Matthew 2:1-2
Some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, where is the newborn king of the Jews?”
As we close the door on our Christmas memories for another year, there is still a great event about to take place. No, it’s not all the after Christmas sales and the returns! Still, if you grew up the way I did, in a Greek Catholic tradition, there was another exciting event to look forward too! The coming of the Magi! We called this ‘Epiphany’! This event was celebrated on January 6th. Sometimes called ‘little Christmas, or Russian Christmas. None the less, it was a fun celebration with gifts (not gold, unfortunately), food, and a church mass that was l o n g! Especially for a little kid! But we had to go to church to get the day off from school. It was worth it! The celebration was regal.
Here is more of the background about this day and the celebration. Tradition says that he ‘three kings’ lived over 2,000 years ago in three different countries. They were learned scholars who studied both the meaning of the stars, and the ancient prophecies that a Savior was promised to mankind. He would be announced by a great new star in the heavens. When that star suddenly appeared, the Magi immediately set out from Babylon to find the newborn King. They were filled with hope, and carried special gifts fit for a king. The trip was a long one, so when they finally reached the area of His birth, He was older, closer to being a toddler!
Tradition also says that the Magi represented the three races of mankind-European, Asian and African. The oldest, Melchior, the Asian, carried a gift of gold. This was an appropriate gift to pay honor to a king. Balthazar, the African carried frankincense. Frankincense was a very rare and expensive incense, a token expressing the divinity of the child. Gaspar, the European, carried myrrh, this was a bitter perfume of suffering, foretelling the death of Jesus, as this spice was used in the burial of special people.
Does this representation from so many years ago still have spiritual significance for us today? Of course!
The gold became an important commodity for the holy family as they had to travel to protect the baby from Herod who wanted to kill Him. Gold covered their expenses. The ‘gold’ we can give to our King Jesus, is our faith! Faith that no matter what crosses our path in the future, we know we can trust Jesus to guide us through it. Faith that continues to believe in the goodness of God, even when we see the badness of people, sickness, poverty, greed, etc. Jesus is the Lord over all our circumstances-we can trust Him with our future.
I Peter 1:7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Frankincense was a fragrant incense offered in the worship of a deity. Our fragrant offering that pleases our Lord is our praise and worship! Even in the midst of hardship and trials, He is beside us going through it with us. We can praise Him and worship only Him, because He holds us close. HE alone is worthy!
Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.
Finally, myrrh-the bitter perfume of suffering. This reminds us of His own suffering and death on the cross-for our redemption from sin and death! This was given to Him as a baby, a telling gift to all that this child was born for suffering-for us! The myrrh we can offer to our Lord is SURRENDER! When we want it our way and surrender to His way, we offer the bitter perfume, as even He had to offer bitter perfume of surrender to His Father’s will, for our sake.
Hebrews 12:2 …fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorned its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
On Christmas we exchanged gifts with family and friends. On Epiphany, we give gifts to our King, Jesus the Christ. This year, once again, give Him our ‘gold’ made of our FAITH. Our frankincense’, made of our sincere PRAISE AND WORSHIP. And finally, the myrrh, the most difficult gift to give-SURRENDER!
What can we give to THE King? Our gold, frankincense and myrrh!
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