After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem   and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:1–12)

Can you imagine someone leaving the comfort of their home country to follow a star? Yes! the Magi’s (also called “Wise Men”) story is an amazing inspiration for our faith journey as we follow God’s plan.

These Eastern visitors followed a star and set out on a long, hard trip to honour a newborn baby whom they thought was the King. More significantly, they carried gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts were more than just signs of respect, they were expensive and significant which signifies the submission and awe they had for the newborn King. Their story sets a great example to us for how important it is to search for truth in the face of a world full of distractions.

Before we dig deeper, lets reflect on who these wise men were. Were they scholars, seekers, or kings? The Wisemen, who are often shown in nativity scenes as three kings, were probably neither royal nor were they likely limited to three people. Instead, they were highly intelligent people from Persia or Babylon who were astrologers or teachers. Because they knew a lot about the stars, they clearly saw something very unusual: a star announcing the birth of a great king (Matthew 2:1–2) (Bible Gateway).

To take such a long distance trip demands determination, especially in pursuit of the mysterious. Imagine them going through challenges from adverse weather conditions to uncertainties all the while carrying such precious gifts. Certainly, their story shows not only their commitment, but also evidence of their faith. What is faith? “Faith is the substance and evidence of what we hoped for…” Hebrews 11:1

The Wise Men’s visit came to fulfill some ancient prophesies like Psalm 72:10-11 and Isaiah 60:1–6. These two passages are examples of the prophesy about the arrival of noble figures with extravagant gifts to honour the King. They honoured Jesus not only as the King of Jews, but also as the Saviour of all people when they worshiped Him.

Their modesty adds to the depth of the story. These respected scholars bowed down to a child in a simple place and gave Him very valuable gifts (Matthew 2:11). Even though they found Jesus in a simple place they realized that He is a great King to be worshiped by all people from all walks of life.

What is the significance of their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? The gifts the Wise Men brought may be one of the most interesting parts of their story. If you have ever wondered about the significance and why they picked gold, frankincense, and myrrh, then lets try to unpack this reality.

• Gold stands for Jesus’ rule as King. It is a gift fit for a king or queen and recognizes Jesus as the King of Kings (Revelation 19:16).
• Frankincense connects with God and priests. This fragrant resin, which is used in holy events (Exodus 30:34–38), shows that Jesus is the one who stands between God and people.
• Myrrh, which is often used to preserve the dead, represents Jesus’ painful and final sacrifice (John 19:39–40).

These gifts show that Jesus is King, God and Saviour all at the same time. They make us think about what we can do to honour him.

The Wise Men are great Teachers: What Can We Learn?

We can learn a lot from the story of the Wise Men. First, it shows how important it is to keep exploring and searching for the truth. Even though they did not know exactly where the King was born, they kept following the star with hope. How often do we show such a strong desire in our spiritual pursuits?

The gifts they offer also remind us that God deserves our best. These were not random gifts; they were thoughtful honours that showed who Jesus was and what He came to do. To respect Him, we are also asked to give our time, skills and resources (Abbott, 2019).

Their humility is a great example for people who believe. By bending down in front of a child and recognizing that He is God, they tell us to put God first in our lives. In addition, the Magi’s narrative shows that Christ came for everyone, no matter their background or social status or financial standing.

How Does This Apply to us Today? What Does It Mean for Us?

What does the story of the Wise Men mean to you now? We are invited to reflect on our own spiritual paths. From their trip we can learn to consistently look for Jesus, which makes us to grow in His knowledge in spite of the fact that there could lie uncertainties ahead or when the future is not as clear as we would want it to be. Since paying “homage” implies prostrating oneself before a superior person and kissing the ground, or kneeling down before the superior with head to the ground, we may conclude that the gifts imply royal honours (Zhodi Angami 2017).

Therefore, these gifts are an invitation for us to reflect about who Jesus really is to us and what kind of gifts we bring to Him. We are invited to honour and worship Jesus in various ways, such as through what we do for our neighbours who are in need and sharing our resources as acts of worship. The Wisemen remind us of the power of love and to be generous without expecting to receive in return.

In the end, we are invited to follow the Light.

The Wise Men’s trip and the meaning behind their gifts teach us about faith, worship and loyalty that will last forever.

Their story makes us want to really seek Christ, do our best, and accept that He was born king for us. We then let Him be in charge of our lives. They showed Jesus respect by giving Him valuable gifts. We can show Him honour by living a life of faith with humility and love. Let’s start our trip toward the Light, just like the Wise Men did. We may not follow the star but we can follow the voice of God in our our hearts through the leading of the Holy Spirit.