"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).
This weekend is the observation of the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day.
The date marks the arrival of the Magi, who worshiped the infant Jesus as a king.
"As the world embraces the dawn of a new year, the timeless tale of the Magi, the wise men from the East, continues to resonate profoundly," said Pastor Lucas Miles of Nfluence Church in Granger, Indiana.
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Three Kings Day, said Miles, "is a culturally rich holiday celebrated on January 6th. It commemorates the ancient quest taken by the enigmatic Magi in search of the Christ child."
In some cultures, Three Kings Day is celebrated with the exchanging of gifts, honoring how the Magi gave the child Jesus gifts.
The story of the Magi is told in the Gospel of Matthew, Miles told Fox News Digital — yet there are many things up for debate regarding the actual identity of the men.
Still, there are many things that we do know, said Miles.
"The Magi were experts at celestial navigation," he said. "They were most likely superiorly educated and well-traveled."
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They were also very important, said the pastor.
"The significant attention drawn from King Herod by their arrival in Judea implies that this was no ordinary or insignificant procession of travelers," he said.
"Of course, the attention they garnered from Herod might have also stemmed from their opulent cargo — gold, frankincense and myrrh — intended as offerings in worship to the infant Jesus," Miles added.
But "regardless of where the Magi originated from, their journey, guided by a celestial beacon in pursuit of an extraordinary purpose, holds significance as we embark on a fresh chapter in our lives."
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The heart of the story of the Magi's journey is "an invitation — a call for us to participate in discovering God's plan and purposes," said Miles.
