The Gifts of Man
It’s official. The Christmas season is now over. One more week to go in 2010 and we will start a new year. So, now that Christmas is over, what now? The anticipation is over, Christ is born and now normal life resumes right? Well, sort of. Jesus is born, but the story just doesn’t end there. In the season of Advent, we have been looking at “The Five Gifts of God”. Now, it’s time we took a look at the gifts that man gave Jesus.
So, what is it that you bring for a gift to someone who has everything? God lacks nothing, so what can we give that would mean anything to him? I mean, he’s put himself into human form, but he still has everything, knows everything and is fully complete.
Have you ever tried to find a gift for a couple who was celebrating their 50th (or more) Wedding anniversary? It’s nearly impossible isn’t it? I mean, they’ve had a lifetime of memories, they’ve got more stuff than they can ever imagine…and yet, we have to find them something! I remember some years back my grandpa was going through his basement and was getting rid of stuff that wasn’t needed anymore. He found a little statue of a kid holding a little paper heart on a string that says “I Love You”. He looked at me and goes, “Do you want this?” I go, “What is it?” “Oh, something your grandma or I got each other probably for Valentine’s day or something,” he said. We proceeded to talk about how we keep things thinking we’ll treasure them forever only to forget what it was they were given for. We do that as humans don’t we?!
Today, we are going to look at several things. The Magi from the East followed a star, brought gifts, and bowed to worship him. We will look at the gifts they brought and their significance to the story.
Were the gifts that the Magi brought appropriate? Surely they had no idea what the future held for the little baby in the manger. The gifts they brought were not meaningless. They were for a purpose and yet, foretold a story that was yet to play out.
Today, we are going to read Matthew 2:1-12, where we see the Magi bringing gifts to this little baby whom they did not know. I originally told Bobbie Matthew 2:13-21, but God sorta changed my mind as I was writing the sermon. Hey, it happens!! Matthew 2:1-12.
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
So what did the gifts that the Magi brought mean? Why did they bring them in the first place? Let’s start our investigation with the Magi. The Magi’s purpose was to find the newborn King and worship him. Even though they did not know who the king was or where the king was from, they brought gifts of gold , frankincense and myrrh for him. It’s these gifts they brought that is of importance.
Though they probably did not know what the future held for little baby Jesus, the gifts they did bring were traditional gifts to be brought for a king. Let’s go through them. You know, I actually had to do some research online in order to find the real uses for this stuff!!
First up is gold. This one is easy because it is the traditional gift to bring royalty. When they come to bring an offering to a king, gold will surely be in their repertoire. Not only did they bring this as a gift to a king, but it also represents in symbolism Jesus’ earthly “Kingship” as described throughout the scriptures. It can also symbolize virtue.
Secondly is frankincense. It is traditionally used as a perfume and as aromatherapy. In the Bible it is used in Exodus as an ingredient in incense and naturally as the Magi’s gift to Christ. The Egyptians used the ground charred resin as a black eyeliner. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam it is a symbolism of life.
Also it can be used as a medicine to treat such things as arthritis and healing a wound and can be used to repel mosquitoes as well. The Magi probably brought it as a perfume. Symbolically, it represents Jesus’ Priest ship while on earth. It can also be a symbol of prayer, or even Jesus’ future sacrifice on the cross as an offering for the forgiveness of sins.
Lastly, the Magi brought myrrh. Myrrh, like frankincense is a perfume, myrrh was burned at funerals, was a common ingredient in incense and was used in embalming as well. The Magi brought it most likely as an anointing oil. Symbolically myrrh is associated with Jesus’ death and suffering. It is seen as the one gift in which it foretold Jesus’ death.
Even from the beginning, there were people out to kill Jesus. Even though the Magi were not out to kill Jesus, their gifts told the story of what would happen to him.
I always wonder whether or not the Magi knew the significance of the gifts they brought. Ironically, this entire story rings of the Exodus. A baby is sent away to avoid a mass execution, was saved, brought out of Egypt only to be brought back to change the world.
The Magi’s gift foretold what would happen, and in the next pericope, Herod started carrying it out. The gifts that the Magi brought told the entire story of Jesus.
But something got me to thinking…what would have happened if the Magi had been women? I imagine that they would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole and brought disposable diapers as gifts!
But then again, it would have made the story a little different now wouldn’t it? In all seriousness though, things happened just the way they were supposed to.
Over the past five weeks, we’ve looked at the gifts of God…now we look at the gifts of man, and they pale in comparison to what God gives. It all goes back to the question I posed earlier. What can we give a God who already has everything and knows everything? The gifts man bring to Jesus are earthly wealth, some perfume and death. We welcomed Jesus with a gift of death. And yet, by that death, we gained life. What most would see as destruction, God saw as salvation…preached it and guided men to bring it to the world.
On Saturday evening, Sherri and I were having dinner with the girls before we took them to grandma’s house for the night and the subject of Christmas came up. Naturally they were so excited for what Christmas day brought…presents. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love giving gifts to my kids and watching the joy in their faces as they get what they wanted, I also get frustrated at the fact they look over Jesus’ birth and go straight to Santa. We were having a talk about Jesus and it being his birthday, and I remarked to Hannah that there is only one gift that Jesus wants for his birthday; you. Hannah looks at me and goes, “what?” I said, there is only one gift that Jesus wants for his birthday and that is you. She looks at me so very seriously and goes, “Daddy!!!!! I ain’t gettin’ wrapped up in a box for Jesus!!!!” Sherri and I about died laughing. Oh, the innocence of a child.
But seriously enough, did you give the gift that Jesus wants the most? Did you wrap yourself up with paper and a bow for Jesus? My friends there is nothing Jesus wants more than your acceptance of him as Savior and Lord. Take the innocence of a child and bring yourself in renewal to Jesus, or perhaps for the first time. The Magi brought earthly gifts to Jesus…including the death that brought us salvation. Give him the only gift to make that sacrifice worthwhile…you. Wrap yourself up with paper and a bow and give your life to Christ.
So, what is it that you bring for a gift to someone who has everything? God lacks nothing, so what can we give that would mean anything to him? I mean, he’s put himself into human form, but he still has everything, knows everything and is fully complete.
Have you ever tried to find a gift for a couple who was celebrating their 50th (or more) Wedding anniversary? It’s nearly impossible isn’t it? I mean, they’ve had a lifetime of memories, they’ve got more stuff than they can ever imagine…and yet, we have to find them something! I remember some years back my grandpa was going through his basement and was getting rid of stuff that wasn’t needed anymore. He found a little statue of a kid holding a little paper heart on a string that says “I Love You”. He looked at me and goes, “Do you want this?” I go, “What is it?” “Oh, something your grandma or I got each other probably for Valentine’s day or something,” he said. We proceeded to talk about how we keep things thinking we’ll treasure them forever only to forget what it was they were given for. We do that as humans don’t we?!
Today, we are going to look at several things. The Magi from the East followed a star, brought gifts, and bowed to worship him. We will look at the gifts they brought and their significance to the story.
Were the gifts that the Magi brought appropriate? Surely they had no idea what the future held for the little baby in the manger. The gifts they brought were not meaningless. They were for a purpose and yet, foretold a story that was yet to play out.
Today, we are going to read Matthew 2:1-12, where we see the Magi bringing gifts to this little baby whom they did not know. I originally told Bobbie Matthew 2:13-21, but God sorta changed my mind as I was writing the sermon. Hey, it happens!! Matthew 2:1-12.
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
So what did the gifts that the Magi brought mean? Why did they bring them in the first place? Let’s start our investigation with the Magi. The Magi’s purpose was to find the newborn King and worship him. Even though they did not know who the king was or where the king was from, they brought gifts of gold , frankincense and myrrh for him. It’s these gifts they brought that is of importance.
Though they probably did not know what the future held for little baby Jesus, the gifts they did bring were traditional gifts to be brought for a king. Let’s go through them. You know, I actually had to do some research online in order to find the real uses for this stuff!!
First up is gold. This one is easy because it is the traditional gift to bring royalty. When they come to bring an offering to a king, gold will surely be in their repertoire. Not only did they bring this as a gift to a king, but it also represents in symbolism Jesus’ earthly “Kingship” as described throughout the scriptures. It can also symbolize virtue.
Secondly is frankincense. It is traditionally used as a perfume and as aromatherapy. In the Bible it is used in Exodus as an ingredient in incense and naturally as the Magi’s gift to Christ. The Egyptians used the ground charred resin as a black eyeliner. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam it is a symbolism of life.
Also it can be used as a medicine to treat such things as arthritis and healing a wound and can be used to repel mosquitoes as well. The Magi probably brought it as a perfume. Symbolically, it represents Jesus’ Priest ship while on earth. It can also be a symbol of prayer, or even Jesus’ future sacrifice on the cross as an offering for the forgiveness of sins.
Lastly, the Magi brought myrrh. Myrrh, like frankincense is a perfume, myrrh was burned at funerals, was a common ingredient in incense and was used in embalming as well. The Magi brought it most likely as an anointing oil. Symbolically myrrh is associated with Jesus’ death and suffering. It is seen as the one gift in which it foretold Jesus’ death.
Even from the beginning, there were people out to kill Jesus. Even though the Magi were not out to kill Jesus, their gifts told the story of what would happen to him.
I always wonder whether or not the Magi knew the significance of the gifts they brought. Ironically, this entire story rings of the Exodus. A baby is sent away to avoid a mass execution, was saved, brought out of Egypt only to be brought back to change the world.
The Magi’s gift foretold what would happen, and in the next pericope, Herod started carrying it out. The gifts that the Magi brought told the entire story of Jesus.
But something got me to thinking…what would have happened if the Magi had been women? I imagine that they would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole and brought disposable diapers as gifts!
But then again, it would have made the story a little different now wouldn’t it? In all seriousness though, things happened just the way they were supposed to.
Over the past five weeks, we’ve looked at the gifts of God…now we look at the gifts of man, and they pale in comparison to what God gives. It all goes back to the question I posed earlier. What can we give a God who already has everything and knows everything? The gifts man bring to Jesus are earthly wealth, some perfume and death. We welcomed Jesus with a gift of death. And yet, by that death, we gained life. What most would see as destruction, God saw as salvation…preached it and guided men to bring it to the world.
On Saturday evening, Sherri and I were having dinner with the girls before we took them to grandma’s house for the night and the subject of Christmas came up. Naturally they were so excited for what Christmas day brought…presents. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love giving gifts to my kids and watching the joy in their faces as they get what they wanted, I also get frustrated at the fact they look over Jesus’ birth and go straight to Santa. We were having a talk about Jesus and it being his birthday, and I remarked to Hannah that there is only one gift that Jesus wants for his birthday; you. Hannah looks at me and goes, “what?” I said, there is only one gift that Jesus wants for his birthday and that is you. She looks at me so very seriously and goes, “Daddy!!!!! I ain’t gettin’ wrapped up in a box for Jesus!!!!” Sherri and I about died laughing. Oh, the innocence of a child.
But seriously enough, did you give the gift that Jesus wants the most? Did you wrap yourself up with paper and a bow for Jesus? My friends there is nothing Jesus wants more than your acceptance of him as Savior and Lord. Take the innocence of a child and bring yourself in renewal to Jesus, or perhaps for the first time. The Magi brought earthly gifts to Jesus…including the death that brought us salvation. Give him the only gift to make that sacrifice worthwhile…you. Wrap yourself up with paper and a bow and give your life to Christ.
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