Sermon Tone Analysis

The Wisemen of the Nativity

Words​ ​composed​ ​by​ ​an​ ​Englishman​ ​named​ ​William​ ​Chatterton​ ​Dix​ ​in​ ​1865​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​help​ ​people  around​ ​the​ ​world​ ​consider​ ​the​ ​annual​ ​question​ ​posed​ ​during​ ​the​ ​Christmas​ ​season:​ ​What​ ​child​ ​is  this?​ ​​ ​Within​ ​the​ ​lyrics​ ​of​ ​this​ ​famous​ ​Christmas​ ​carol​ ​about​ ​the​ ​baby​ ​Jesus​ ​who​ ​was​ ​born​ ​in​ ​the  manger​ ​in​ ​Bethlehem,​ ​people​ ​encounter​ ​characters​ ​and​ ​their​ ​actions​ ​which​ ​help​ ​answer​ ​the​ ​inquiry  posed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​title​ ​of​ ​the​ ​song.​

​​ ​Although​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​or​ ​magi​ ​specifically​ ​are​ ​not​ ​mentioned​ ​as  characters​ ​in​ ​the​ ​carol,​ ​their​ ​notifiable​ ​actions​ ​of​ ​worship​ ​and​ ​generosity​ ​lead​ ​the​ ​lyrics​ ​of​ ​the​ ​third  stanza.

"So​ ​bring​ ​him​ ​incense,​ ​gold,​ ​and​ ​myrrh…"   

The​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​make​ ​their​ ​appearance​ ​in​ ​Matthew's​ ​gospel​ ​account​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Christmas​ ​story.​

​​ ​From​ ​the  start​ ​of​ ​chapter​ ​two,​ ​we​ ​are​ ​introduced​ ​to​ ​these​ ​men​ ​and​ ​discover​ ​some​ ​details​ ​about​ ​their​ ​origins  and​ ​intentions.​

​​ ​As​ ​we​ ​understand​ ​who​ ​these​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​were,​ ​we​ ​can​ ​begin​ ​to​ ​see​ ​a​ ​reflection​ ​of​ ​some  of​ ​their​ ​attributes​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​life​ ​of​ ​Jesus.​

​​ ​Let​ ​us​ ​allow​ ​their​ ​lives​ ​to​ ​help​ ​us​ ​understand​ ​"what​ ​child  is​ ​this."

Matthew introduces the Magi into the Nativity story at the beginning of chapter two:

According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​text,​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​came​ ​"from​ ​the​ ​east."​

​​ ​Depending​ ​on​ ​where​ ​Matthew​ ​was  composing​ ​this​ ​text,​ ​"from​ ​the​ ​east"​ ​could​ ​mean​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​places.​

​​ ​Most​ ​likely​ ​these​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​were  Gentiles​ ​from​ ​Arabia.​

​​ ​For​ ​a​ ​Jewish​ ​Christian​ ​living​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Holy​ ​Land,​ ​"from​ ​the​ ​east"​ ​would​ ​be​ ​a​ ​term  that​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​places​ ​on​ ​the​ ​east​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Jordan​ ​River.​

​​ ​It​ ​meant​ ​that​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​century​ ​to  Jewish​ ​Christians​ ​just​ ​as​ ​it​ ​does​ ​today.​

​​ ​Those​ ​who​ ​lived​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Holy​ ​Land​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​century​ ​would  have​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Jordanian​ ​desert​ ​areas​ ​that​ ​connect​ ​with​ ​the​ ​deserts​ ​of​ ​Arabia​ ​as​ ​"from​ ​the​ ​east."

The​ ​Arabian​ ​deserts​ ​and​ ​Arabian​ ​Peninsula​ ​include​ ​areas​ ​such​ ​as​ ​modern​ ​day​ ​Saudi​ ​Arabia,​ ​Yemen,  Oman,​ ​United​ ​Arab​ ​Emirates,​ ​Qatar,​ ​Bahrain,​ ​Kuwait,​ ​Iraq,​ ​and​ ​Jordan.

"Now​ ​after​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ ​born​ ​in​ ​Bethlehem​ ​of​ ​Judea​ ​in​ ​the​ ​days​ ​of​ ​Herod​ ​the​ ​king,​ ​behold,​ ​wise  men​ ​from​ ​the​ ​east​ ​came​ ​to​ ​Jerusalem,​ ​saying,​ ​‘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.'"​

​​ ​Matthew​ ​2:1-2   

According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​text,​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​came​ ​"from​ ​the​ ​east."​

​​ ​Depending​ ​on​ ​where​ ​Matthew​ ​was  composing​ ​this​ ​text,​ ​"from​ ​the​ ​east"​ ​could​ ​mean​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​places.​

​​ ​Most​ ​likely​ ​these​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​were  Gentiles​ ​from​ ​Arabia.​

​​ ​For​ ​a​ ​Jewish​ ​Christian​ ​living​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Holy​ ​Land,​ ​"from​ ​the​ ​east"​ ​would​ ​be​ ​a​ ​term  that​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​places​ ​on​ ​the​ ​east​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Jordan​ ​River.​

​​ ​It​ ​meant​ ​that​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​century​ ​to  Jewish​ ​Christians​ ​just​ ​as​ ​it​ ​does​ ​today.​

​​ ​Those​ ​who​ ​lived​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Holy​ ​Land​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​century​ ​would  have​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Jordanian​ ​desert​ ​areas​ ​that​ ​connect​ ​with​ ​the​ ​deserts​ ​of​ ​Arabia​ ​as​ ​"from​ ​the​ ​east."

The​ ​Arabian​ ​deserts​ ​and​ ​Arabian​ ​Peninsula​ ​include​ ​areas​ ​such​ ​as​ ​modern​ ​day​ ​Saudi​ ​Arabia,​ ​Yemen,  Oman,​ ​United​ ​Arab​ ​Emirates,​ ​Qatar,​ ​Bahrain,​ ​Kuwait,​ ​Iraq,​ ​and​ ​Jordan.

One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​strong​ ​indicators​ ​that​ ​these​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​came​ ​from​ ​that​ ​general​ ​region​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world​ ​is​ ​linked  to​ ​the​ ​types​ ​of​ ​gifts​ ​they​ ​came​ ​to​ ​lay​ ​before​ ​Jesus​ ​at​ ​his​ ​birth​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​their​ ​intentions​ ​to​ ​worship  this​ ​newborn​ ​king.​

​​ ​Matthew​ ​2:11​ ​says,    ​

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

​​ ​Then,​ ​opening​ ​their​ ​treasures,​ ​they​ ​offered​ ​him​ ​gifts,​ ​gold​ ​and​ ​frankincense  and​ ​myrrh."​

​​ ​Matthew​ ​2:11   

These​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​likely​ ​were​ ​carrying​ ​this​ ​gold​ ​from​ ​the​ ​place​ ​it​ ​was​ ​mined:​ ​most​ ​likely​ ​Arabia.

Biblical​ ​writers​ ​give​ ​astute​ ​readers​ ​clues​ ​to​ ​the​ ​origin​ ​of​ ​much​ ​of​ ​the​ ​mined​ ​gold​ ​in​ ​biblical​ ​times  such​ ​as​ ​Ophir​ ​and​ ​Sheba​ ​which​ ​were​ ​located​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Arabian​ ​Peninsula.​

​(cf.​

​1​ ​Kings​ ​9:28;​ ​10:2;​ ​1  Chronicles​ ​29:3-4;​ ​Job​ ​28:16).​

​​ ​More​ ​than​ ​the​ ​gold,​ ​the​ ​remaining​ ​gifts​ ​of​ ​frankincense​ ​and​ ​myrrh​ ​are  the​ ​real​ ​evidence​ ​that​ ​these​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​likely​ ​were​ ​from​ ​Arabia.​

​​ ​Both​ ​of​ ​these​ ​gifts​ ​are​ ​harvested​ ​from  trees​ ​that​ ​primarily​ ​grow​ ​in​ ​southern​ ​Arabia.​

​​ ​The​ ​Arabian​ ​Peninsula​ ​dwellers​ ​who​ ​were​ ​wealthy  would​ ​have​ ​been​ ​in​ ​the​ ​possession​ ​of​ ​these​ ​localized​ ​treasures.​

​​ ​Those​ ​in​ ​the​ ​early​ ​church​ ​likely  would​ ​have​ ​been​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​these​ ​realities.

These​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​likely​ ​were​ ​carrying​ ​this​ ​gold​ ​from​ ​the​ ​place​ ​it​ ​was​ ​mined:​ ​most​ ​likely​ ​Arabia.

Biblical​ ​writers​ ​give​ ​astute​ ​readers​ ​clues​ ​to​ ​the​ ​origin​ ​of​ ​much​ ​of​ ​the​ ​mined​ ​gold​ ​in​ ​biblical​ ​times  such​ ​as​ ​Ophir​ ​and​ ​Sheba​ ​which​ ​were​ ​located​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Arabian​ ​Peninsula.​

​(cf.​

​1​ ​Kings​ ​9:28;​ ​10:2;​ ​1  Chronicles​ ​29:3-4;​ ​Job​ ​28:16).​

​​ ​More​ ​than​ ​the​ ​gold,​ ​the​ ​remaining​ ​gifts​ ​of​ ​frankincense​ ​and​ ​myrrh​ ​are  the​ ​real​ ​evidence​ ​that​ ​these​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​likely​ ​were​ ​from​ ​Arabia.​

​​ ​Both​ ​of​ ​these​ ​gifts​ ​are​ ​harvested​ ​from  trees​ ​that​ ​primarily​ ​grow​ ​in​ ​southern​ ​Arabia.​

​​ ​The​ ​Arabian​ ​Peninsula​ ​dwellers​ ​who​ ​were​ ​wealthy  would​ ​have​ ​been​ ​in​ ​the​ ​possession​ ​of​ ​these​ ​localized​ ​treasures.​

​​ ​Those​ ​in​ ​the​ ​early​ ​church​ ​likely  would​ ​have​ ​been​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​these​ ​realities.

It​ ​is​ ​also​ ​important​ ​regarding​ ​prophecy​ ​fulfillment​ ​to​ ​trace​ ​the​ ​origins​ ​of​ ​the​ ​wealthy​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​back  to​ ​Arabia.​

​​ ​The​ ​words​ ​of​ ​Isaiah​ ​60​ ​speak​ ​of​ ​a​ ​prophetic​ ​future​ ​glory​ ​of​ ​Israel​ ​that​ ​ultimately​ ​gets  fulfilled​ ​in​ ​the​ ​person​ ​of​ ​Jesus.

"Arise,​ ​shine;​ ​for​ ​your​ ​light​ ​has​ ​come,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​glory​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​has​ ​risen​ ​upon​ ​you.​

​​ ​For  behold,​ ​darkness​ ​shall​ ​cover​ ​the​ ​earth,​ ​and​ ​thick​ ​darkness​ ​the​ ​peoples;​ ​but​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​will​ ​arise  upon​ ​you​ ​and​ ​his​ ​glory​ ​will​ ​be​ ​seen​ ​upon​ ​you.​

​​ ​And​ ​nations​ ​shall​ ​come​ ​to​ ​your​ ​light​ ​and​ ​kings  to​ ​the​ ​brightness​ ​of​ ​your​ ​rising.​

​​ ​Lift​ ​up​ ​your​ ​eyes​ ​all​ ​around,​ ​and​ ​see;​ ​they​ ​all​ ​gather​ ​together,  they​ ​come​ ​to​ ​you;​ ​your​ ​sons​ ​shall​ ​come​ ​from​ ​afar,​ ​and​ ​your​ ​daughters​ ​shall​ ​be​ ​carried​ ​on​ ​the  hip.​

​​ ​Then​ ​you​ ​shall​ ​see​ ​and​ ​be​ ​radiant;​ ​your​ ​heart​ ​shall​ ​thrill​ ​and​ ​exult,​ ​because​ ​the  abundance​ ​of​ ​the​ ​sea​ ​shall​ ​be​ ​turned​ ​to​ ​you,​ ​the​ ​wealth​ ​of​ ​the​ ​nations​ ​shall​ ​come​ ​to​ ​you.​

​​ ​A  multitude​ ​of​ ​camels​ ​shall​ ​cover​ ​you,​ ​the​ ​young​ ​camels​ ​of​ ​Midian​ ​and​ ​Ephah;​ ​all​ ​those​ ​from  Sheba​ ​shall​ ​come.​

​​ ​They​ ​shall​ ​bring​ ​gold​ ​and​ ​frankincense,​ ​and​ ​shall​ ​bring​ ​good​ ​news,​ ​the  praises​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord."​

​​ ​Isaiah​ ​60:1-6   

The Lands to the East

The​ ​ancient​ ​lands​ ​of​ ​Midian,​ ​Ephah,​ ​and​ ​Sheba​ ​all​ ​are​ ​located​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Arabian​ ​Peninsula.​

​The​ ​first​ ​two are​ ​tribal​ ​lands​ ​in​ ​the​ ​north​ ​with​ ​Sheba​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​south.​

​​ ​The​ ​gifts​ ​mentioned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Isaiah  prophecy​ ​are​ ​consistent​ ​with​ ​the​ ​gifts​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​brought​ ​to​ ​Jesus​ ​mentioned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Matthew  account.​

​​ ​These​ ​gifts​ ​were​ ​carried​ ​from​ ​their​ ​origins​ ​in​ ​Arabia.

The​ ​ancient​ ​lands​ ​of​ ​Midian,​ ​Ephah,​ ​and​ ​Sheba​ ​all​ ​are​ ​located​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Arabian​ ​Peninsula.​

​The​ ​first​ ​two  are​ ​tribal​ ​lands​ ​in​ ​the​ ​north​ ​with​ ​Sheba​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​south.​

​​ ​The​ ​gifts​ ​mentioned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Isaiah  prophecy​ ​are​ ​consistent​ ​with​ ​the​ ​gifts​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​brought​ ​to​ ​Jesus​ ​mentioned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Matthew  account.​

​​ ​These​ ​gifts​ ​were​ ​carried​ ​from​ ​their​ ​origins​ ​in​ ​Arabia.

Commentary​ ​on​ ​the​ ​birth​ ​narrative​ ​also​ ​affirms​ ​that​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​were​ ​from​ ​Arabia.​

​​ ​As​ ​early​ ​as​ ​160  A.D.,​ ​a​ ​Palestinian​ ​Christian​ ​named​ ​Justin​ ​Martyr​ ​recorded​ ​a​ ​conversation​ ​with​ ​a​ ​Jew​ ​named​ ​Trypho.

The​ ​conversation​ ​in​ ​book​ ​form​ ​called​ ​Dialogue​ ​with​ ​Trypho,​ ​the​ ​Jew,​ ​which​ ​still​ ​survives​ ​today,  includes​ ​these​ ​words​ ​inscribed​ ​by​ ​Justin:​ ​"The​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​from​ ​Arabia​ ​came​ ​to​ ​Bethlehem​ ​and  worshiped​ ​the​ ​child​ ​and​ ​offered​ ​to​ ​him​ ​gifts,​ ​gold​ ​and​ ​frankincense​ ​and​ ​myrrh."​

​​ ​The​ ​location​ ​of 

Arabia​ ​is​ ​mentioned​ ​as​ ​fact​ ​in​ ​Justin​ ​Martyr's​ ​writings​ ​in​ ​five​ ​different​ ​places.​

​​ ​Such​ ​information  regarding​ ​an​ ​Arabian​ ​origin​ ​of​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​also​ ​is​ ​asserted​ ​by​ ​Tertullian​ ​and​ ​Clement​ ​of​ ​Rome.

What​ ​do​ ​the​ ​origin​ ​and​ ​gifts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​have​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​answering​ ​the​ ​question:​ ​What​ ​child​ ​is  this?​ ​​ ​

First, they both came from afar

First,​ ​consider​ ​the​ ​comparison​ ​of​ ​origins​ ​of​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​and​ ​Jesus​ ​that​ ​led​ ​to​ ​a​ ​pair​ ​of​ ​arrivals.

The​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​traveled​ ​a​ ​great​ ​distance​ ​before​ ​their​ ​arrival​ ​at​ ​the​ ​manger.​

​​ ​Likewise,​ ​Jesus​ ​came​ ​a  great​ ​distance​ ​to​ ​draw​ ​near​ ​to​ ​humanity​ ​and​ ​embody​ ​Immanuel:​ ​God​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​​ ​While​ ​Jesus​ ​did​ ​not  come​ ​"from​ ​the​ ​east"​ ​as​ ​did​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men,​ ​He​ ​did​ ​come​ ​to​ ​dwell​ ​among​ ​us​ ​from​ ​His​ ​previous​ ​position  of​ ​being​ ​"with​ ​God…from​ ​the​ ​Father."​

​​ ​Thus,​ ​the​ ​child​ ​in​ ​the​ ​manger​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who,​ ​like​ ​the​ ​wise  men,​ ​made​ ​an​ ​arrival​ ​in​ ​Bethlehem​ ​from​ ​some​ ​distance.​

​​ ​Notice​ ​how​ ​John​ ​records​ ​such​ ​origins​ ​of  Jesus​ ​regarding​ ​location​ ​of​ ​His​ ​whereabouts​ ​in​ ​the​ ​opening​ ​verses​ ​of​ ​his​ ​gospel.

, ,

When​ ​considering​ ​the​ ​Christmas​ ​story,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​important​ ​to​ ​remember​ ​that​ ​Jesus​ ​came​ ​not​ ​only​ ​to​ ​seek  and​ ​save​ ​Jewish​ ​working​ ​class​ ​shepherds​ ​who​ ​did​ ​not​ ​always​ ​have​ ​much​ ​money​ ​but​ ​also​ ​came​ ​for  Gentile​ ​Arabs​ ​who​ ​were​ ​wealthy​ ​and​ ​came​ ​bearing​ ​gifts​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Messiah.​

​​ ​This​ ​mention​ ​of​ ​wealth​ ​and  gifts​ ​brings​ ​us​ ​to​ ​the​ ​second​ ​comparison​ ​between​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​and​ ​Jesus.​

​​ ​

Second, they all came from a place of wealth

​The​ ​scenes​ ​from​ ​Revelation​ ​4,​ ​5​ ​and​ ​21​ ​each​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​the​ ​wealth,​ ​glory,​ ​and​ ​power  that​ ​surrounded​ ​Jesus​ ​in​ ​heaven.​

​​ ​Equally,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​same​ ​God​ ​of​ ​whom​ ​the​ ​Psalmist​ ​writes​ ​and  speaks​ ​of​ ​His​ ​wealth.

Just​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​inferred​ ​that  the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​were​ ​from​ ​a​ ​position​ ​of​ ​wealth,​ ​likewise,​ ​Jesus​ ​came​ ​from​ ​a​ ​place​ ​of​ ​means.​

​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the  God​ ​who​ ​stepped​ ​out​ ​from​ ​the​ ​riches​ ​of​ ​heaven​ ​and​ ​into​ ​the​ ​poverty​ ​of​ ​a​ ​lowly​ ​manger​ ​in​ ​a  Bethlehem​ ​stable.​

​​ ​The​ ​scenes​ ​from​ ​Revelation​ ​4,​ ​5​ ​and​ ​21​ ​each​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​the​ ​wealth,​ ​glory,​ ​and​ ​power  that​ ​surrounded​ ​Jesus​ ​in​ ​heaven.​

​​ ​Equally,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​same​ ​God​ ​of​ ​whom​ ​the​ ​Psalmist​ ​writes​ ​and  speaks​ ​of​ ​His​ ​wealth.

When​ ​considering​ ​the​ ​Christmas​ ​story,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​important​ ​to​ ​remember​ ​that​ ​Jesus​ ​came​ ​not​ ​only​ ​to​ ​seek  and​ ​save​ ​Jewish​ ​working​ ​class​ ​shepherds​ ​who​ ​did​ ​not​ ​always​ ​have​ ​much​ ​money​ ​but​ ​also​ ​came​ ​for  Gentile​ ​Arabs​ ​who​ ​were​ ​wealthy​ ​and​ ​came​ ​bearing​ ​gifts​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Messiah.​

​​ ​This​ ​mention​ ​of​ ​wealth​ ​and  gifts​ ​brings​ ​us​ ​to​ ​the​ ​second​ ​comparison​ ​between​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​and​ ​Jesus.​

​​ ​Just​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​inferred​ ​that  the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​were​ ​from​ ​a​ ​position​ ​of​ ​wealth,​ ​likewise,​ ​Jesus​ ​came​ ​from​ ​a​ ​place​ ​of​ ​means.​

​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the  God​ ​who​ ​stepped​ ​out​ ​from​ ​the​ ​riches​ ​of​ ​heaven​ ​and​ ​into​ ​the​ ​poverty​ ​of​ ​a​ ​lowly​ ​manger​ ​in​ ​a  Bethlehem​ ​stable.​

​​ ​The​ ​scenes​ ​from​ ​Revelation​ ​4,​ ​5​ ​and​ ​21​ ​each​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​the​ ​wealth,​ ​glory,​ ​and​ ​power  that​ ​surrounded​ ​Jesus​ ​in​ ​heaven.​

​​ ​Equally,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​same​ ​God​ ​of​ ​whom​ ​the​ ​Psalmist​ ​writes​ ​and  speaks​ ​of​ ​His​ ​wealth.

"For​ ​every​ ​beast​ ​of​ ​the​ ​forest​ ​is​ ​mine,​ ​the​ ​cattle​ ​on​ ​a​ ​thousand​ ​hills."​

​​ ​Psalm​ ​50:10   

"The​ ​earth​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Lord's​ ​and​ ​the​ ​fullness​ ​thereof,​ ​the​ ​world​ ​and​ ​those​ ​who​ ​dwell​ ​therein."

Psalm​ ​24:1   

Whether​ ​in​ ​His​ ​throne​ ​room​ ​of​ ​heaven​ ​or​ ​among​ ​the​ ​earth​ ​He​ ​created​ ​as​ ​we​ ​previously​ ​read​ ​in​ ​John's  gospel​ ​passage,​ ​this​ ​child​ ​in​ ​the​ ​manger​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Lord.​

​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​One​ ​who​ ​created​ ​and​ ​owns​ ​all​ ​wealth.

Thus,​ ​this​ ​child​ ​is​ ​like​ ​the​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​in​ ​that​ ​they​ ​both​ ​come​ ​from​ ​a​ ​place​ ​of​ ​means​ ​and​ ​have​ ​access​ ​to  wealth.​