WHAT WILL WE GIVE JESUS AT CHRISTMAS? MATT. 2:1-12
Well it’s Christmas time again, the time when we see all the decorations, and people are putting their trees up with all the beautiful lights, people are running frantically here and there trying to find gifts for friends and loved ones that will express their feelings and relationship toward one another.
And personally I have no problem with all this; I, like most folk enjoy the season.
But I’m afraid that the real meaning and truth to do with this wonderful time is in a lot of cases over looked.
And that is, the reason for the season is to recognize and remember the birth of our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I want you to read along with me or listen as I read the account of the wise men in Matt. 2:1-12
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea* [there was also a Bethlehem of Zebulon--Joshua 19:15-16] in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, ”Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5And they said unto him, “In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, [Micah 5:1]
6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”
7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.”
9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. –{Lets be sure and notice that when they saw the young child with Mary His mother, they fell down and worshiped Him. If ever there was a time when Mary should have been worshiped, this was it. But they didn’t worship her—they were wise men! They worshiped Him and presented to Him their treasures: gold and frankincense and myrrh.}
And also along this thought we read the record of His birth in Luke 1: as the messenger Angel Gabriel say to Mary- Luke 1: 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Notice; “among”, not above.
And if Mary was here now she would be the first to say Amen!
12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
So we believe the idea of gift giving originated with these wise men from the East (the area of Iraq and Iran)
Finding Him they presented Him with gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The gifts of these wise men had a great meaning, for these gifts,{ Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh} tell us much about Who Jesus is.
Let me say here before we go any further, we’ve all heard the songs and the stories about the 3 wise men from the east to do with the Christmas story, well as most of us realize that no one really knows how many wise men there was, but we can rest assured it was way yonder more than 3.
I suppose where the number 3 came to mind was because the wise men brought 3 gifts.
They gave a gift that honored Him as King of kings and Lord of lords.
They gave him a gift of Gold; Gold has always been seen as a symbol of great wealth and power. It’s valuable, and recognized so across all cultures and times. It’s a gift fit for royalty.
It is a fitting gift, for Jesus Christ is the Supreme Sovereign.
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
~~ What can we give Jesus Christ our King as we remember His birthday?~~ Well, As King He deserves our allegiance:
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
If we’ll just think about it, A wife who is 85% faithful to her husband is not faithful at all. There is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is called Lord 747 times in the New Testament.
As King He demands our subjection to His authority.
Jesus is Lord of all, and the faith He demands involves unconditional surrender. He don’t give eternal life to people whose hearts remain set against Him.
~~~~~~ They presented Him with a gift that honored Him as the Holy One: ~~~~
They gave Him a gift of frankincense.
There are many references to Frankincense in the Bible. Frankincense was used as holy incense. The ceremonial incense of the Jews was made up of four ’sweet scents,’ of which pure Frankincense was one, pounded together in equal proportion. It is mentioned in the Pentateuch** many times. Frankincense was part of the meat offering and was also presented with the shew-bread every Sabbath day. With other spices, it was stored in a great chamber of the House of God at Jerusalem. it was a special and exact recipe, not to be changed in any way.
Leviticus 2:16 And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
The offering of frankincense speaks of Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Holy One.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government **shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, THE MIGHTY GOD, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.
~ So once again; As the Holy One, God Incarnate, what will we give Christ as we recognize His Birth?~
1st tim.3: 16-- God was manifest in the flesh, --
John 1: 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. --- 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Let us worship Him and praise and adore Him for He is worthy:
Rev.4: 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him...
Psalms 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
Praise is more than singing, it’s the saint reflecting the life of Christ.
~So what will we give Him as we remember His Birth? ~
Well these wise men also presented Him with a gift that honored Him as the Vicarious Sacrificial Lamb. They gave Him a gift of Myrrh.
Myrrh is an aromatic gum resin obtained from trees and shrubs in Arabia.
Even before the baby Jesus received Myrrh as a gift, over 2000 years ago, Myrrh was one of the most desired and most sought after items in the world. It is mentioned in the Bible over 22 times.
Myrrh was first mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil in Exodus 30:23
The Baby Jesus was born to die. He was born to be the sin bearer – the sacrificial Lamb of God who would take all of our sins upon Himself that we might have eternal life.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins.
Isaiah 53:6-7 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
Jesus said in John 12: 27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Let me point out that in Isaiah 60:6 we read about his 2nd coming; Isaiah 60:6: 6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
What gift is left out at His second coming? Myrrh! They will not bring myrrh because that speaks of His death. When He comes the second time, nothing will speak of His death. Gold speaks of His birth. He is born a King. Frankincense speaks of the fragrance of His life.
Myrrh speaks of His death. All of this is indicated in the gifts that were brought to Him at His first coming. But at His next coming, myrrh will not be brought to Him. The next time He comes, He won’t come to die upon a cross for the sins of the world. He will come as King of kings and Lord of lords.
~So again I ask; what will we give Him in remembrance of His Birth? ~
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Well, as we read here, it’s only reasonable that we give Him our very best.
