The
Biblical story of The Wise Men is an interesting one. It’s a story very rich in
symbolism and meaning.
There
are some who would question whether any man can truly be said to be wise. I
have an interest-based opinion on that matter, so I will express no view,
except to say that although the Biblical account of the story refers to the
persons as ‘men’, there may well have been at least one woman among them. But does
it really matter? No.
The
Bible does not say there were three of them. That is simply an assumption, in
light of the three gifts presented to the Christ child—namely, gold,
frankincense and myrrh. I will have more to say about those gifts shortly, but
even if there were three wise (wo)men, one of them may well have presented two
gifts with one of the others presenting the third gift. Who knows? It doesn’t
matter.
We
are not told the names of the wise persons, although church tradition tells us
that their names supposedly were Melchior, Balthasar and Gaspar. Although
at least one church tradition says that the wise persons were kings (Melchior being a king of Persia, Balthasar a king of Arabia, and Gaspar a king of India), the Biblical
narrative does not say so. They may have been rulers of Arabian states but it’s
more likely that they were magi, wizards or astrologers and, so it is said,
members of the priestly caste of Zoroastrianism. Suffice to say that these people were on
a journey—a journey in search of truth and wisdom. They were following a star—and
no ordinary star at that.
So, we have the image of wise men following a star, attending upon the birth of someone famous, and
presenting gifts to the baby. This, my friends, is the stuff of myth and
legend, but that does not mean that the story is not true. Myths are not not true. Myths have their own level
of truth and meaning, and this story is no different in that regard. The births
of other famous persons—real or imagined—were hailed by wise men or aged saints
who presented gifts to the newly born. I am thinking of the Buddha, Krishna,
Rama and Mithra, for starters.
The
star was, of course, the Star in the East. Esoterically, a star symbolizes some
spiritual truth, at first dimly perceived. The East is where God is. The source
of all life, truth, power and love. The Star in the East is the morning star,
the first gleam or dawning of truth. For some, for example, scientists, the star is the light of reason. We need such people in our world, now more than ever. There should be no place for superstition. For others, the star represents hope and aspirations. They are important as well. Others consult the stars for guidance in their lives. I see no evidence or good reasons for doing that, but that is just my view.
The
wise persons were in search of something greater than themselves. Relying
perhaps on a combination of intuition, insight, reason, knowledge and wisdom –
the last two things are not one and
the same – they knew that a great event was taking place in Judea. Furthermore,
they were prepared to follow their star wherever it led them. Are you prepared
to do likewise?
And
what of those gifts—gold, frankincense and myrrh? Gold symbolizes that the Christ
child was a king; on a deeper level, gold represents the light of truth as well
as the gift of wisdom. Frankincense denotes Christ’s divinity; on a deeper
level, it symbolizes the sweet fragrance of sympathy, empathy, compassion,
self-giving, understanding and healing. Myrrh is one of the spices used for
burial and thus is a kind of prophecy of Christ’s death; more esoterically,
myrrh symbolizes the love that sustains and heals.
Some have interpreted the
three gifts a little differently. For example, some commentators see the gifts
as representing our three-fold human nature, with gold denoting our material (i.e.
physical) nature, frankincense our emotional nature (i.e. our hopes, wishes and
aspirations), and myrrh our mental nature (i.e. mind or intellect). However the
gifts are interpreted, the really important thing is this—it is incumbent upon
us to give of ourselves to others. We find ourselves to the extent to which we
give ourselves away, in self-giving to others and to a cause or power greater
than ourselves. Millions of people have found that to be true in their lives.
And
what of the Christ child? Literal-minded Christians see that child as
synonymous with Jesus—and he alone. However, I see the Christ child as denoting
more than just Jesus. A ‘child’, in sacred language and literature, represents
a spiritual idea or truth as well as indwelling power, potentiality and inner
light. The Christ child, of course, is no ordinary child but represents our
inner potential, our real self—what the Apostle Paul refers to as the ‘Christ in you, the hope of
glory’ (Col 1:27). The Christ child represents the person, as yet unborn, that you
are nevertheless capable of becoming and being. When the Christ child is born
in us, we awaken to our real self.
The
birth of the Christ child takes place, not in the crowded inn of materialism
and worldly values and opinions, but in a humble, receptive and childlike
manger. There is so much meaning in that alone.
Once
the wise persons had attended the birth of the Christ child, they returned to
their country ‘by another way’. When a person has experienced a truly
life-changing experience, in which they discover their real self, they are
never the same again. He or she is permanently changed—for the better.
In
summary, here are five important ‘lessons’ from the story. First, the wise
(wo)men were wise because they were following a star, wherever it may have led
them. Secondly, there is no limit to the number of people—men and women—who are
capable of becoming and being wise. (In my view, that’s partly why the Bible
doesn’t tell us how many there were of them.) Thirdly, those who are wise bring
forth gifts—parts of their own human nature offered in sacrifice and love to a
cause or power greater than themselves. Fourthly, wise men and women are on a
journey—a journey of self-discovery. Fifthly, once a person finds the ‘Christ
child’, they always embark upon another way of living
May
you have the spirit of Christmas which is peace, the gladness of Christmas
which is hope, and the heart of Christmas which is love.
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