We Three Kings was my favorite Christmas carol when I was a child. John Henry Hopkins penned the hymn when he was rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania back in 1857. It wasn’t my favorite because of its deep theological content. That’s not a knock at the content, it just isn’t why I liked it. I liked it because of the way it sounds—so different from other hymns, at least different from the hymns we sang on most days at church. The music is hauntingly beautiful, reminiscent of Middle Eastern music (which I cannot help but think is intentional). Hopkins intended everyone to sing the first verse, and then three robust male voices would intone a verse each, before everyone joined again to finish together. Ahhh! I love this song.

We hardly ever sang it.

I didn’t know the Three Kings were controversial until much later . . . college, in fact. In seminary, we were still discussing their details of their visit.

I just liked the unusual sound . . . We Three Kings of Orient are . . . bearing gifts we traverse afar . . . field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

Let’s Take a Look

Let’s look at these Wise Men, whose story appears only in Matthew 2:1-12. Shortly after the shepherds arrived to adore the baby in a barn, laying in a wooden manger, the three foreign kings majestically adorned and riding on camels stroll into Bethlehem. Together, everyone gazes in amazement as the kings dismount and reverently place their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh around the babe. Who doesn’t sing songs about that!?!

Is that what Matthew says? Is it really?