Christmas is a time of giving, a time when we remember friends and family and give gifts in the name of Jesus.
But let’s be honest, many of us often feel pressure to spend a lot of money or buy gifts for people with whom we have no relationship at all. Then there are times when we receive gifts from people, and if we haven’t bought them a gift we run out and buy something to give them out of obligation. No wonder we get stressed out.
On the other hand, we look forward to buying gifts for certain people. In fact, we often can’t wait to give our gifts to them because we want to see the joy they have in receiving them. When we see the smile on the face of a spouse, a child, a parent, or a close and special friend we can agree with Jesus when he said that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”
Acts of the Apostles 20:35 NLT 35] And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
The wise men from the East saw an unusual star and because of there knowledge and study they knew that this star was part of an announcement of the birth of the Messiah that had been promised and the wanted to acknowledge and worship Him.
Matthew 2:1-2 NLT [1] Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, [2] “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
These wise me brought with them. They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In the Book of Isaiah, it tells of nations and kings who will come and “bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord”
Isaiah 60:6 NLT [6] Vast caravans of camels will converge on you, the camels of Midian and Ephah. The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense and will come worshiping the Lord.
Now, what kind of gifts were these for a child? Myrrh is an embalming element.
John 19:38-40 NLT [38] Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. [39] With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. [40] Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth (emphasis mine).
Why give something used in embalming to a baby? It seems that these wise men, however, had an insight into who Jesus was, and what would happen to Him who they knew was the promised Messiah who would take away the sins of the world through His death.
They gave Jesus gold because they recognized it was a proper gift for a king. They gave him frankincense, which is what the high priest used when he went into the temple to represent the people.
Frankincense was only to be burned in the temple and only by a priest of God, the wise men understood that Jesus was born to be a priest for all mankind. Even though He was prophesied to be born from the kingly line of David and not the priestly line of Aaron, they knew that this prophesied Messiah would be more than just a king for His people, but also a priest.
They gave Him myrrh because they recognized this king would die for the world. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is our High Priest. And of course, He is the One who died for all our sin.
John 1:29 NLT [29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
What can we give to Jesus in this holiday season? What do we give to God, who has everything? Here is what God wants from you: He wants your life. The greatest gift that you can give Him this Christmas is yourself. Give Him your talents, your abilities, your weaknesses, your dreams, your future, in other words give Him you. That’s the gift that God wants from you.
So, be like the wise men and worship Jesus and give to Him. Give Him you. You will be glad that you did.
Acts of the Apostles 20:35 NLT [35] And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
But let’s be honest, many of us often feel pressure to spend a lot of money or buy gifts for people with whom we have no relationship at all. Then there are times when we receive gifts from people, and if we haven’t bought them a gift we run out and buy something to give them out of obligation. No wonder we get stressed out.
On the other hand, we look forward to buying gifts for certain people. In fact, we often can’t wait to give our gifts to them because we want to see the joy they have in receiving them. When we see the smile on the face of a spouse, a child, a parent, or a close and special friend we can agree with Jesus when he said that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”
Acts of the Apostles 20:35 NLT 35] And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
The wise men from the East saw an unusual star and because of there knowledge and study they knew that this star was part of an announcement of the birth of the Messiah that had been promised and the wanted to acknowledge and worship Him.
Matthew 2:1-2 NLT [1] Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, [2] “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
These wise me brought with them. They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In the Book of Isaiah, it tells of nations and kings who will come and “bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord”
Isaiah 60:6 NLT [6] Vast caravans of camels will converge on you, the camels of Midian and Ephah. The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense and will come worshiping the Lord.
Now, what kind of gifts were these for a child? Myrrh is an embalming element.
John 19:38-40 NLT [38] Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. [39] With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. [40] Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth (emphasis mine).
Why give something used in embalming to a baby? It seems that these wise men, however, had an insight into who Jesus was, and what would happen to Him who they knew was the promised Messiah who would take away the sins of the world through His death.
They gave Jesus gold because they recognized it was a proper gift for a king. They gave him frankincense, which is what the high priest used when he went into the temple to represent the people.
Frankincense was only to be burned in the temple and only by a priest of God, the wise men understood that Jesus was born to be a priest for all mankind. Even though He was prophesied to be born from the kingly line of David and not the priestly line of Aaron, they knew that this prophesied Messiah would be more than just a king for His people, but also a priest.
They gave Him myrrh because they recognized this king would die for the world. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is our High Priest. And of course, He is the One who died for all our sin.
John 1:29 NLT [29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
What can we give to Jesus in this holiday season? What do we give to God, who has everything? Here is what God wants from you: He wants your life. The greatest gift that you can give Him this Christmas is yourself. Give Him your talents, your abilities, your weaknesses, your dreams, your future, in other words give Him you. That’s the gift that God wants from you.
So, be like the wise men and worship Jesus and give to Him. Give Him you. You will be glad that you did.
Acts of the Apostles 20:35 NLT [35] And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
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