Scripture tells us that the Magi who traveled a great distance to bring gifts to the “King of the Jews”, brought Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. I first heard about those gifts as a very young child. However, to research and go deep about them…not until now.
They came in search of the “King of the Jews”. (Matt 2:2) They seem to have recognized immediately that they had found the one they were seeking, as scripture says they fell down and worshipped Him. Then presented Him the gifts.
Gold was and is very valuable. Royalty received gifts of gold. Thus, they are acknowledging His status as royalty.
Frankincense was a part of temple rites and sacrifices. In giving this gift they are acknowledging the priestly role of Jesus. His divinity.
Myrrh was used to numb pain (Mark 15:22-23) but one of the primary uses for it was to prepare a body for burial. My, why would you present a gift that was used primarily for wrapping the body in preparation for burial, to a baby?
We aren’t really told a great deal about these men, but I wonder if they knew the prophecies of Isaiah about what was going to occur with this royal child born under the star?
Isaiah 53 is an awesome book to study and all the verses that I could write here about the coming Messiah would take pages but here are a few that foretell the suffering and death that the Messiah would endure. Perhaps these wise men knew not only about His birth and His divinity but also His death.
Isaiah 53: 4-9
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. 9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. (NKJV)
Scripture For Today:
Matthew 2:11
11 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. (NKJV)
Thought For Today:
Perhaps these Magi knew the prophecy of Isaiah as they saw the star and began the journey to honor Him. I don’t know. What we can learn from these wise men is that the one who goes searching for Jesus will surely find Him. Sadly, there are those who do not want to look, or who come close and turn back for various reasons. All I know is that my life was nothing until I opened the door of my heart to Him. It is impossible for me to ever reject Him. We have too much history He and I. He has come to me in the darkest nights of my life and many early mornings. He has sat close enough to feel His presence and He has listened to my cries for help and offerings of praise. I have failed Him many times. As my heavenly Father, I know there have been times He has been disappointed in my words and actions. I also am pretty sure that there have been times He just rolled His eyes at my words and my behavior. But give up on me? Not a chance. This Christmas story is way more than a baby in a manger, under a star. It is the beginning of a relationship between a lost world and a mighty God who came and touched the earth as a man so that we can have life after this…for eternity.
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! We are humbled by Your love for us. You sent baby Jesus as a gift to the world on that first Christmas making a way to save us from a sinful world. Our prayer is that all who begin a journey seeking Christ, will find Him as these wise men and fall down in worship before the King of the Jews. We pray that though their journey may be long and difficult that they will not turn back until they find Him. Forgive us our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.