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 For
instance, gold was a very precious metal. Symbolically, it
represented purity and great worth. And in thinking about gold –
Exodus 25 details that almost everything in the temple was made of
gold or plated with this precious metal. And so, what we learn from
the magi’s gift of gold is that it honored Jesus as a king. The Magi
came to acknowledge Jesus as the One whose sovereignty began before
His birth (Matthew 2:2).
Another gift given to Jesus was Frankincense. Now according to
Merriam-Webster Frankincense is, “a fragrant gum resin from trees of
a genus (Boswellia of the family Burseraceae) of Somalia and
southern coastal Arabia that is an important incense resin and has
been used in religious rites, perfumery, and embalming.” When
exposed to air, the sap hardens into a solid that burns easily and
incense/frankincense was a key ingredient used in Hebrew worship
(Exodus 30:33-36 and Leviticus 2:1-3). That is why this gift of
frankincense, because of its role in temple worship, prophesied of
Jesus’ role as our high priest.
Myrrh, like frankincense, is the dried sap of certain
trees. Transportation costs made both substances very expensive.
Webster says myrrh is “a yellowish-brown to reddish-brown aromatic
gum resin with a bitter slightly pungent taste obtained from a tree
(especially Commiphora abyssinica of the family Burseraceae) of
eastern Africa and Arabia.” Myrrh was an ingredient in perfumes and
incense in ancient times. It was valued for its antiseptic and
anti-inflammatory qualities. In fact, to this day, myrrh is found in
salve, mouthwash, and toothpaste. Myrrh was used to mask the odor of
decay and in the first Century myrrh was sprinkled on burial cloths
which were wrapped around the deceased. And prophetically, myrrh
speaks of the sacrifice Jesus would make to cleanse the world of
sin. It foretells His role as Savior (Matthew 2:2). In Mark 14:3-8
we are told that in Bethany, a woman anointed Jesus with pure nard,
an ointment in which myrrh was a primary ingredient. The magi’s
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were appropriate gifts given
to Jesus and remind us of His true reason for coming.
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Do you remember the excitement you felt on Christmas
as a child? Most likely, the enthusiasm you felt was for the
beautifully wrapped packages under the colorfully decorated tree
that stirred your curiosity. You picked them up, shook them, and
wondered what treasures were inside. And when Christmas day finally
arrived, you couldn’t wait to tear them open. Do you still have that
same enthusiasm? Do you still get excited thinking about what you’ve
been given? Christmas should remind everyone of the most wonderful
gift of all—Jesus:
- A king who rules the universe and one day will return to reign on
earth.
- A high priest who intercedes for us so that we can approach God
with confidence.
- A Savior who sacrificed His life to provide salvation for all who
come to Him.
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