinators in Persia, though some early sources suggest they were from Arabia. The fact is, Matthew doesn’t care to mention where they are from, only that they are from “The East”.

“The East” in Scripture is always negative direction to go. Adam and Eve are exiled from the garden of Eden to the East. Cain goes away from the presence of the Lord to settle in the land of Nod, East of Eden. In exile, the people are taken away, eastward to Babylon, etc.

Heading East, was symbolic of heading away from God’s presence. This is why the tabernacle, and temple, had such a system in place, that the approach to the presence of the Lord was Westward. You had to approach from the East to the West.

“Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.“

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

But what was the tabernacle? It was the dwelling place of Israel’s King, enthroned on the Ark of the Covenant, in the midst of his people. These Magi were travelling that same trajectory. From the East, the place of separation from God, to the West, to worship the King of the Jews.

As one approached the innermost sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, the metals used became more precious, being made of gold. Many see this as symbolising the approach to royalty.

“Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high.”

“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.”

Incense was a key component in the approach to God in the tabernacle. In certain circumstances frankincense was mixed with grain offerings, as the people approached in an act of thankful worship. It served as a reminder for the people of God’s covenant with them. Other, unspecified, incense, would be used on the altar of incense, which provided a cloud of covering for the priest before the Lord. It was a symbol of the prayers of the people, and the necessity of a mediator to draw near to the King of Heaven.

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