Matthew 2:7-13
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
The story of the visit of the Wise Men - Magi - has always intrigued me. It is clear that they come to fulfill ancient prophecies that ultimately mean Jesus is going to reach much more people than just the Jewish nation he is born in.
It is also clear that Jesus is no longer in the manger, and they find him with his mother Mary in a house, but they still are in Bethlehem. The fact that later in the text Herod orders the murder of all 2 year old boys in Bethlehem implies that it is in the first year or so of Jesus' life that this visit takes place.
What are we to make of these gifts they bring?
While my grandchildren eagerly await their Christmas gifts, Jesus did not receive lego sets or books, or sleds, and even clothes (which one of my grandchildren told me several years ago he doesn't like getting clothes for Christmas). When we give gifts we are thoughtful (I hope), looking for those things that we hope would be a "wow, that's beautiful, so thoughtful, thank you" sort of gift.
The actions of the wise men upon finding the house where Mary, Joseph and Jesus as a little child was to fall down and worship him. They didn't come to find Mary, or Joseph, as significant as they were in the story...they came to find Jesus. They were not just coming to give gifts to a new born baby but rather to give gifts to a King.
The gifts seem unusual from our standpoint: "gold, frankincense, myrhh"
I wished I had time to write about the significance of each; but until you can find out for yourself each of these represented something about Jesus' life and ultimate death for our sins.
The three-fold offices of Jesus - Prophet, Priest and King - these are the things the Wise Men proclaimed in their gift giving. They surely were gifts for a King.
Peace
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
The story of the visit of the Wise Men - Magi - has always intrigued me. It is clear that they come to fulfill ancient prophecies that ultimately mean Jesus is going to reach much more people than just the Jewish nation he is born in.
It is also clear that Jesus is no longer in the manger, and they find him with his mother Mary in a house, but they still are in Bethlehem. The fact that later in the text Herod orders the murder of all 2 year old boys in Bethlehem implies that it is in the first year or so of Jesus' life that this visit takes place.
What are we to make of these gifts they bring?
While my grandchildren eagerly await their Christmas gifts, Jesus did not receive lego sets or books, or sleds, and even clothes (which one of my grandchildren told me several years ago he doesn't like getting clothes for Christmas). When we give gifts we are thoughtful (I hope), looking for those things that we hope would be a "wow, that's beautiful, so thoughtful, thank you" sort of gift.
The actions of the wise men upon finding the house where Mary, Joseph and Jesus as a little child was to fall down and worship him. They didn't come to find Mary, or Joseph, as significant as they were in the story...they came to find Jesus. They were not just coming to give gifts to a new born baby but rather to give gifts to a King.
The gifts seem unusual from our standpoint: "gold, frankincense, myrhh"
I wished I had time to write about the significance of each; but until you can find out for yourself each of these represented something about Jesus' life and ultimate death for our sins.
- Gold was because He was a King
- Frankincense was a fragrant gum taken from the bark of a particular tree, a gift for His Deity (Isa. 60:6)
- Myrrh was a valuable spice, a perfume that was used often in embalming a dead body. (remember they offered it to Jesus as he hung on the cross.
The three-fold offices of Jesus - Prophet, Priest and King - these are the things the Wise Men proclaimed in their gift giving. They surely were gifts for a King.
Peace
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