Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
12/24/2021
Gold Frankincense and Myrrh
Christmas is upon us and a lot of people are thinking about last-minute gifts. So, what do you get for someone who has everything? I have often told my kids and family, I don’t need anything. In fact, I don’t want anything but time with you. How about a gift certificate promising a future lunch or dinner?…just the two of us? Let’s talk about family, kids, ministry, God, and plans for the new year. Let’s talk about your challenges. Let’s hug, coming and going. Let me bathe in the warmth of your love and presence.
When the wise men arrived in Bethlehem after a two-year journey, they did not come empty-handed. They brought gifts fit for a king. Gold, Frankincense, and myrrh. It has also been suggested that, In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, scholars think that these three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself—gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming.”
Scholars generally agree that the gift of gold represented Jesus as a king with an everlasting throne. It was a treasure befitting royalty,
albeit royalty in the home of a young, poor family.
The gift of frankincense is said to have been an acknowledgment of Jesus’ priesthood, setting him apart from a typical king. Frankincense was used in the temple routines, burned ceremonially by the priests. It was not native to that region, however, so obtaining frankincense from the east was costly. This gift was precious in both meaning and value.
The most bittersweet of the gifts, myrrh had been imported to Egypt in droves for embalming rituals, and the practice filtered out through the surrounding areas. Even without the mummification process, myrrh was connected with death and burial. A disheartening gift for a new mother to hold, yet beautiful in the light of her understanding of his purpose.
While the Middle Eastern regions used myrrh ceremonially, the Far East was using it for healing purposes. Ayurvedic medicine, which dates back thousands of years, used myrrh for wound healing, digestive health, and to balance women’s issues.
With this in mind, one wonders whether the Magi were bringing healing substances for Jesus’ after birth – cord healing, etc. – as well as for Mary in her postpartum discomfort. Prophetic words often had both immediate and long-term connotations, so these gifts could have followed a similar dual pattern.
Some early church history writings claim that the three named Magi came together years later to celebrate Christmas together, shortly before they died. I imagine a delicious meal, the laughter of old friends, and a fragrant incense burning to remind them all of that one, incredible journey when they carried gold, frankincense, and myrrh to a newborn king.
What have you to give a King who came to give and not receive this year? We should all agree the greatest gift that has ever been given to humanity is God’s gift of Christ Jesus. God, divine Love itself, loves us so much that He sent Jesus to awaken us to our own pure identity as God’s loved sons and daughters, and show us how to live this identity.
I think Jesus, like me, is looking for time with you. A lunch or breakfast and let’s talk about family, kids, ministry, our relationship with God, and His plans for the new year. Let’s talk about your challenges. Let’s hug, coming and going. Let me bathe in the warmth of His love and presence.
Let’s be Present with Jesus today!
Lauren Daigle – Noel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGg7KdN19rs
