Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

What Child Is This? - Wise Men

Well today is our last day in our Christmas Series based on the words composed in 1865 by the Englishman William Chatterton Dix.

Specifically we have been focused in on the question found in the title of this famous carol: “What Child Is This” Within the lyrics we have encounter several different characters and character traits that have helped us to answer this all important question.

Wise Men

Within the lyrics we have encounter several different characters and character traits that have helped us to answer this all important question.

This morning we are going to look at some characters that are not mentioned by name in the carol, but their actions of worship and generosity lead the lyrics of the third stanza where it says, "So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh…

"So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh…

"Video: What Child Is This? - Wise Men

Tension

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

We don’t find the story of the men called “wise” with the rest of the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke, but they make their appearance in Matthew's gospel.

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 in them of some of the attributes of the Christ Child that they came to seek.

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…"

I will begin reading their story at the beginning of , p 807 in the Bible in the chairs:

start of chapter two, we are introduced to these men and discover some details about their origins

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."

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."

"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.'"

men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the

When looking to discover who these men are, we have very few things to go on.

The most that we have is that they were “from the east."

Depending on where Matthew was composing this text, "from the east" could mean a variety of places, but these men were most likely Gentiles from Arabia.

Jews?

For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'"

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

For a Jewish Christian living in the Holy Land, "from the east" would refer to places on the east side of the Jordan River.

That is still how someone living in this area would describe it.

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.

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

There are other evidences that make us think that they are from this general region of the world as well.

We could look at the gifts that they offered “the one born king of Jews”.

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.

says,

One of the strong indicators that these wise men came from that general region of the world is linked

This was a very personal quest for these wise men so it makes good sense that the gifts were personal in nature as well.

They were probably brought as tokens of the best that their homeland had to offer.

to the types of gifts they came to lay before Jesus at his birth as part of their intentions to worship

this newborn king.

says,

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

The Bible speaks in other places of the reputation of the Arabian Peninsula for the mining of gold.

When royal caravans came from far and near to bring gifts to the wise King Solomon it is written that they offered gold from the regions of Ophir and Sheba which were located in the Arabian Peninsula.

Even as far back as the book of Job, this region is noted for being a source of gold.

(cf.

; ; ; ).

worshiped him.

Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense

and myrrh."

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

Not only that, but the remaining gifts of frankincense and myrrh are even stronger evidence that these wise men likely were from Arabia.

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

The wealthy people of the Arabian Peninsula would have been in the possession of these localized treasures and the reputations of these areas would have been well known to the Christians that Matthew is writing to here.

such as Ophir and Sheba which were located in the Arabian Peninsula.

(cf. ; ;

Chronicles 29:3-4; ).

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 speak of a prophetic future glory of Israel that ultimately gets fulfilled in the person of Jesus.

to Arabia.

The words of speak of a prophetic future glory of Israel that ultimately gets

fulfilled in the person of Jesus.

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.