If you were to meet a King, what would you bring them?
The Bible tells a wonderful story of Magi who went to seek the Star of Bethlehem.
This is something they studied. While a blanket in some scenarios would have been better, the three gifts of the Wise Men show us that this was not just a King, it was the King of Kings.
The Bible shows us, “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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him…And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.’” (Matthew 2:1-2).
What is the meaning of gold, frankincense, and myrrh?
Gold represents his divinity.
Jesus is completely righteous before God.
The meaning of Christmas is that Jesus became a man. His is fully man and fully God.
On the Cross Jesus became sin so that we can become the righteousness of God!
Frankincense speaks of his sweet aroma.
In the old covenant there was an alter of incense that went up to the Lord.
In the same way the fragrance of Jesus is a sweet smell towards God.
His mind was perfect, His words were perfect, and His life was perfect.
When you help the least of these your good works are a sweet fragrance towards God.
Finally we have the gift of Myrr. This gift speaks about His annointing by God.
The first mention of Myrr in the Bible is connected to the annointing oil in Exodus.
After Jesus died, Nicodemus actually brought myrr to the body of Jesus.
This was used in embalming. Jesus was the annointed one.
He was born to die for the sins of the world.
Charles Spurgeon gives us a great glimpse into who Jesus is, “Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman…Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.
King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.”
These gifts remind us that Jesus was born to die for our sins.
It is because of His work on the Cross, we can receive the gift of Salvation.
Through Jesus we can become righteous, a sweet fragrance to God, and anointed by God!
Jesus is the perfect gift of Christmas.
