The Gifts
Pt. 2 - Frankincense
I. Introduction
?It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Christmas captures our attention, our heart and even our imagination. That is true even for those of us who know the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas causes our imagination to run wild. So wild that we can embrace the idea that a mean, green creature called the Grinch is trying to steal Christmas, that a grown man wearing tights and weird hat is an actual elf, and that a girl can continue to pull a football away from a guy as he is about to kick it and they will continue to be close friends. That power of imagination carries over to the first Christmas. We construct the scene is complete with sheep, shepherds, mangers and the like. The shepherds on one side peering into the improvised crib. The 3 wise men on the other side gazing into the face of Jesus. However, even though it fits the imagined scene the shepherds and wise men were probably never even saw each other.
We know this because Luke describes the shepherds finding Jesus in a manger. But Matthew sets the scene differently.
TEXT: Matthew 2:9-11
(Message) Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
They entered the house and these wise men bring gifts. We have begun an examination of the gifts that they brought to Jesus. We talked about Gold. This gift was the gift you present to a king. Prophetically the first wise man shows us that Jesus was more than a kid He was and is King.
Frankincense
The second wise man kneels before this infant and unwraps his gift and it is Frankincense.
We can easily understand gold and its value. However, Frankincense? Did this wise man just clean out the medicine cabinet at the last minute? Did he regift and this is the best he could come up with? We just don’t understand this gift. Let me see if I can help.
Frankincense was an aromatic resin that comes from the Boswellia Tree which still grows in Yemen, Somalia and Ethiopia. The sap of the tree is dried and burned as incense and it is thought to have several medicinal properties.
So, the first wise man makes a prophetic declaration regarding Jesus’ kingship. The second wise man’s gift causes Jesus’ kingship to stand in stark contrast to all the governmental structure the Jews had ever known. Because Frankincense is thought to be the gift you present to a priest. It was an incense you would use in the temple according to the Old Testament. So, this wise man breaks down the decades long separation of king and priest. He is prophetically declaring that Jesus would not only fill the role of King but the role of priest. This was unheard of. In fact, if you will remember Israel’s first King, Saul, tried to step over this dividing line by making sacrifice, and it ultimately cost him his throne. This gift separates Jesus as different, unique and special.
I am thankful that Jesus is King! I need a King. I need His rule. His reign. His authority. However, I am equally thankful that He isn’t just King, but also priest.
Paul jumps on this idea when he states in Hebrews 4:14 . . .
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
In other words, Jesus’ kingship is important. However, His role as priest is something that we cannot take for granted.
Why do we need a priest?
The priest:
1. He represents!
The priest in the religious system of that day had two responsibilities. First, they represented God to people. They spoke for God to the people. They showed people what God was like. Second, they represented the people to God. The people could not approach God beyond a certain point. They needed a representative to go beyond the veil into the very presence of God.
Jesus arrived with the same two tasks as His divine mandate. He was fully God and fully man. He was equal parts of both. Why is that important? Because of this He can equally represent both sides.
In other words, He was able to mediate. He is the go between. He brings us together. He is a gap stander. He is a bridge builder between us and God. Two parties at odds or in conflict with each other have been brought together by a priest that could represent both sides faithfully. So, it could be said by Jesus “if you have seen me you have seen the Father” He represented God. But He also represented us - He isn’t out of touch with our reality. Or as another version states He could feel our infirmities. He could represent our weakness, failures, and neediness to the Father.
1 Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all people!
I am thankful that we have someone who could show us God. Otherwise, He would have been misrepresented (hasn’t He been). He would have been misunderstood. He would have been misplaced. But, Jesus revealed and continues to reveal the goodness, faithfulness, mercy, and love of God.
I am also thankful this priest could represent us to God. We too have been misrepresented. The enemy of our soul lies about us. He tries to accuse us. He tries to drive a wedge between us and God. But Jesus represents us and we hide behind His holiness. His holiness shields us from the wrath of God. He is our protector. He is our High Priest.
2. He feels us.
I am thankful we have a high priest that according to Hebrews feels us.
We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
If it was not for this baby that was born - God in flesh - we would not be able to relate to God. How can we as weak as we are understand the power, awesomeness, unlimitedness of God? Likewise how could One with all of that at His command understand us. Enter . . . Jesus! Jesus understands our weakness. He knows what it feels like to endure testing. He knows what it feels like to go through betrayal. He knows what it like to be hated. Ridiculed. Doubted. Interrupted. Angry. Sad. Emotional. He knows what it feels like to go through conflict. He knows what it feels like to experience pain. There are times I want to look up at heaven when I am going through tough times, undesired, unwanted circumstances and scream “God do you even feel what I feel?” He can seem so far away. So removed. So distant. But Jesus was heaven’s scream back . . . “YES!” He is our high priest. He is anointed with understanding and empathy.
The truth is I love you guys but I can’t alway understand what you feel. My empathy is limited. My comprehension is limited. But the good news is that Jesus came and was tried - tested - proven - so that He could feel what you feel.
3. Prays for us!
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 7:23-25
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Romans 8:34 - Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding of us!
Could it be that we underestimate the prayer life of Jesus? We are so concerned about getting preachers and prophets to pray for us while we forget that Jesus Himself lives for the purpose of praying for us. In fact, Romans 8:34 leads right into the portion of Scripture we love to quote - what then shall separate us from the love of God - life, death, angels, demons, famine, etc. etc. But we fail to connect that lack of separation that we count on and are so thankful for to the prayers of the High Priest. The lack of separation comes from the fact that Jesus is praying for us!
Listen . . . Let me blow your mind, let me calm your chaos, let me deliver you from depression, let me free you from fear - are you ready? Jesus is praying for you! You have the Son of God Himself sitting next to God praying, interceding, petitioning, presenting your needs.
This wise man approaches Jesus as priest. We should go one step further and approach Jesus as THE HIGH PRIEST! He is our rep. He feels us. He prays for us.
I challenge you . . . approach Him as Priest!
