Christmas Players – Three Kings Bow Before the King of Kings
- Rebecca Montrone
- Dec 20, 2025
- 10 min read
I don't picture Him as being quite that old, but we know He was somewhere between birth and two years old. Anyway! Yesterday we took a good look at the Star of Bethlehem itself; an inanimate "Christmas Player."
Today, I’d like to turn our attention to these three Christmas characters - the wise men, or Magi, who traveled from the East in search of a newborn King. As always, I am fascinated by digging in and learning more, and I'm sure you are, too!
So, off we go with our curiosity and our shovels...
First: What are Magi?
The word Magi comes from the ancient Persian term maguš, which referred to a learned priestly caste within the Median and Persian empires. By the time of the New Testament, the Greek word μάγοι (magoi) was used for men who were:
Scholars and intellectual elites
Astronomers / observers of the heavens
Custodians of sacred texts and traditions
Advisors to kings and courts
Trained in mathematics, astronomy, natural philosophy, and theology
In other words, Magi means wise men in the fullest ancient sense—men devoted to understanding order, meaning, and truth in the cosmos.
From the East: Seekers on a Long Road
Matthew tells us that the Magi came “from the East.” In biblical language, this points toward regions such as Babylon or Persia—centers of learning, astronomy, and scholarship in the ancient world. These were men accustomed to studying the heavens, discerning patterns, and interpreting signs.
This was no short journey. Their trek likely took many months, possibly longer, involving great expense, danger, and determination. They had one objective and only one in mind, and they were driven:
“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 2:2
Why Would Eastern Scholars Know Israel’s Messiah? This is a fantastic example of how God works through things that are “bad” to work out things that are “good!” Remember that Israel (the 10 northern tribes) and Judah (the 2 southern tribes) each had their own judgments imposed on them after repeatedly rejecting God’s warnings and persisting in their worship of idols and disobeying the law of God. Israel was taken into captivity in the 700s BC by Assyria, and Judah was taken off to Babylon in the late 600s/early 500s. The Babylonian captivity settled Jewish people into the lands of “the East,” the lands the three wisemen haled from. THIS is the reason they knew the Hebrew scriptures; i.e., the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. In short, the devastating Babylonian captivity eventually became a tool of evangelism!
How Long Was the Star Present?
From a historical and observational standpoint, Scripture suggests that the star was not a brief, one-night phenomenon, but a sign with duration and discernible behavior. The Magi state that they saw the star “when it rose,” indicating a specific initial appearance tied to the time of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:2). Again, by the time they arrived, Jesus was described as a child living in a house, placing their visit months—possibly longer—after the birth. Herod’s inquiry into when the star appeared, followed by his decree involving children two years old and under, further implies an extended time window rather than a fleeting event.
Matthew also describes the star as later reappearing and “going before them” from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and then “standing over” the place where the child was (Matthew 2:9), language that does not align neatly with ordinary stellar motion. Whether the phenomenon involved an unusual planetary conjunction, a comet-like object, a nova, or a uniquely supernatural sign, the biblical record points to a sustained and purposeful phenomenon, observable long enough to be tracked, remembered, and followed across great distances.
Was this astrology? NO.
It is important to distinguish between astrology or divination, which Scripture explicitly condemns, and what the Magi were doing in Matthew’s account. Biblical prohibitions address practices that seek hidden knowledge through manipulation, fortune-telling, or spiritual intermediaries apart from God (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:10–12). The Magi, however, are not portrayed as attempting to control or predict events through the stars. Rather, they observed an extraordinary celestial sign and responded to it as a signal, not a source of revelation in itself.
Their understanding was informed by existing prophetic writings, and the star functioned as a marker pointing beyond itself—to a specific historical event ordained by God. In this sense, the star was not a tool of divination, but a divinely appointed sign, much like the signs God uses elsewhere in Scripture to direct attention to His redemptive acts.
Wisdom That Recognizes the King
It says in the Bible that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." That says so much when you think of it!
What is the "fear of the LORD?" Lots of times I've heard people try to minimize the idea that we are supposed to "fear" God. That sounds, well, so frightening and ominous, right? Well, that's the point! If I do not "fear God" - i.e., get that it is "His way or the highway," I am a fool in the actual estimation of all things as they are. We try to make God more gentle and soothing by saying, "Oh, He doesn't really mean 'fear,' He means 'respect.'" Well, yes, a respect that says if I don't do life Your way, I am only inviting misery and ultimately evelasting death.
So, do I "fear God?" You bet. Am I afraid of Him? No, because I have done things "His way" by placing my trust in the death and resurrection of His Son, Christ Jesus, for forgiveness of my sins. And the Bible tells me that in doing that, I have opened up the door to wisdom. As a believer, I know if I intentionally choose a detour from following Him here and there as I live life, I will invite not only the natural consequences of foolishness but His loving, Fatherly discipline, as well.
This is a very intriguing thought, too: the fear of the LORD is just the "beginning" of wisdom. Becoming a lifelong student of the Word coupled with trust and obedience leads to an unraveling of more and more wisdom with every passing day and year.
Those Traveling Wise Men Seeking Christ? They had it down:
The Moment of Worship
When the Magi finally reached their destination, what do they immediately do?
“And going into the house,
they saw the child with Mary His mother,
and they fell down and worshiped Him.”
— Matthew 2:11
I think they were overwhelmingly compelled - each in his spirit - at that moment to drop to his knees. Similar to how when Jesus was confronted in the Garden of Gesthemane and answered "I am He" the guards just fell backwards, knocked over by the mighty power of God.
I can’t help but think about the role of the Holy Spirit in all of this! First, God created each of these men. He carefully and individually guided each of them through their lives up until this very moment. During that time, He led them to the knowledge of Himself through the Scriptures made available to them because of the infiltration of the Hebrews into the lands of the east because of their disobedience to God! And what are the ultimate results? These men come to know “…the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent!” (John 17:3) And… what is their response? What other response could there possibly be? They fall down and worship Him.
"A Light to Lighten the Gentiles..."
One striking feature of the incarnation narrative is that the Magi alone are Gentiles. Every other figure surrounding Jesus’ birth—Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna, the shepherds—belongs to the house of Israel, recipients of God’s covenant promises. Yet from the very beginning, God draws representatives from the nations to bear witness to His Son.
This inclusion fulfills long-standing prophetic expectation: “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3), and “The root of Jesse… in Him shall the Gentiles hope” (Isaiah 11:10). Matthew’s Gospel subtly underscores this theme, anticipating the truth later made explicit—that the Messiah of Israel is also the Savior of the world (Isaiah 49:6). The presence of the Magi at the cradle declares, before Jesus ever speaks a word, that His kingship and salvation extend beyond Israel to all peoples.
The Gifts: Precious, Purposeful, and Profound
All this time they have been carrying with them gifts, which they use as part of their earnest worship. I so get this. When I think of all that God has done for me through the gift of Jesus Christ, I feel that natural response of wanting to give HIM something, too. These gifts are exquisite - only the best in beauty, value, and significance.
Gold
Gold was the universal symbol of kingship, wealth, and authority. Rare, refined, and enduring, it proclaimed what their hearts already knew: this Child was a King.
“A king shall reign in righteousness.”
— Isaiah 32:1
Frankincense
Frankincense was a sacred resin used in temple worship and priestly offerings. It released its fragrance when burned—an image of prayer rising heavenward. This gift acknowledged Christ not only as King, but as Mediator between God and man.
“Let my prayer be incense before You.”
— Psalm 141:2
Myrrh
Myrrh was used in burial preparations and medicinal anointing. Costly and bittersweet, it foreshadowed suffering, sacrifice, and death. Even here—at the cradle—the shadow of the cross quietly falls.
“He was pierced for our transgressions.”— Isaiah 53:5
Together, the gifts proclaim the gospel before it is ever preached:
King.
Priest.
Sacrifice.
Wait! Three wise men, Three gifts (well I guess it makes sense, since each brought a gift), but... have you ever wondered, as I have:
What’s with the number 3, anyway?
It just so happens that the number three carries deep symbolic weight throughout Scripture, consistently associated with divine completeness, testimony, and God’s revealed action. It does not mean “perfection” in the abstract (that idea is more often associated with seven), but rather God making Himself known in a complete, confirmed, and unmistakable way.
Here are the main biblical threads.
1. Divine Witness and Confirmation
In Scripture, truth is established by two or three witnesses—three represents sufficient, confirmed testimony.
“A matter shall be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Deuteronomy 19:15)
Reaffirmed by Jesus (Matthew 18:16) and Paul (2 Corinthians 13:1)
🌟 Three signals that something is reliable, confirmed, and true.
2. God’s Nature and Self-Revelation
God most fully reveals Himself in three-ness:
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
One God, revealed in three Persons
This is not a later invention but a pattern seen throughout Scripture (e.g., Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 28:19).
🌟 Three is associated with God revealing Himself.
3. Completion of a Divine Act
A work of God often reaches its decisive moment on the third occurrence or the third day.
Examples:
Jesus rises on the third day
Jonah is in the fish three days
Abraham journeys three days before Isaac is spared
Paul is blind three days before receiving sight
🌟Three often marks God bringing something to its intended conclusion.
4. Life, Death, and Restoration
Three is frequently connected to the movement from suffering to redemption:
Death → waiting → life
Trial → silence → restoration
The resurrection on the third day becomes the ultimate fulfillment of this pattern.
🌟 Three signals that God’s purpose is not thwarted by delay.
5. Intensity and Emphasis
Repetition in Scripture increases gravity and emphasis—and three is the strongest form of this.
“Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3)
Jesus prays three times in Gethsemane
Peter denies Jesus three times, then is restored three times
🌟 Three underscores seriousness, finality, and depth.
Wisdom Bowed Low
What bowing in worship indicates about the worshiper
"Three Kings Bow Before the King of Kings"
1. Recognition of Authority
To bow is to acknowledge rightful authority. In Scripture, bowing signals that the worshiper understands who is sovereign—and that it is not themselves.
“Come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker.”
— Psalm 95:6
2. Humility and Self-Emptying
Bowing physically lowers the body, mirroring an inward posture of humility.
“He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble His way.”
— Psalm 25:9
3. Submission of the Will
Bowing is not merely reverence; it is yielding.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord,
and He will exalt you.”
— James 4:10
4. Trust and Dependence
To bow is to entrust oneself to the One before whom one bows.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart…
In all your ways acknowledge Him.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6
5. Alignment with Reality
Bowing aligns the worshiper with what is true.
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”
— Philippians 2:10
All creation will one day bow; the worshiper who bows now is simply ahead of the curve, living in agreement with ultimate reality.
6. Willingness to Be Changed
Bowing implies openness to transformation.
“Those who wait for the LORD
shall renew their strength.”
— Isaiah 40:31
One does not bow and remain unchanged; worship reshapes the one who offers it. To bow in worship is to acknowledge rightful authority, humble the self, submit the will, and align one’s life with the truth of who God is.
Looking Ahead
Tomorrow, we will encounter another Christmas player—one who also heard the news of the newborn King, yet responded not with worship, but with fear, pride, and rage. His story will remind us how the absence of wisdom can turn revelation into devastation.
But today, we linger here—with wise men who sought, found, and fell down in worship.
May we do the same.
This 17th Century Hymn tells the Story of these Three Wondrous Magi!
The first Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
In fields as they lay,
In fields where they lay
Keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night
That was so deep.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far,
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star
Wherever it went.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest
Over Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
Then did they know assuredly
Within that house the King did lie:
One entered in then for to see,
And found the Babe in poverty:
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
Then entered in those wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in His presence
Their gold, and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven
And earth of naught
And with His blood
Mankind hath bought.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
*Interested in knowing how to enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Say a Salvation Prayer and Receive Jesus Christ Today.
Of course, the saying of a prayer is the reflection of a monumental and life-changing heart decision, but this is a good guide.
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