CHRISTMAS --- THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI
(HOW THEY POINT TO CHRIST)
Why does Matthew go to the trouble of identifying the specific gifts
that the Magi gave? One possibility is to demonstrate that this event is
a fulfillment of prophesy. Isaiah had said that Gentiles would come
bringing Gold and Frankincense. While this is part of what the Holy
Spirit is leading Matthew to do, there is more. If that were his only
motive in naming the gifts he would not have mentioned Myrrh. He might
have written "Gold, Frankincense, and other gifts." You see Myrrh is not
mentioned in any prophesies that I know of. So there must be some other
significance to these gifts!
Gold.
I like the way the song puts it "Born a King on Bethlehem's plain, Gold
I bring to crown him again." We often speak of the wise men as kings
when actually they were philosophers and magicians. But the idea that
Jesus is the King of kings is expressed in their arrival. The gold is a
symbol of Jesus' Kingship.
Of course Jesus had no need of a Gold crown to demonstrate to the world
his kingship. Partially because his Kingdom was not of this world. He
was not a Monarch like Caesar or Cleopatra who ruled for a short time
over a limited territory. Jesus was there at creation and was King of
the entire universe. And as the King of Kings he would wear a crown on
earth - a crown of thorns.
The first gift: gold, draws our attention to these truths.
Frankincense.
Frankincense was used in worship. It was made from the sap of the
frankincense tree. In Old Testament Judaism it was used in a number of
different ways to worship God. It was one of the ingredients in the holy
anointing oil (Ex. 30:34). It was also burnt as part of the
cereal-offering (Lv. 6:15) and placed on the showbread in the tabernacle
(Lv. 24:7).
This gift demonstrates Jesus' priestly roll. But it also suggests that
Jesus will be more than any earthly priest. Like earthly priests he
would go before God interceding on behalf of the faithful. He would also
offer a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Some would also suggest that this gift reveals that Jesus himself is
worthy of worship. The Gold shows that he is a King but the Frankincense
reveals that he is God in the flesh. Not only will this child lead
people to worship God. He himself will also be worshipped.
Myrrh
This is the strangest and most shocking of all the gifts. Of course like
Gold and Frankincense, Myrrh was a valuable commodity. But it was used
mainly as for anointing the dead. When the first gifts were presented to
the child Messiah, I am sure Mary and Joseph nodded in approval and
understanding. But when the last gift was presented they probably looked
puzzled.
Who would give embalming fluid to a King much less a child king. But the
gift was prophetic just like the others. Jesus was the King of kings as
the Gold suggested and he was the great high priest and God incarnate as
the Frankincense proclaimed. But Jesus had also come to die.
I remember singing the hymn "What child is this?" in an Episcopal
church. The refrain in most hymnals goes: "This, This is Christ the king
whom shepherd's guard and angels sing." The refrain for the first two
verses was the same in the Episcopal hymnal. But the refrain for the
last verse was different and it shocked me with its profoundness when I
sang it: "Nails, spear shall pierce him through the lamb of God for me
for you." Jesus' death as the lamb of God slain for the sins of the
world is the truth behind the gift of Myrrh. That was God's goal in
sending Jesus: that by sending His Son to live a perfect sinless life He
would have the only worthy sacrifice to pay for the sins of the world.
Each of the gifts of the wise men reveal something about who Jesus is
and what he came to do. The gold shows that Jesus came to rule the
hearts of people as the King of kings. The Frankincense speaks of Jesus'
role as our great high priest making offerings for the faithful and that
Jesus came as God in the flesh - the object of our worship. And the
Myrrh reminds us that Jesus came to die - for the sins of the world. He
came to die for your sins and my sins.
Shalom u'vracha! ("peace and blessings!")
Cherish
