“Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the East arrived…and they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary
His mother; and they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh…”
(Matthew 2:1a, 11)
December 3, 2017
When I was a child, we were encouraged each year to make a list of what we wanted for Christmas. Of course our imaginations would run wild like most children’s, but being from a large family with limited resources, I learned early in life not to ask for, or expect too much. When money is tight, parents often give what a child needs, not necessarily what a child wants. To keep my list short, I only requested things that I truly wanted. It must have surprised my parents therefore when, almost every year, I included on my list (and got) the same thing--an Etch-A-Sketch. {This was a device whereby one could draw pictures on a screen by turning buttons, and erase the picture to start over again by turning it upside down and shaking it. I loved that toy, and was kept happily occupied for hours drawing with it, but it was always broken by the next Christmas —so I always requested another. }
It was therefore comforting to me, the first time I read the Christmas story, to realize that even though His Father had unlimited resources---Jesus Himself only received three gifts for Christmas. Now, for years I have read of the gifts of the magi and subconsciously thought —‘surely these were gifts He only needed: things picked out for Him by His Father, and not things He would have wanted for Himself.’ But when this thought rumbled about in my subconscious this year as I reread the story, it got me thinking:
Of course Jesus and His Father’s will are, and always have been, one. This means, therefore, that Jesus did get what he wanted. I wondered—‘how could that be—why would He have wanted such things?’ In meditating on the gifts themselves, I realized, not only did those gifts represent what Jesus once wanted as an infant—but they are His own ‘short list’ even now of what He wants us to bring Him whenever we approach Him. And He requests the same things year in and year out—because we always ‘break’ our gifts to Him: Myrrh, Frankincense & Gold.
Myrrh is a resin from a small thorny tree species (Commiphora myrrha), that’s obtained by making deep cuts that cause the tree to ‘bleed’ sap. It was one of the items Joseph’s brothers took in trade for him (Genesis 37:25), was used in the holy anointing oil for High Priests and Kings in Israel (Exodus 30:23; 1 Samuel 10:1), was a perfume used by Esther in preparation for being brought into the King’s Presence (Esther 2:12) It was mixed with the wine (turning it bitter) offered to Jesus at the cross (Mk 15:23) (which He rejected since He’d told his disciples he wouldn’t drink wine again until he drank it new with them in the Kingdom), (Luke 22:18). It was purported to be the thorny branches used in Christ’s crown of thorns and thus represents the bitterness, suffering and affliction caused by sin—since thorns came into the perfect Garden only as a result of sin and rebellion. Myrrh was used as an embalming oil for burial, as it covered odors (John 19:39). It is also a healing balm used to disinfect, and cleanse wounds.
Frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained by the cutting of (in particular) the scraggy but hardy Boswellia sacra trees. The trees are tapped by slashing the bark, which is called ‘striping,’ and allowing the exuded resin to bleed out and harden. These hardened resins are called ‘tears’. Boswellia sacra trees are considered unusual for their ability to grow in environments so hostile, rugged, and unforgiving that they have the ability to grow where there is no soil; sometimes even growing out of solid rock. Therefore this tree is a symbol for resilience, strength and endurance. The initial means of attachment to the rock is unknown, but is accomplished by a bulbous disk-like swelling of the trunk. This growth prevents it from being ripped from the rock during violent storms. This feature is slight or absent in trees grown in rocky soil or gravel. Frankincense was another of the commodities traded in exchange for Joseph. (Gen 37:25 where it’s called ‘aromatic gum’) Frankincense was an important component of the services in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was one of the ingredients of the consecrated incenses offered on the sacred Altar of Incense. (Exodus 30:7-9; 34-38) and therefore, is an emblem of prayer. (Psalm 141:2) God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offering were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Frankincense was also one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary (Exodus 30:34), and was used as an accompaniment of the meal-offering (Leviticus 2:1; 2:16; 6:15, 24:7) When burnt it emitted a fragrant odor, and the incense was a symbol of the Divine name (Malachi 1:11, Song of Solomon 1:3). It was often associated with myrrh. (Song of Solomon 3:6; 4:6). An especially "pure" kind, ‘lebhonah zakkah’, in Hebrew, was presented with the showbread (Leviticus 24:7)
Gold— Historically, the value of gold was rooted in its relative rarity, easy handling and minting, easy smelting and fabrication, resistance to corrosion and to most acids, etc. As a precious metal it’s been used for coinage, jewelry, and other arts throughout recorded history. Gold's high malleability, ductility, resistance to corrosion and most other chemical reactions, and conductivity of electricity have led to its continued use in corrosion resistant electrical connections in all types of computerized devices (its chief industrial use). In all ages, gold has served as an article and store of enduring value. Unlike silver, it is highly resistant to oxidation and corruption. It is soft and malleable, warm and beautiful, and holds its value over long periods of time even as other goods and commodities rise and fall. As such, gold has become a universal symbol of love. For example, gold is commonly used to make wedding rings, serving as a symbol of the love between the two partners. In a religious context, gold especially symbolizes spiritual and heavenly love—and, of course, divine love. That is why the most sacred articles of the Tabernacle were to be made of gold, overlaid with gold, or interwoven with gold (Exodus 25:10-40; 28:6-30; 30:1-10), and also why the streets of the New Jerusalem, are made of “gold as pure as glass” (Revelation 21:18,21).
Christ’s Christmas list is so very short…shall we not give Him what he asks of us?
We offer the heart of Jesus the healing balm of Myrrh, when we HUMBLE ourselves before him, coming into His Holy Presence, realizing & acknowledging he was sold into bondage in our place and died on our behalf, that He wore the crown of thorns for our sake and acknowledge Him as our King and High Priest. As such, we now willingly agree to die to our self-wills and accept the bitterness, suffering and afflictions of this life which will come to us, as we enter into the fellowship of His sufferings. Such humbling brings us to the Blood of Christ, represented by the bleeding sap—which will cover, cleanse and disinfect the stench of our sin before Him.
We offer Christ the gift of Frankincense when we CONSECRATE our service and sanctify our hearts for consistent COMMUNION with Him. Once we are Christ’s, the Holy Spirit will show us those things that are not in keeping with Christ’s will for us, and will gently show us what needs to be ‘stripped’ from our lives. Despite our tears, we must remain consecrated to Christ regardless of the cost or what storms may assail us. We are to cling to Him and commune with Him in constant prayer, even when there is nothing else on earth to support us; and He will strengthen us and enable us to endure to the end. As His priests we are to intercede for those He has brought around us, sharing His Love and Gospel truth with them, and bring their needs to Him. As such, our prayers will be a soothing aroma before Him—well pleasing in His sight. (2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Peter 2:5) By clinging to Him in obedience, He will keep us from being torn from our Rock in any storm we may have to go through. We offer all we do with the sweet aroma of Frankincense of the Name of Jesus—though whom only are our sacrifices pleasing to God.
We offer our Beloved Bridegroom the Precious gift of Gold when we express our FAITH & TRUST in Him by allowing His Divine Love to rule in our hearts. When His Love abides within us, we will find ourselves to be easily molded to His will, able to both receive his Word as well as conduct it to others without the corruption of our own acid influences. Our manner will be soft and warm, even when correcting those who oppose God. He will be able to more fully stamp His Image upon our lives, making us a rare jewel in His crown. Our hearts’ deepest LOVE is what Jesus yearns for and deserves, and our trust in Him is what will most perfectly expresses it.
As for myself, I have but a single wish this Christmas—and this year, it is not for an Etch-A-Sketch: That God would fulfill the following verse in the lives of all of us….
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being MORE precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:7)
Merry Christmas to you all
Joann
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