Dec 21 - Matthew 2:11

 

And when [the wise men

entered] into the house, …

and when they had

opened their treasures,

they presented gifts to Him:

gold, frankincense,

and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11

 

What were the gifts that the wise men presented to Jesus?

 

You remember, right?

 

Gold was, of course, a valuable metal; it was essentially money. But do you know what frankincense and myrrh are?

 

Frankincense and myrrh are rare and valuable oils. In fact, these two balms may have been the most valuable of the gifts given to Jesus – worth more than even gold!

 

Each of these come from the natural resins in a couple species of trees … trees that you’ve probably never heard of! Frankincense comes from the boswellia tree. And myrrh comes from the commiphora tree.

 

Sometimes frankincense and myrrh were burned as incense (often in Middle Eastern religious rituals). That was one use. Often they were used for medical purposes, such as antiseptics, anti-inflammatories, and analgesics. That was the practical use for these oils. That’s probably what made these ointments valuable. But … there are two more important uses which surely made them appropriate gifts for the Messiah, the newborn Jewish King.

 

First, myrrh was often used as an anointing oil. And if you didn’t know, Messiah (in Hebrew) and Christ (in Greek) mean “the anointed one.” Thus Jesus the Messiah – the anointed one – received from the wise men the oil of anointing.

 

Second, frankincense may have been an almost prophetic gift – a gift that pointed to how his full kingship would eventually be reveals. Frankincense was also a perfume. And what was one common use for such perfume? It was one of the spices used when preparing a dead body for burial – to cover the stench. Now, why is this an appropriate gift for Jesus? Because Jesus didn’t fully become (or become fully revealed) as the Messiah until his life-giving death upon the cross. Thus, a burial spice prefigured the ultimate trajectory of his life and was a sign of his divinity.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who received

gold when he was born

– not real gold … no;

rather I was given an

inheritance of faith, and

Jesus is more valuable

than gold

 

Discussion Questions:

 

1.    What is a favorite gift you’ve even been given for Christmas or a birthday?

2.    Why is Jesus a greater gift than any physical possession?

3.    Is Jesus that kind of gift to you?